With recent mass shootings in the United States, the Lubbock Police Department is making it their goal to teach everyone what to do if this were to happen to you.
“It’s a sad state of affairs that it actually happens but even more so, knowing about it and being prepared is even more important for businesses,” said Eddie McBride, president of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce.
The Lubbock Police Department set up a scenario inside of the MCM Elegante Hotel and Suites.
Law enforcement showed everyone what to look for and the best escape routes in an active shooter situation.
“The student is going to leave this training with a restored confidence with their safety in terms of mass shooting events,” Chris Paine, LPD special operations detective, said.
Participants were shown video of a re-enacted shooting, and they were encouraged to express how they felt watching the suspects target their victims.
Paine said it was important for the audience to reflect on the emotions involved with this type of crime.
“It does lend itself to being exposed to what you might experience in a live event, so that if you’ve been there before, in a training environment, when a real-life situation might happen then already, emotionally, you’ve been there,” Paine said.
An acronym to remember is A.D.D., which Paine said means avoid, deny and defend. He said A.D.D. is the goal for anyone in an active shooter situation.
As for the Chamber of Commerce, they are glad they went through this training session and feel prepared if someone attacks.
“We’ve had several incidents in the past where we as a staff need to know better,” McBride said.
