New protocol for active shooter scenarios that involves police & fire crews
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Members of the Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee Fire Department teamed up on Tuesday, April 8th for an active shooter training event.
In this day and age of shootings and mass killings at elementary and high schools, university campuses, places of worship and movie theaters -- active shooter training is a necessity -- but Tuesday's training was a little different than most.
Emergency protocol in a "shooter in a building" scenario used to call for law enforcement to enter the building, find the shooter, secure the building and then allow medical personnel to enter and treat the wounded.
However, by that time, lives could be lost that could have been saved.
The new protocol involves the response of both police -- and fire department medical teams.
"We can`t save lives without their help. Without working together as a team to get us in to the patient as quickly as possible," Milwaukee Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing said.
During the active shooter training on Tuesday, teams of four police officers and four fire medics moved in a diamond shape to get medical help to the wounded.
"The police have to move toward the threat and all too often moving towards the threat means following the casualties. What this capacity gives us is an opportunity to treat those casualties en route to meeting the threat," Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said.
"They have no other job but to get to the room where we know there`s patients and they get there and they deliver treatment and they leave them in place. Another team comes to take them out," Milwaukee Fire Captain Michael Wright said.
More than 800 firefighters will go through this training, and a majority of the 1,800 police personnel will as well.
It is important training that will help first responders when a tragedy does occur.
Tuesday's training took place at the former Edison Middle School -- which is now vacant.
The training started in March and will continue through May.
A few emergency dispatchers showed up to observe the exercise so they can better know what's happening in the field if such an incident were to happen.