HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR111617KPDeducatespubliconactiveshooterpreparedness
C O U NT Y O F KAU A‘I
BERNARD P. CARVALHO JR.
Mayor
WALLACE G. REZENTES JR.
Managing Director
KAUA‘I POLICE DEPARTMENT
News Release
For Immediate Release: November 16, 2017
DARRYL PERRY, CHIEF
Tel (808) 241-1600
Fax (808) 241-1604
KPD educates public on active shooter preparedness
LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i Police Department is encouraging the public to become educated
on active shooter preparedness and assaulter response, due to the recent number of mass
shootings throughout the United States.
“Although the likelihood is rare, we recognize that the threat of an active assaulter,
terrorist-related or otherwise, is possible on Kaua‘i,” said Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry. “It is
important that we acknowledge this issue and educate civilians on how to be prepared.”
To help residents learn more about responding to an active shooter and assaulter event,
KPD plans to offer an ALICE active shooter instructor course in February 2018. ALICE stands
for Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate. It is a training institute that specializes in active
shooter response.
“Active assaulter incidents throughout the U.S. are now considered a recognizable
hazard,” stated Captain Mark Ozaki. “However, there are steps that can be taken to limit or even
prevent loss of life during an incident. This is possible through public education and training,
which is an important part of the Administrative and Technical Bureau.”
KPD’s Administrative and Technical Bureau offers assistance to organizations wishing to
develop its own Active Shooter Preparedness Plan. In the past, KPD has collaborated with the
Kaua‘i Community College (KCC) in conducting a simulated scenario on campus. The goal of
the exercise was to assess both KCC’s and KPD’s preparedness level and response should a
true incident occur in the future.
There are also other resources the public may utilize on their own. Citizens can take a
free online active shooter preparedness and response course through the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) at www.training.fema.gov.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides further information for active
shooter preparedness. Its website advises the public to take the following steps if an active
shooter incident occurs:
1. Run – Have an escape route and plan in mind. Leave your belongings behind. Keep
your hands visible.
2. Hide – Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view. Block entry to your hiding place and
lock the doors. Silence your cell phone and/or pager.
3. Fight – As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger. Attempt to
incapacitate the shooter. Act with physical aggression and throw items at the active
shooter.
4. Call 911 when it is safe to do so.
For more information about developing an Active Shooter Preparedness Plan, visit the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website at www.dhs.gov.
Details on KPD’s ALICE training in February will be announced as more information
becomes available. In the meantime, anyone interested may contact Sgt. Lance Okasaki at 241-
1647.
If your organization would like to coordinate a training exercise with KPD, please call the
Administrative and Technical Bureau training section at 241-1648.
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