Franklin Police Department hosts active shooter training seminars amid rising concerns
The goal of the 90-minute seminar is to provide attendees with practical strategies for responding to an active shooter situation.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - As mass shootings continue to make headlines nationwide, the Franklin Police Department (FPD) is taking proactive steps to help prepare the community for potential emergencies.
On Sept. 24, the FPD hosted the first of three active shooter seminars aimed at educating residents on how to respond in such situations. Originally, only two sessions were planned, but due to overwhelming demand, a third seminar has been added for Oct. 15. Registration for that newly added session is now open.
Max Winitz, Public Information Manager for the Franklin Police Department, explains the purpose of these lectures is to be ready to handle any situation.
“The benefit of attending something like this is that you will leave feeling better prepared,” Winitz said. “It’s just in this day and age, you never know when it’s going to happen. You could be at the grocery store, seeing a movie... you just, you just don’t know.”
This training comes shortly after three tragic shootings earlier this month. One occurred at Apalachee High School in Georgia, where two students and two teachers lost their lives. Another incident unfolded on I-75 in Kentucky, where five people were injured.
“The other taking place over the weekend in Alabama, where four people were killed at a Hookah Lounge,” Winitz noted. “So, as I mentioned, the demand for this education is there, and we are proud to be able to offer this seminar for the residents of Franklin.”
The goal of the 90-minute seminar is to provide attendees with practical strategies for responding to an active shooter situation. However, as Winitz clarified, the training is not about using guns.
“You’re not going to learn how to use a firearm. That is not the purpose of these meetings. The purpose is to educate yourself on how to respond before, after, and during a shooting situation.”
The seminars are held at the Franklin Police Department’s Community Room on Columbia Avenue. While the Oct. 8 session is fully booked, residents can still sign up for the newly added session on Oct. 15 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required to attend. To register, click here.
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