South Brunswick Police Teach Active Shooter Preparedness

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — On the one-year anniversary of the tragic Parkland mass shooting, the South Brunswick police department is launching a first-of-its-kind training program for all residents: How to respond in an active-shooter situation.

Police officers are holding the first public training March 12 at Crossroads North, but they will also come to your place of worship, business, club, school or meeting. The free training is offered in one-hour sessions. The 60-minute program is designed to increase situational awareness and someone's ability to respond to an active shooter.

“By being aware of your surroundings and having a plan, you are already ahead of most people," said Community Policing Division Lieutenant Gene Rickle. "Doing nothing in an active shooter situation is not an option. The 60 minutes you spend in this program will provide you with an advantage when every second counts.”

The first seminar will be Tuesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. at Crossroads North Middle School at 635 Georges Road, Monmouth Junction. Anyone from the public is welcome to attend.

The department has an extremely ambitious goal of educating 5,000 people over the next 10 months. In addition to Crossroads, they already have more than a dozen presentations scheduled.

The subject matter is dark, but vitally needed.

"We took a look at the ongoing efforts within our schools, but realized that 42 percent of all active shooter situations take place in commercial areas,” said South Brunswick Police Raymond Hayducka. He pointed to recent examples in the past year in New Jersey alone, such as at the Newport Center Mall in Jersey City, Garden State Plaza Mall, and a South Jersey UPS facility.

South Brunswick police will present the program to any group, business, houses of worship, club, or organization at their location or at a training room in the South Brunswick municipal building.

“We know this information is valuable so we are flexible to meet the needs of anyone who asks for this program," said Lt. Rickle.

If you are interested in attending the March 12 presentation, please email pdtraining@sbtnj.net with your name and number of attendees in your group. In the subject line of the email, type YES – MARCH 12th.

If you want more information about the program, or would like the South Brunswick police department to come to do a presentation at your business, house of worship, or organization, email pdtraining@sbtnj.net. In the subject line of the email, type MORE INFO. If you have any additional questions, call Community Policing Division at (732) 329-4000 ext. 7459.

“Based on the initial interest in the program, I believe there is a strong desire for this presentation. We already have several presentations scheduled with businesses and community members,” said Chief Hayducka.

The department said they hope other departments in New Jersey will offer something similar.

Top photo: Man using a paintball gun in an active shooter drill done by Clearwater, Florida police. /D’Ann Lawrence White/Patch