Steve Williamson holds Andy Vargas hostage during a simulated active shooter drill Friday, Nov. 15 at Lanier Park in Gainesville. Instructors led the Northeast Georgia Health System security teams through different scenarios to prepare for potential threats. - photo by Nick Watson

 

Much respect to Northeast Georgia Health System in Gainesville, GA for their continued training in the area of active security threats. As trainer BK Blankchtein said, it is far better to be proactive than retroactive with regard to such situations. Another positive is that the hospital surveyed their staff after a recent threat and then addressed any concerns that were noted. -- IFPO.

BY The Times

When facing an active threat, a security officer’s sidearm is not the most important piece of standard-issued equipment.

“You have radios for a reason. Arguably, your radio is your strongest tool, better than your gun. Use it. Get more people on the scene. Get help. Communicate where you are and what you know,” said instructor BK Blankchtein during training Friday, Nov. 15.

Blankchtein walked more than a dozen officers (employed by Northeast Georgia Health System in Gainesville, GA)  through a variety of scenarios — one shooter, multiple shooters, hostage-takers — and gave feedback on their responses.

The training usually kicks off with 20 to 30 minutes on theory and going through the trends seen in the field.

“Most hospitals that we work with around the country, they wait for something to happen and then we have to do something about it. This hospital, specifically for the past 10 years that I’ve been working with them, they are always looking (like), ‘OK, this is going to happen at some point. Let’s get ready for it now,” Blankchtein said.

The security team had a chance to use this annual training in the real world on Sept. 20 when a caller told 911 a man was waving a gun in the area of 1075 Jesse Jewell Parkway at Northeast Georgia Physicians Group.

The man, Adam Paul English, 21, of Oakwood, was shot multiple times by two Gainesville Police officers, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. English was transported to NGMC, where he was pronounced dead.

Read the rest of the story.

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