Orchard Park PD utilizing new techniques to help save lives during school shootings

Monday night, in an empty Orchard Park Middle School, police practiced responding to an active shooter, while Orchard Park firefighters and EMS treated the wounded.

The shooter and victims were actors in this case.

GOOD.PTHE ORCHARD PARKPOLICE IS READY.WE ONLY GET GOODBY DOING.

ANDFORTUNATELY HERE INWNY WE DON'T DO THISALL THE TIME.MONDAY NIGHT, IN AAN EMPTY ORCHARDPARK MIDDLESCHOOL..

THEYPRACTICEDRESPONDING TO ANACTIVE SHOOTER,WHILE ORCHARD PARKFIREFIGHTERS ANDEMS TREATED THEWOUNDED..

ACTORSIN THIS CASE.SO THE IDEA OF LAWENFORCEMENTSECURING A SCENEAND THEN CALLINGEMS TO TRANSPORTAND TREAT PATIENTS ISA VERY ANTIQUATEDIDEA.

AND WE KNOWTHE TIME IT TAKES TOSECURE A THREESTORY SCHOOLBUILDING ISSIGNIFICANTLY LONG.THAT'S A RELATIVELYNEW TECHNIQUE.IN SCHOOLSHOOTINGS IN THEPAST, MEDICALTREATMENTWOULDN'T BECLEARED TO ENTEREDA BUILDING WITH ANACTIVE SHOOTERUNTIL THE SHOOTINGWAS CONFIRMED TOBE DONE.THE IDEA IS TOINCREASE THE NUMBEROF SURVIVORS FROM AVERY VIOLENT ATTACK.BUT ARE DRILLS LIKETHESE HELPFUL FORSCHOOLS?SHORT ANSWER, YES.BUT WE'LL EXPLAINWHY WE ASK THISQUESTION.LAST WEEK, THEAMERICANFEDERATION OFTEACHERS AND THENATIONAL EDUCATIONASSOCIATIONRELEASED A REPORTTHAT SAID LOCKDOWNDRILLS AND ACTIVESHOOTING DRILLS CANBE HIGHLY TRAUMATICFOR STUDENTS,ESPECIALLY YOUNGONES.BUT AS CAPTAINFITZGERALDEXPLAINS..

THERE'S AREASON A DRILL ASACTIVE AS THIS... ISBEING DONE WHENKIDS ARE ONFEBRUARY BREAK.THERE'S ADIFFERENCE BETWEENA SCHOOL LOCK DOWNDRILL WHICH NYSREQUIRES EVERYSCHOOL PRACTICE,MINIMUM FOUR TIMES AYEAR AND AN ACTIVESHOOTER DRILL SOWHAT WE'RE DOINGTONIGHT IS AN ACTIVESHOOTER DRILL.LOCKDOWN DRILLS INORCHARD PARK ANDMOST SCHOOLS AREFAR LESS INVOLVED.WE HOPE IT NEVERHAPPENS WE HOPE WENEVER HAVE TO PUTTHESE SKILLS TO USE.AT THE SAME TIME, WEWANT TO PRACTICEJUST IN CASEFOR MOREINFORMATION ON THISAMERICANFEDERATION OFTEACHERS REPORTON SCHOOLLOCKDOWNS YOU CANCLICK ON THIS STORYON OUR WEBSITE..WKBW.COM