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Ben Hillyer/The Natchez Democrat — Vidalia police officers, from left, Samara Malone, Miranda Clifton and Denny Bozeman go through an exercise Monday evening in the basement of Parkway Baptist Church as part of their regular training. A group of four officers trained in common crisis situations, including scenarios similar to the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., in December.

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Vidalia police train for mass shooting scenario

Published 12:00am Tuesday, January 8, 2013

NATCHEZ — The recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., has prompted one local law enforcement agency to complete training to ensure they are prepared for a similar event.

Four Vidalia Police Department officers and two dispatchers went through training that simulated a school shooting and other scenarios with Natchez Police Capt. Tom McGehee Monday in the basement of Parkway Baptist Church.

Officers Miranda Clifton, Denny Bozeman, Stuart Boykin and Samara Malone carefully walked the halls of the basement in a diamond formation, with each officer against the back of another covering all angles, simulating the procedures they would use to clear a school in the event of a shooting.

Officer Miranda Clifton works through a hostage training exercise.

The dispatchers portrayed suspects in the shooting scenario, as well as other hostage situations.

“This way (the dispatchers) are able to feel what their guys are doing in the field,” McGehee said.

McGehee gives the same training to Natchez police officers each August in the basement of the church. Vidalia Police Chief Arthur Lewis said he wanted to do the training even before the Sandy Hook shooting last month.

“But the school shooting had a lot to do with why I wanted (the officers) to do the training,” he said.

The training is done in teams and will be completed over four sessions. The officers, McGehee said, will also learn procedures that can be used in other aspects of police work, including clearing a building during a burglary and hostage negotiation.

A situation like the Sandy Hook shooting can happen anywhere, Lewis said. Preparation and training, he said, is the best weapon the department can have.

“You can never have too much training in police work,” he said. “I have a 5-year-old daughter, and from time to time, I think about the kids in Connecticut. You shouldn’t be surprised what the world is bringing on you, and I just think we need to be prepared.”

 

 

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  • Anonymous

    These pistol wielding officers would be outgunned if facing someone with a Colt AR-15 as at Newtown, Conn.

  • Anonymous

    Give me a trained cop with actual range-time wielding a .40 pistol over a rifle-wielding Halo player any day. Especially in closer quarters. The only advantage of the AR-15 is range and that is negated in a classroom.

  • Anonymous

    Crakalakin WHY DON’T YOU STOP MAKING A FOOL OUT OF YOURSELF. YOU JUST JUMP IN AND SAY THE FIRST THING THAT JUMPS INTO YOUR HEAD TRYING TO BE PART OF SOMETHING YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. I SEE YOU DON’T KNOW JACK ABOUT AN AR-15. I THINK YOU JUST LOVE TO JACK YOUR JAWS.

  • Eggplant

    Dave, why is you worried about dis when dey talkin about moving the jailhouse…. Have you lost yo focus?

  • Anonymous

    This is great. However, every school in this area is completely open. The “security” is a joke and
    parents should be outraged. If you look at the crime rates in Natchez andVidalia, per capita, the numbers are comparable with New Orleans. Natchez/Vidalia actually have higher rates when looking at crime per capita in assaults,burglary, and theft. Why are the schools completely open for anyone to walk in or out of? Have you looked at the number of sex offenders in the area around our schools? It is sad and should have parents concerned. Until we take a unified stand there will be nothing done, until there is no choice. Our children and parents deserve better. While I realize the school in CT hadsecurity and it was incredibly tragic, imagine what could happen to our children with no barrier at the door. At least this crazed man was slowed some. Could you imagine the horror if the front door would have been wide open? He could have reached many more children before they could have called 911. Wake
    up Miss/Lou we need to stand up for our children.

  • Anonymous

    Volume is the answer.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1585705255 Kathy Dodge

    You’re absolutley right. Anyone can just walk into the schools here. The ‘Visitors report to the office’ sign won’t stop an armed lunatic. If people think what happened in Newtown can’t happen here, they’re wrong. It’s not a question of if, but when.

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