JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville law enforcement agencies practiced active shooter drills at Ed White High School on Wednesday.
An active shooter on a school campus is a nightmare scenario for students, parents, and law enforcement.
“While we take every step possible to prevent an active shooter from entering a school campus,” Duval County School Police Chief Jackson Short said. “We must also be prepared for any contingency.”
It’s why DCPS police, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue practiced their response at Ed White High School.
JSO Sheriff T.K. Waters described what a successful response to an active shooter situation looks like.
“No loss of life, reunification done properly so families don’t panic that’s the successful event,” Waters said. “That’s the hope. We trained for years a long time now since history has taught us we don’t wait, single officer, you go in. If I’m around I go in that’s our responsibility.”
News4JAX wasn’t allowed in the building where the drill was happening, but JSO officers were seen going into the building where they dealt with an active shooter scenario and simulated victims.
Then they worked with JFRD to get students the medical attention they needed and reunited students with their families.
“We don’t want something like this to happen but failure to prepare is preparing to fail and that’s what we’re doing,” Waters said.
Short said they use the summer to test that their plans will work in every school.
He also said all the law enforcement agencies are constantly practicing all year round.
For more information about what parents and students should do during an active shooter situation, click here to visit the DCPS website.