The DeFuniak Springs Police hosted Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training at the Walton High School on March 23rd and 24th. Also attending were the Walton County Sheriff's Office School Resource Deputies. The training was conducted by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and paid for with funds from Homeland Security.
The training emphasized the importance of having a plan and obtaining the training to deal with active shooter incidents. Officers and Deputies worked together in teams in order to enhance multiagency response to an active shooter incident and the roles each would play during an incident. Simunition guns were used during the training to add realism to the exercises. The Simunition guns shoot soft bullets that leave a colored mark on the person if they are hit. The guns function like an actual handgun.
It is a goal of the DeFuniak Springs Police to have all officers attend the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training. Half of the agency's officers attended the training and more officers have already been registered to attend the same training in Geneva, AL.
Chief Mark Weeks stated, "it is my hope that we never have to utilize the training we received but it is our duty to be prepared."
The DeFuniak Springs Police would like to thank the Walton County School administration for allowing us to use the high school during spring break.