Rogers County Sheriff discusses importance of first responder training for active threats

By Fox23.com News Staff

CLAREMORE, Okla. — Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton discussed the importance of regular first responder trainings for active shooters and threats following a training held at First United Methodist Church in Claremore on Wednesday morning.

“Today wraps up part three of a very intense, active and as realistic training scenario for active threat, active shooter, response as we can get,” shared Sheriff Walton. “A lot of the focus is on getting injured victims out or direct or indirect treatment to those people.”

Sheriff Walton said these trainings ensure all first responders know their roles if a real active shooter situation were to ever occur.

“These tragedies come to large communities, small communities. The value that this one really showcases is that it brings all disciplines together: police, fire, EMS, sheriff’s offices, police departments. Everybody comes together to get on the same page…We need to point out weaknesses in everything. I think it’s the best part when this this is over with and we can critique. What did we do wrong? What could we have done better? What do we need to definitely not do? What we need to avoid or not do is often as important as what we must do.”

Including all types of first responders also gives law enforcement the opportunity to practice protecting others as they respond to wounded victims.

Sheriff Walton said he hopes each new training teaches first responders one thing they didn’t know before.

“The takeaway I hope is ‘I learned something that I didn’t learn in the last one.’ We think going back to the first school shooting in Jonesboro how drastically training has changed…It puts more of a burden on first responders because prior to Jonesboro and Columbine, building entry was more methodical and you didn’t go past threat areas. That all went out the window after we saw mistakes that were made at Columbine where everybody waited outside and was literally hearing people being killed. The Texas debacle that nobody can explain, God forbid that would ever happen anywhere again in this great nation.”

Sheriff Walton said the training also highlights the need to continue providing funding and equipment to first responders, so they’re prepared with everything they need if an active threat were to ever occur.