Montana News

Peace officers conduct "active shooter" training exercise

Posted: Mar 13, 2013 7:33 PM by Melissa Anderson - MTN News
Updated: Mar 13, 2013 7:35 PM

HELENA - Law enforcement officers from across Montana took part in a an "active shooter" training exercise at Fort Harrison on Monday.

Officers from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks, BLM, Sheriff's departments, and the Montana Highway Patrol learned some new moves while responding to different scenarios while tactically making their way through an old building.

The realistic training gives them a an immediate active role in response, instead of waiting for the arrival of SWAT teams.

Instructor Clint Pullman said, "It's not okay for us to sit and wait for the SWAT teams anymore when we have a known active shooter incident occurring. We now are expecting our officers to go back in and take care of that threat themselves."

MHP Sergeant Alex Betz said, "This is invaluable training. It gives the officers an opportunity to go through scenario-based training, some stress inoculation involved, and allows them to just be better servants to the public."

So far, nearly 100 officers have been trained through the program in the last couple of months.