CSUMB releases active shooter training video

UPDATE 3/3/2016 4:45 PM: There have been more than three dozen mass shootings in the United States in 2016. One week ago today, a gunman in Kansas opened fire at two businesses, killing four and injuring 14. Statistics from both the FBI and Washington, D.C. based non-profit Gun Violence Archive show an increase of mass shootings in the U.S. since 2000.

These shootings have prompted more law enforcement agencies to get involved and offer active shooter training.

That includes the police department at Cal State University Monterey Bay. The department has been offering active shooter training presentations to students and staff. But with over 7,000 students, it’s hard to reach everyone. They hope a new video released this week will help everyone be prepared should the unthinkable every happen.

Officers suggest the “Run, Hide, Fight” tactics. Run and get as far away from the shooter as possible and when at a safe distance, call 911. Hide if cornered in a room, and barricade any entry points. And if someone absolutely has to, fight.

“Fighting is a last resort but if it’s between you and the shooter, we want you to survive,” CSUMB Police Chief Earl Lawson said in the video.

The video also informs students what campus authorities would do in an active shooter situation. An OtterALERT would be sent out via text and email and messages through a public address system. Based on what information is available at that moment, students can react.

“So once they get that message, they need to know what their options are, kind of what is expected of them and what to expect of the police officers that are responding as well,” Lawson said.

Campus police train for these potentially deadly situations, now they want current and incoming students to do the same.

“It’s also going to be included in the university’s iLearn program,” Lawson said. “Our students are required to do some online training, get some online information before they arrive at CSUMB, so it incorporates it into the new student orientation.”

It’s been an eye-opening experience for community services officer and student Claudia Rodriguez, who also participated in the video.

“I didn’t know you could lock a door with a belt,” Rodriguez said. “So that kind of made it different to look at, what you have around you in order to help you survive.”

Because knowledge is power, university police hope this video is shared by students and staff. Chief Lawson said while a mass shooting is a very unlikely event, the community needs to be prepared.

ORIGINAL POST:

This week, California State University, Monterey Bay released an active shooter training video.

The video explains what students should do in case of an active shooter situation. It also shows how campus police will respond.

Click here to see the video, which is a dramatization.

Tonight on KION, Mariana Hicks will have more on the video as organizations across the United States prepare people for this type of situation.