Volunteers sought for active shooter training
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Aug. 16, 2022) – High-schoolers are getting a chance to help city police train for the unimaginable.
The department is looking for older teens to participate in the active shooter trainings that will be taking place at the high school this weekend. Chief Mike Goodwin says they want to fill the building with volunteers to prepare officers for what they might encounter if they were dealing with an actual shooter.
“They may not even be in the same area where the shooting is going on, but it’s to give the officers the realization that they may encounter people fleeing the building or injuries and they’re going to have to make a decision on what they’re going to do as they approach the active shooter.”
Police will train at the school Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm. Volunteers are needed from 7:30 to 4 both days, although Goodwin says they don’t have to commit to being there that entire time.
“They can come in and work from 7:30 until noonish or from 12:30 till 4 o’clock in the afternoon. If they want to stay all day, that’s great. We would appreciate that. If they can only give us four hours of their time, we would appreciate that also.”
There’s an orientation for interested teens and their guardians Wednesday at 6 pm in the Tuscora Park Youth Center.