Another tool in a teacher’s belt

When Chad Sheehan came to the Creston High School to present an active shooter training Aug. 20 to teachers and staff, he made it very clear it wasn’t to replace the existing ALICE program teachers have been taught.

The S.A.V.E. Program stands for shelter in place/barricade; awareness; violence stops violence and evacuate. Sheehan began teaching the program in 2014, 20 years into his law enforcement career. Now the presentation has been taught to more than 300,000 people from 28 states. He was elected Woodbury County Sheriff in 2020.

Union County Sheriff Candidate Brian Bolton said Creston Mayor Waylon Clayton had approached him about what more they could do to keep the schools safe. Bolton recommended Sheehan’s program.

Creston Superintendent Deron Stender said they’re always looking for more ways to increase safety, especially with the false alarm incidents that have occurred over the last few years.

During the presentation, Sheehan cited a 20-year FBI study showing the chances of an armed intruder in a school is higher today than in previous years. Between 2000 and 2004, there was an average of 7.4 shootings/year. In 2015-2019, there was an average of 26.2.

National Institute for Occupational Saftey and Health shares workplace violence in the U.S. costs approximately $120 billion per year. Overall, homicide is the fourth-leading cause of workplace fatality. For women, it’s the number one cause.

Sheehan asked the audience who the first responders are in an active killing incident at the school. The teachers and staff responded, “we are.” Sheehan shared the average law enforcement response time from the time of notification is 5-6 minutes; yet, the average length of incident is 3-6 minutes.

Knowing law enforcement likely won’t be there until it’s over, Sheehan offered strategies and empowerment to those in the room.

He began by debunking myths. Despite what may be depicted on TV or in the media, the most common weapon in a mass killing is a pistol, not an AK-47 or an AR-15. Using props, Sheehan demonstrated how firearms look and what to look for to know the shooter is reloading.

Statistics show a probable chance of surviving an active killing incident. He cited the 2012 movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, to make his case. Though 12 were killed, 58 were injured but survived. In addition, there were approximately 280 people in the theater who weren’t hurt.

“You have to have a will to live,” Sheehan said. “Don’t be any easy target.” For Sheehan, his wife and five kids at home are who he thinks of when things get tough. He recommended everyone have a picture in their head to think of when they are in a life-or-death situation.

When faced with an active killer — defined as, “Any individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims,” — Sheehan said to remember to do whatever it takes to survive.

From kids going into the teachers’ lounge to going through employee-only areas in a business, victims need to know they don’t need to follow the rules they follow in day-to-day life.

Sheehan shared a quote from President Theodore Roosevelt, “In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The next best thing is the wrong thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.”

When looking at the S.A.V.E. options or the Department of Homeland Security’s “Run, Hide, Fight,” response, Sheehan said they aren’t in order. Evacuate may be the best option from the start. But no matter what, do something.

The school uses a lockdown, lockout system for whether the danger is inside the building or out. Sheehan suggested changing the verbiage to “secure” when the threat is outside the building.

For example, when the high school and other buildings locked down two weeks ago after a shooting on North Lincoln Street, the danger was outside the building. By saying lockout or locked down, the impression of danger is given. If the terminology is “the high school is secure,” it provides more clarity and peace of mind the school is safe.

Stender said he took notes during the program and the school’s safety guidelines are always evolving as new information is learned.

As the first full week of school comes to a close, teachers and staff will be getting back into the rhythm of having students in the classroom again. Now they’ve got an extra tool in their belt if the need arises to pull it out.