Go Inside As Agencies Hold Active School Shooter Training (Photo Gallery)

July 14, 2018

“Active shooter at Escambia County Middle School.”

Those are words that no law enforcement officer ever wants to here. But they answered the call Friday morning, converging on the Atmore school for a realistic training exercise.

Smoke from the gunfire filled the hallways as school personnel, playing the part of both students and staff, huddled in classrooms behind barricaded doors.  Teams of armed officers entered the building to end the carnage and get the innocent to safety.

“Officer down. All units. We have an officer down,” came across the police radios. An officer fell victim to the school shooter.

Victims were scattered about the hallways as officers cleared the building. Some did not survive.

NorthEscambia.com was the only media inside the active shooter drill. We followed along as officers cleared the building and evacuated the classrooms, and as medics and firemen aided the victims. We can’t reveal exactly what we saw and heard so that tactical details remain secret.

But we can tell you that officers worked to ensure the safety of all involved, and we can take you inside in our photo gallery.

“You can’t learn this in a classroom,” one police officer said. “There’s nothing like being in the middle of it, the shots being fired.”

“When I heard those shots go off, the hair on the back of my neck rose. It kind of gave you sense of what a possible real life situation would be,” Escambia County (AL) Superintendent John Knott said.

Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said the training went smoothly, with the realistic scenarios providing a chance to review procedures.

“We identified some weaknesses today that we are going to address and address immediately,” Lambert said.

For more photos, click here.

NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.

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Comments

3 Responses to “Go Inside As Agencies Hold Active School Shooter Training (Photo Gallery)”

  1. Freda Whaley on July 16th, 2018 8:26 pm

    While working in admin at a high school in Florida we had these drills during the summer too. Only the first time they didn’t bother to tell me (I was on the first floor doing paper work and school records) they would be on the second floor. All I heard was gun fire and yells of “Get down! Get down!”. I didn’t know my heart could race that fast. I know it’s necessary and agree with it. It would have been nice, though, to be able to take part like they did.

  2. Rebekah on July 15th, 2018 9:11 pm

    Thank you… for putting the kids first

  3. mike on July 14th, 2018 5:39 pm

    sad that this is necessary but good to know it is being addressed. these guys will go in without hesitation no doubt.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News