SAFFORD — Local law enforcement wants the public to be aware of two things: The departments have been trained and are ready to charge in without hesitation during an active shooter situation; and no matter how well trained and effective they are, the situation will be “controlled chaos.”
That was the message coming out of a community reassurance meeting put on Aug. 20 by resident Hal Herbert.
“I think the reaction from the audience and the answers we got from law enforcement were absolutely spot on. It was great,” Herbert said.
Participating were Graham County Sheriff PJ Allred and Undersheriff Jeff McCormies, Safford Police Chief Glen Orr and Thatcher Police Sgt. Kevin West.
The officers said each department conducts regular active shooter training with schools in its coverage area, and is willing to conduct similar training with private businesses upon request.
“We train every student, every administrator, every teacher,” Orr said. “We recently did a training with the City of Safford and have done one with the hospital.”
The Safford, Thatcher, Pima and Fort Thomas school districts each have an officer or deputy assigned as a school resource officer. Allred added that a deputy lives in the Bonita area to quickly respond to any issues there, and another deputy will shortly move into Solomon School housing to be similarly available.
The officers did not get into tactics, but McCormies said each department is ready to assist another if a situation arises, with the responsible agency taking command at the scene.
“Is it going to be chaotic? Yes,” McCormies said. “Our mission is to try and control the chaos as much as possible,” adding that he doubts “anyone is prepared for the aftermath” of a mass shooting.
West said there is a clear difference between a standoff and an active shooter situation. In a standoff, the goal is to slow things down and hopefully talk the suspect into surrender before anyone is harmed. In an active shooter situation, the immediate goal is to stop the shooter by any means possible.
That means walking past anyone injured to get to the shooter in order to prevent any additional deaths or injuries.
Finally, the officers said parents often know what is happening at a school before the police, thanks to most students having mobile phones. However, they also stressed that the public should not assemble at the scene, and most especially do not bring weapons because everyone at the scene is considered a suspect until the situation is settled.
