TPD And TCSO Use Old Osage Casino Building For Active Shooter Training

Police officers and deputies raced through the Osage Casino on Wednesday as a part of active shooter training. TPD and TCSO say they were thankful to use the old casino building as a real-life setting to practice their skills.

Instructors say the goal with any shooter training is to make it as real as possible.

"Not all the casino machines are in there but a lot of them are and it gives us an opportunity to look at a floor plan and a layout that we don't normally get an opportunity to train on," said TPD Capt. Mike Eckert.

They started with a walkthrough to learn the area and decide on a plan of attack. Then, they put on their masks and went after their target.

"The tradeoff there is we are providing the instruction and they are providing the facility. And like I said there's so many casinos in the Tulsa area that if we have an active shooter at one of those casinos, Tulsa Police Department is going to be responding to it," said Capt. Eckert.

Officers and deputies were armed with a paintball-like gun that is made to look just like a Glock. The round has a blue tip on it that won't penetrate the skin but the “shooter” will know he has been hit.

Osage Casino management saw this as a great opportunity to prepare their security team too.

"We have always been proactive in trying to get safety for our guests and employees and having them feel safe and have a nice fun environment," said Osage Casino General Manager Matthew Shunkamolah.

Soon the Casino will be torn down to make room for more parking at the new Osage Casino.