Howard County's Department of Fire and Rescue Services and Police Department personnel are working together in a new joint training program to shorten response time in active shooter situations.
According to the departments, the training program began in March and is the first time both agencies have participated together department wide. All training for career and sworn personnel will be completed by May.
While past routine responses had emergency medical personnel waiting for the scene to be searched and declared safe, new protocols will allow police and fire crews to enter the scene immediately under police protection to treat and remove those injured.
"The safety of everyone involved is always our top priority in law enforcement," Police Chief Gary Gardner said. "While we hope we'll never need to use the training in a real-life active shooter situation, we are glad to be working in partnership with the fire department to achieve that goal, if necessary."
Both teams will use ballistic vests, helmets, collapsible stretchers and other medical supplies in any incident, the departments' press release states.
Fire Chief John Butler said the departments are also using lessons learned from past responses in the county, including the Columbia mall shooting in January 2014, where two people were killed by a gunman who then killed himself. Nationwide tragedies are also studied, such as the Columbine High School shooting in 1999 and the Aurora, Co., movie theater shooting in 2012.
"We are adapting and evolving," Butler said. "Our strong partnership with HCPD is growing as well and this training will ensure we get to victims quickly and provide the best and safest care possible."
Interactive scenarios are held at the James N. Robey Public Safety Training Center in Marriottsville, the departments announced, teaching teams how to provide medical care in potentially hostile situations.