Lawmen Prepare For The Worst

Troopers and officers are training to stop someone from killing students in a Green Country school.  All officers shudder at the possibility of a shooting on a local campus, but they know it could happen. 

Since the massacre at Columbine, News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports there's a whole new approach to those types of situations and that's why training is so important.

The old theory for the scenario was simply surround the building and wait for the SWAT team.  But, after so many students were killed at Columbine, while officers were outside waiting, there is now a new approach.

The first officers on the scene, make a quick plan, and then go straight to the sound of gunfire.

"In a matter of two or three minutes, he could kill as many students as he has rounds for," said OHP Trooper Shane Hackler

Having city, county and state officer's train together is important because in some rural areas, there may be only one trooper on duty, a deputy and two police officers.

In a life and death scenario, they need to know how others will react.

"Everyone gets on the same sheet of music and it's easier for us to go into a school or bad situation when everybody has the same training," said OHP Lt. George Brown.

All involved in the training agree, this is something they must prepare for, and is something they all hope they never use.

OHP is hosting the training all over the state.  They are also teaching officers two other scenarios, armed and barricaded suspects and hostage situations.

Find more stories on NewsOn6.com's Local News page.