"Victims can't wait:" That's why first responders changing how they respond to active shooter situations
WEST ALLIS -- Wednesday, October 21st marked the three-year anniversary of the shooting at the Azana Salon & Spa in Brookfield that killed three women and injured four others. First responders in southeastern Wisconsin are changing the way they respond to active shooter incidents -- like what happened in Brookfield three years ago. The goal is to get to the injured more quickly.
Active shooter training at State Fair Park
When the unthinkable happens, we expect police to come charging onto the scene and shut an active shooter down. But not every first responder on the scene during these incidents is a police officer.
At State Fair Park this week, about 400 police officers and firefighters from the Milwaukee area learned how to team up when responding to a scene with an active shooter.
Active shooter training at State Fair Park
"Victims' lives matter, and we got to get in there a lot sooner," Greenfield Police Captain Dave Patrick said. "In the past, the fire department used to stay in the cold area and they would wait until the building was completely secure. But we know in these active shooter situations the victims can't wait."
Active shooter training at State Fair Park
Firefighters are now training and learning how to stay safe while on a scene with an active shooter that hasn't been secured.
"You saw four police officers protecting four firemen while they treat and remove injured people," Captain Patrick said.
Captain Patrick says officials looked at mass shooting situations from around the country when they designed these training scenarios.
The training exercises included 10 police and seven fire departments from the Milwaukee area.
Active shooter training at State Fair Park
"In these types of incidents, you're going to have hundreds of officers converging and so you may not be teamed up with members from your own police department," Patrick said.
That's why none of the practice teams included members from the same department.
"It's a matter of training together so we can avoid the initial chaos of these types of incidences," Patrick said.
These active shooter training sessions will conclude on Thursday, October 22nd.
Active shooter training at State Fair Park