Canton Police To Host Active Shooter Seminar

CANTON, GA -- The Canton Police Department, in partnership with the First Baptist Church of Canton, will host a community training program to help you respond if you become a witness to an active shooter situation.

This Civilian Response To Active Shooter Events course will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17 at the church, which is located at 1 Mission Point in Canton. The course is designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend strategy that was developed by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center located at Texas State University.

Agency instructors will teach the course and will provide strategies, guidance and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. This important program is open to all citizens, and seating will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

Children are welcome to attend but parental guidance is strongly recommended, as some of the presented material will contain scenes that are sensitive to some viewers.

"Throughout this year, we have held CRASE events around our city and the program has been a huge success," said Canton Police Chief Mark Mitchell said. "Close to a thousand citizens previously attended the life saving training that was very well received. I strongly believe this interaction is another avenue where we can establish long lasting relationships and trust with our community. Additionally, this also educates our community on the fact that all law enforcement in Cherokee County is educating our citizens on how to respond and react to an Active Shooter incident."

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