Fulton police, schools cooperate on active shooter drills

March 14, 2013 at 6:00 a.m. | Updated March 14, 2013 at 6:00 a.m.

Armed with airsoft guns, John Williams, Brandi Blankenship and Anthony Bell practice taking position in a Fulton Middle School during active shooter training the Fulton Police Department held there Wednesday. The police department and Fulton Public Schools are increasing the bredth of their preparedness training for a school shooter incident to include the middle and elementary schools following the Sandy Hook shooting.
Armed with airsoft guns, John Williams, Brandi Blankenship and Anthony Bell practice taking position in a Fulton Middle School during active shooter training the Fulton Police Department held there Wednesday. The police department and Fulton Public Schools are increasing the bredth of their preparedness training for a school shooter incident to include the middle and elementary schools following the Sandy Hook shooting.

While Fulton's middle schoolers were out on spring break, a group of about 12 Fulton police officers were hard at work Wednesday studying to keep students safe in the event of a tragedy.

The police department ran active shooter drills through Fulton Middle School as part of an ongoing effort to be prepared in the event of a shooting. The district also has a team of experts coming in to do district-wide preparedness training for staff in September.

The active shooter course the police ran was hosted by Maj. Roger Rice and Sgt. Garrett Poole, who gave the officers a tour of the building and ran through a variety of drills.

"God forbid it does happen here, we want to be prepared for it," said Poole. The department does training drills multiple times a year for an incident at Fulton schools. "We're ready, absolutely."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.