'The Statesboro public demands more'

Local law enforcements come together for active shooter training course

Paul Smith of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, left, discusses performance and strategies with Capt. Todd Mashburn and Cpl. Noel Brown of the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, right, during this week's active shooter training on the campus of Georgia Southern University.

w080415 ACITVE SHOOTER 11 — Paul Smith of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, left, discusses performance and strategies with Capt. Todd Mashburn and Cpl. Noel Brown of the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, right, during this week's active shooter training on the campus of Georgia Southern University.

    A recent training exercise helped prepare local law enforcement agencies for the possibility of an "active shooter" situation. The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) program, hosted by Georgia Southern University police and organized by the Statesboro FBI office, involved officers from several local agencies including the Statesboro and Brooklet police, Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, Georgia State Patrol, Statesboro GBI and more.
    Officers participated in realistic scenarios, using "simunition" weapons that fired rubber pellets, and learned tactics used to handle active shooter situations in ways that are safest for both officers and the public.
    Over 60 officers participated in the four-day, two-class event.
    The course helps the public by giving people what they want — better security, and a stronger sense of safety, said Bulloch County Sheriff's Capt. Todd Mashburn, one of the course instructors.
    "Law enforcement owes it to the public. The public demands we do more," he said.