The routine procedure had a deeper meaning Monday as news about the school shooting in Nashville started to unfold. Employees at TCESC told 21 News these drills are a reminder of the scary norms we face throughout our nation.
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Protecting our kids.
That's the idea behind an active shooter drill in Trumbull County that took place Monday morning at the Trumbull County Educational Service Center.
The routine procedure had a deeper meaning Monday as news about the school shooting in Nashville started to unfold. Employees at Trumbull County Educational Service Center told 21 News these drills are a reminder of the scary norms we face throughout our nation.
This comes as three students and three adults were shot to death at a private Christian school in Nashville on Monday in the latest in a series of mass shootings in the country.
That's why TCESC and the Niles Police Department's Special Response Team took the time Monday to practice the active shooter drill simulation.
"It's essential that we're prepared because you don't know when, if, or how," said Robert Marino, Assitant Superintendent with Trumbull County Educational Service Center. "So, preparation is key."
"Because it doesn't happen often, guys are not well-versed in it," explained Jim Villecco, Captain of the Niles Police Department. "So, we continually train to see what we can do better. If something comes up, we'll review it afterward."
The drill is a real-time experience in responding to an active threat.
"Physically going in there is much different than looking at something on a piece of paper," Villecco said. "So, that makes it more important to familiarize our team with how something is set up."
"This is the third year that Niles Police Department has instituted the SRT team," Marino said. "It's reassuring to know they have the skillset and officers that are training and continue to stay up to speed on what's required on the unfortunate event that's never happened, God forbid."
This drill gives the school and police the chance to evaluate and improve their emergency response procedures.
"You learn something new every time," Villecco said. "Once we get a certain tactic down, it might work in one situation and not in another."
The effort by Niles Police involves going to every school building in the Niles community to ensure the safety and security of the district's students and staff.
"It's unfortunate,WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren Ohio but it's the times we live in," Marino said.
The drill took about 20 minutes to complete.
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