Gunshots rang out Thursday from the second floor of Huddleston Career and Tech building at Southwest Mississippi Community College. Law enforcement officers, suited with bullet-proof vests and head gear, scattered about on both floors.
While they knew the situation was a drill, they said later their adrenaline was still rapidly flowing.
“Your blood starts pumping and your heart is racing,” David Adams, full-time police officer at SMCC, said. “We never know what they’re going to throw at us.”
The Advance Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training, or ALERRT program, is designed for law enforcement and first responders to learn how to handle incidents involving an active shooter or hostage situations.
Adams said he’s been in law enforcement for 19 years, and the thought of a shooting still scares him.
“First responders run in the building when everyone else runs out. If someone says they’re not scared of that, they’re lying,” he said.
Officers were armed with Glock 17T handguns that fired ammunition similar to that in a paintball gun.
Each scenario presented to them differed, workforce training coordinator Loran Gerald said.
“When they get the call, they don’t know what kind of situation they’re walking into. It doesn’t have to be a school. It can be a shopping mall,” she said.
Some scenes portrayed in the training involved hostages, and an officer designated as the negotiator would try to convince the shooter to put down his weapon and free those trapped, Gerald said.
“The training helps them to know the different situations and what they can do for different locations.”
SMCC officer Jay Bain said he can’t help but wonder “what if” when he hears of school shootings around the nation, but since he completed the ALERRT course, he feels more prepared.
“It helps prepare you mentally and physically,” he said. “It helps working with a team to know someone has your back.”
McComb police officer Pyran Taylor said the shooting drill trains the officers to respond to a hostile situation without having to think about what they’re walking into.
“It trains your muscle memory so that when something happens, you rely on that,” he said.
Some officers said it was easier for them to approach calls expecting the worst in order to be more prepared, while some approach each call differently.
Pike County Sheriff’s deputy Wesley Baney said every call is unique.
“I approach each call individually because each one has its own challenges,” he said. “The biggest concern is getting home at the end of the night.”
Police officers weren’t the only ones who attended the course.
McComb Fire Investigator and shift captain Warren Agnor said he joined the class to gain experience and offer help to officers.
“You never know if something were to happen, officers may need more help,” he said.
ALERRT is a 16-hour, two-part course, with the first being a classroom setting and the second involving hands-on scenarios.
The adult detention officer certification training program also wrapped up Thursday. The course taught booking officers inmate supervision principles such as how to dispense medications, administer CPR and conduct proper booking procedures.
“It teaches how to handle general daily activities because you’re responsible for all of the inmates’ basic needs,” said instructor Jayne Causey.
“The goal is, at the end of the day, you go home. Nobody gets hurt and no one escapes.”
McComb police adult detention officer Kaylene Peterson said among other skills, she learned the importance of communication with inmates.
“Suspects and inmates should be treated with respect,” she said.
Pike County jailer Delisha Butler said all inmates, regardless of their alleged crimes, must be treated equally and with dignity.
“You have to treat everyone the same, whether they’re black or white, gang-related or non-gang-related,” she said.
Adams County officer Tyler McClure said a major part of his job is taking inmates to and from court, and he has to know how to do it safely.
“We always keep an eye on them and keep them at arms’ length,” he said.
McComb employee Danielle Norman completed the course as part of her training to be a booking officer.
“I’m learning defense tactics and safety procedures,” she said.
Norman said she’s learning not to judge an inmate by his or her crime.
“Why they come to jail is none of my business. I’m just doing my job,” she said.
Gerald said any law enforcement officials who want more information on training programs can contact her at 276-2442 or lgerald@smcc.edu.
