Ensuring the safety of public-school students requires a collaborative effort by school personnel and law enforcement, according to Liberty County Sheriff Steve Sikes, whose office recently completed active-shooter training. The training, with the assistance of Global Tactical Training Group and the Midway Police Department, included all certified deputies and consisted of building entries, room entries and rappelling techniques.
Some teams trained on entering rooms and engaging the active shooter using simunition rounds, while other teams trained on rappelling into open windows. Principals and assistant principals from the Liberty County School System also participated in training and observed.
“We are looking forward to working with the board of education in future training,” Sikes said. “Training in different areas of the county is one of my top goals for this year.”
The sheriff’s office will continue to work with the school system to develop a collaborative plan and train both his officers and school personnel. The LCSO also will work with the Liberty County Commission to expand its training into other facilities.