By Jarrod Peters
Randolph County Sheriff
CHESTER, Ill. – On Tuesday, June 3rd, area First Responders and School Administrators came together recently for a collaborative training provided by Illinois Fire Service Institute, in preparation for an Active Shooter Incident in a school setting. The training was held at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta.
Those in attendance included command personnel representing the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Randolph County Emergency Management, Chester Police Department and Fire, Coulterville Police and Fire, Steeleville Police Department and Fire, Red Bud Police and Fire, Sparta Police Department and MedStar Ambulance.
The training program began with a one-day Active Shooter Incident Management course exclusively designed for First Responders (Police, Fire, EMS). The course focused on a framework to manage an active shooter event from neutralizing the initial threat, to medical intervention.
Wednesday (day two) incorporated local school officials. This course of instruction integrated the responsibilities school officials will be required to carry out with the material from the previous days training with special emphasis on student/parent reunification.
All Randolph County area school districts were represented. Those officials included representatives from the Sparta School District, Chester School District, Steeleville School District, Coulterville School District, Red Bud School District, Prairie Du Rocher School District, St. John Catholic School (Red Bud), St. John Lutheran (Chester), and Evansville Attendance Center.
Collaboration with our area school officials and local first responders strengthen our community’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to critical incidents. By working together, we ensure a coordinated approach that prioritizes safety, communication, and preparedness for every individual involved.
The Sheriff’s Office looks forward to continued efforts between our local law enforcement and school officials in developing future training and preparation to ensure safety in our schools
