Police Chief Dennis King and the Police Department announced the completion, by Lieutenants David Ostrovitz and Jason Conrad, of active threat training courses.
The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Active Attack Integrated Response (AAIR) training, designed to better coordinate amongst departments during active shooter and attack incidents, took place on July 9 and 10 in Salem.
Members of Salem Police and Fire Departments, Salem Dispatch, and Cataldo Ambulance also participated.
The training introduces a model framework for law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services to cooperate using the Rescue Task Force (RTF) concept, a specialized team designed to respond rapidly during high-threat incidents.
“Trainings such as these are vital in continuing our efforts to better our response to active threat incidents,” King said.
In the past, police departments were tasked only with securing a perimeter, while in recent years, they are now responsible for responding directly to the threat during incidents, he explained.
Training includes mock scenarios where participants practice responding to scenes of an active threat — safely clearing the building, neutralizing the threat, and tending to the victims with the use of tourniquets, which all Marblehead officers are equipped with.
“Through this training, we are advancing our skills to best assist our community in times of trouble,” Ostrovitz said. “High-stakes incidents and crises such as active threats affect everyone involved, and we want our community and the public to be confident in our department’s response to these.”
Marblehead Police have participated in and hosted several active threat trainings in previous years. By adding the ALERRT training concepts yearly, the department is taking its response to another level, largely at the benefit of the community.