Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office recently hosted a special training with other local first responders designed to simulate an active shooter event. The training course, entitled “Active Attack Integrated Response” is designed to allow law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical service personnel to train together in response to an active shooter event. The training was conducted at Central Lafourche High School in Mathews.

“In order to save lives in such incidents, you must have cooperation among agencies,” said Sheriff Webre. “It’s absolutely critical that our local law enforcement agencies, EMS, and fire departments train together to maximize preservation of life. This training demonstrates the evolution of our commitment to school safety. We continue to ensure our school resource officers, D.A.R.E. officers, and all deputies are prepared to respond when a situation arises.”

The training course was hosted by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University. The Active Attack Integrated Response Course is a two-day, 16-hour course designed to improve integration between law enforcement, dispatchers, fire, and emergency medical services in active attack/shooter events. The course provides law enforcement officers with tactical emergency casualty care skills which increases a victim’s chances of survival. The course also provides a model framework for law enforcement, fire, and EMS to integrate responses during an active attack through the rescue task force concept.

Personnel from several agencies attended the training including the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lockport Police Department, and Port Fourchon Harbor Police, as well as the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Houma Police Department, Grand Isle Police Department, and Gulfport (Mississippi) Police Department. The training also included personnel from Acadian Ambulance, the U.S. Coast Guard, and firefighters from Lafourche Parish Fire District #3 (South Lafourche), Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department, and the Bayou Blue Volunteer Fire Department.

Kully Griffin, Fire Chief for Lafourche Parish Fire District #3, stated: “When it comes to complicated emergencies, agencies that train and work together are better prepared to handle them. This training helped bring to focus multiple aspects of an active shooter scenario, and our members who participated are excited to share their knowledge with everyone else.”

Chad Davis, Operations Supervisor for Acadian Ambulance, said: “Every emergency response agency should attend this type of training. EMS, fire departments, and LPSO all working as one unit to respond to an active shooter event will save lives.”

In addition to this training, all P.O.S.T.-certified LPSO deputies have taken part in single-day active shooter training this month. Lieutenant John Champagne, an LPSO ALERRT instructor who assisted in coordinating both training sessions, echoed Sheriff Webre’s sentiments. “Every time there is another mass shooting, we learn more about law enforcement’s response – what worked and what didn’t,” said Lt. Champagne. “Unfortunately, the shooters learn and evolve as well. We have to do our best to stay one step ahead at all times, and these training courses are a major step forward in minimizing casualties if such an event ever occurs. It’s the type of training we hope we never need.”

Training participants from the U.S. Coast Guard enter a school after receiving a call of an active shooter incident.

Training participants from LPSO and the Port Fourchon Harbor Police render aid to a “gunshot victim” following a response to an active shooter incident.

During the training, firefighters and EMTs enter a building following an active shooter incident.

During the training, EMTs and firefighters assist an injured man into an ambulance while an officer stands guard at the scene.