“You are not helpless. When your life is on the line, you have to choose whether to be the victim or a survivor. Be a survivor!” says Sergeant Darrell Coslin of Smith County Sheriff’s Office.

According to statistics, in 2015, the number of active shooter events (ASE) was more than 209 in the United States alone; with the majority occurring along the coastal regions where gun laws are much stricter.

With the number of these types of events steadily rising year by year, Freestone County Sheriff’s Office wanted to provide information to the community, should something like this occur in our area.

Sgt. Coslin led the Citizens Response to Active Shooter Event (C.R.A.S.E.) training on Tuesday evening, April 10, 2018 at the Fairfield High School Auditorium with about 80 citizens in attendance.

This specialized training introduced citizens to active shooter scenarios and gave detailed instructions on what to do to save yourself, if ever caught in such a situation.

Some of the topics discussed included Disaster Response Psychology, Active Shooter Events, and Civilian Response to an Active Shooter Event.

“There is no one specific profile for a shooter,” Sgt. Coslin explains. “Basically they can be male or female, from any ethnic background, and any age from teens to the elderly. Typically the only commonality between shooters is that they are someone who feels they have been wronged in some way and are seeking revenge.”

“These events can happen anywhere, at anytime,” says Coslin. “We have to accept the reality and be prepared.”

According to Sgt. Coslin, most people, when confronted with a life and death situation, go through three psychological steps. The first being denial. Was that gunshots I just heard? Surely not? Or, was it? Is this really happening?

Coslin says if you hear anything that remotely sounds like gunshots; assume it is until you are proven otherwise. Get past the denial stage as quickly as possible and move to the deliberation stage where you start forming a plan.

Once you’ve made your plan for survival, then it’s time for the decisive moment; it’s time to put your plan into action.

ADD – Steps for Survival

–A = AVOID: Avoid the shooter/s at all costs. Locate alternate points of exit. Is there another door you can get to? Is there a window you can break out of? If so, do it. Call 911. Now is NOT the time to pull out your gun. Law Enforcement Officers, when they arrive, are going into a gun fight. Their first priority is to stop the killing by taking out the shooter. They don’t know if you are a good guy or bad guy, only that you have a gun, therefore you are now one of the bad guys.

–D = DENY: If you are unable to avoid the shooter/s by getting away, it’s time to deny them entry into the room or place that you are in. Close the door. Lock it. Barricade it. Tie handles/knobs together using a belt or rope. Do anything you can to keep the shooter/s from being able to enter. Just don’t stand directly on the other side of the door in case they shoot through the door. Turn off the light if possible. Turn off your cell phones. Stay quiet. A shooter will not stay long trying to get into one area. They will move on to the next if they can’t gain access.

–D = DEFEND: If you are in a situation where you cannot avoid or deny, then it’s time to defend. “Now is when you step up and handle business,” Sgt. Coslin says. If you have a gun, use it. Find anything around you that can be used as a weapon. Become a weapon yourself. Fight for your life! Do not be a victim! The shooter is not expecting anyone to fight back; they think everyone will submit in fear.

Being Prepared

Some things you can do to stay a step ahead is to be hyper vigilant anytime you are in a public place.

–When approaching any public place, before entering, look around. Does anything seem out of the ordinary to you? Is anyone acting strangely?

–As you enter, again, look around you. Is everything normal? Where are other points of entry and exit to the building other than the way you entered? Figure out where you will go if someone enters with a gun. How will you get away?

–If you will be sitting, be sure to sit where you can continue to observe everything going on around you and pay attention. Be aware if someone starts acting strangely.

–Stay calm. Don’t let fear rule you. Don’t get scared, get angry! Fear weakens and paralyzes you; anger empowers you.

–Try to calm others around you so there is not a mass panic, which could cause more chaos, injuries, and/or death.

–Do not play dead. Doing so could actually get you shot, resulting in death.

–Don’t hide and hope. Bullets can pierce through tables, desks, and chairs. Shooters look for persons hiding under or behind furniture.

For Your Information

–Dispatch will be overwhelmed with calls during this type of event. If you are not directly affected by what is going on, stay off the line so they can be in contact with someone who can tell them what is actually going on.

–When law enforcement arrives, understand that they are there to stop the killing, not to tend to your injuries. They most likely will speak harshly with quick, short commands. Do what they say. You might get searched, or be detained at gunpoint until the situation is under control. It is nothing personal. It is for everyone’s safety.

–Order of priority for law enforcement is: Stop the Killing, Stop the Dying, Evacuate the Area.

–EMS typically has a delay in arrival on scene. They cannot enter a situation until given the ‘all clear’ by law enforcement. It’s important for you to learn to stop a bleed. This way you can help yourself, or someone else who is injured, until medical help arrives.

Following an active shooter event, it’s to be expected that those involved may suffer from emotional and/or mental issues as a result of the traumatic event. It is wise to seek counseling to cope with these issues.

Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley thanked all who attended the training, saying, “It takes everyone looking out for each other. We, as a department, are preparing for the worst. Will it be perfect, no; but we will be doing our very best.”

There are plans for a follow up training event in the future that will incorporate active reality training. Look for more details soon.

Sgt. Coslin’s qualifications include: 33 years of Law Enforcement Experience; SWAT, Undercover Narcotics, Instructor since 1991; and Lead Use of Force instructor at DPD In-Service Academy.

This article is merely a very brief overview of the CRASE training; and is not meant to serve as step-by-step instructions on how to survive an active shooter event.