Hesston College hosted fifty representatives from Harvey County education, public health, fire, EMS, law enforcement, emergency response fields and large local employers for ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Execute) training on July 25 and 26.

The seminar, conducted by the ALICE Training Institute, a national organization, was a “train the trainer” model, giving participants tools to supplement lockdown procedures and broaden their knowledge base on best practices for violent intruder response. The training was provided through a grant Hesston Chief of Police Doug Schroeder received from the Hesston Community Foundation Response Fund.

“These training sessions give organizations information to conform to state and federal guidelines in the event of an active shooter or other violent intruder situation,” said trainer Justin Pan. “It offers regular people options to be proactive in a response beyond a typical lockdown or shelter in place while they wait on law enforcement to arrive.”

Some methods participants learn include learning how best and quickest to inform other people on the premises of a violent person’s location and other details, how best to assist with providing information to law enforcement, evacuation plans and tactics for distracting and disarming a violent person.

Participants learn how to take what they’ve learned and present it back to others in their organizations and institutions to improve lockdown procedures.