(Photo: KSL TV)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department, along with the Salt Lake City School District joined together yesterday for a training focused on an active attacker response.
The three-hour training centered on giving principals and administrators a framework to deal with under such situations and was based on principles that came from a study of other events that have taken place across the country to keep staff and students safe.
“The partnerships and training that we participate in with our other community members helps ensure the safety for our children and the community as a whole, we get the latest training from federal agencies and are excited to teach and train administrators from schools and local organizations,” said Salt Lake City Chief of Police Mike Brown.
“At the end of the day, it’s about our children and their safety,” he added.
The process focused on the decision-making that needs to occur during an active event and was based on the ADD Model: Avoid, Deny, Defend.
The ADD Model emphasizes being aware and minimizing contact with the threat, denying contact between the attacker and potential victims, and then as a last resort, fighting back.
“We are grateful to Chief Brown and the Salt Lake City Police Department for spending time training our principals this morning. We feel lucky to work with such a responsive and committed team of law enforcement officials,” said Superintendent Dr. Lexi Cunningham.
“Continuing to build our relationship is a priority to make sure we do all we can to keep our students safe during an emergency,” Cunningham added.
This training is part of a larger effort by the Salt Lake City School District to prepare administrators, teachers, and staff for any emergencies they might encounter, which include monthly emergency drills and training, as well as updates to the security systems of schools.
The entire press release can be read here.