Joe Lyons

Interagency Training Brings Law Enforcement, Firefighters, and Civilians Together in Unprecedented School Safety Drill

In a groundbreaking training exercise, law enforcement, firefighters, emergency management professionals, and civilian leadership gathered under one roof for the first time in the region. The goal? To prepare for the unthinkable—an active shooter scenario, particularly one in a school. The importance of such training cannot be overstated, as communities across the nation continue to reel from the tragic events at Parkland High School in 2018 and Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, in 2022.

This unprecedented event, held in Ashland County, Ohio, was more than just a drill; it was a strategic collaboration aimed at fostering unity among first responders, school officials, and emergency personnel. Representatives from various agencies, including the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Loudonville Fire Department, Ashland City Police Division, and numerous other regional emergency response teams, came together for a crucial tabletop exercise focused on interagency cooperation.

The Importance of Training for the Worst

“This is year four of this program, and every year we do several trainings,” said Ashland County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Curtis Hall. “This particular training was a leadership course and a tabletop exercise where we talked about the crucial role of leadership during an active shooter event and then conducted a practical exercise to hone the skills necessary to respond effectively.”

Training and preparation have become the cornerstones of active shooter response, as each passing year provides new lessons from past tragedies. The ability to act swiftly and cohesively in the face of chaos can mean the difference between life and death.

A Community Effort to Strengthen Safety

EMA Director for Ashland County, Anne Strouth, emphasized the significance of pre-planning and interagency collaboration:

“When I first heard about this initiative and spoke with Deputy Hall and Captain Smith, I knew we needed to be involved. Our agency plays a vital role in supporting law enforcement and fire departments through training facilitation and resource coordination. By working together in these training exercises, we can ensure that everyone is prepared and knows their role when seconds count.”

The event included a diverse group of participants, such as University Hospital Samaritan, Loudonville-Perrysville School District Administration, North Central State College Police Academy, multiple fire departments, and Ohio Health Mansfield. Their collective presence emphasized the importance of a multi-agency response during critical incidents.

Loudonville Fire Department Chief Dan Robinson reinforced this sentiment:

“It’s incredible to see law enforcement, fire, and EMS working together like this. The goal is complete cooperation among agencies so that we can be effective when called upon. In the event of an emergency, our ability to communicate and function as a unified force can save lives.”

Loudonville Police Department Captain Sean Gorrell added:

“The Loudonville Police Department is excited to have great relationships with our partner agencies. We are very pleased with today’s attendance at the tabletop exercise. Not only did law enforcement and fire/EMS attend, but we had a great showing of school officials, EMA officials, and Village officials. Training such as today’s tabletop exercise shows our commitment to the Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village School District. Chief McCauley and I would like to thank all that attended and also Mohican Lodge & Conference Center for hosting.”

Bringing Civilian Leadership into the Fold

For the first time, the training expanded beyond first responders to include civilian leadership from local hospitals, school districts, and emergency management agencies. This shift recognizes that school officials, healthcare administrators, and emergency response coordinators all have vital roles to play in crisis situations.

Sheriff’s Deputy Curtis Hall elaborated on the importance of this inclusion:

“We’ve implemented a strategy where our trainings integrate law enforcement, fire, and civilian leadership. We recognize that in an emergency, we won’t be working in independently—we’ll be relying on each other. By training together now, we ensure that when the time comes, we already know how to work as a team.”

EMA Director Anne Strouth echoed this:

“We’re expanding knowledge to as many people as possible. Information is power, and by broadening our training, we ensure that more individuals are equipped to act when faced with an emergency. The cornerstone of what we do is interagency interoperability. Bringing everyone together strengthens our response.”

Ohio State Highway Patrol Ashland Post Commander Lieutenant Brad Bishop also emphasized the value of interagency cooperation:

“Today’s exercise was a great opportunity to help prepare local first responders for critical incident response. Having everyone together in the same room, working to solve problems and having a common goal, was invaluable. Everyone involved was able to learn and take something away from this training. The collaboration and interagency cooperation is what helps keep our first responders up to date on best practices in emergency response. This training was very beneficial and will undoubtedly help keep our local community safer in an emergency situation.”

Beyond Schools: The Reality of Active Shooter Incidents

While much of the focus remains on school safety, Deputy Hall pointed out a sobering reality:

“Statistically, there are more active shooter incidents in retail and outdoor venues than in schools. That’s just the reality of mass shootings. However, as a community, we deeply value our schools and our children’s safety, which is why we focus on these exercises. But make no mistake, the skills we practice here apply to any active shooter scenario.”

Richland County EMA Director/LEPC Coordinator Rebecca A. Owens highlighted the importance of ongoing collaboration:

“This exercise addresses a crucial subject very pertinent in any community. Richland County EMA appreciates the opportunity to participate and work with so many community partners for this training. Relationships are crucial during any response. Working together during exercises helps us get to know our partners and establish those relationships. It’s important to understand everyone’s role and how you fit into the mix. This enables all to work better to serve and protect our communities.”

Preparing for the Largest Full-Scale Drill Yet

The tabletop exercise is only the beginning. Plans are already in place for an extensive full-scale drill, the details of which remain classified to ensure realism. According to Deputy Hall, the upcoming exercise will be one of the largest ever conducted in the area.

“We’re talking about hundreds of people participating, massive resource allocation, and real-time emergency response scenarios. It’s going to be a huge undertaking, but that’s what we need to do. Our goal is simple: to be prepared when the worst day imaginable happens. If we can perform under these conditions, we can save lives.”

Hope for the Best, Train for the Worst

Training for such dire circumstances is never easy, but the sentiment echoed throughout the event was clear—hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, and civilian leaders are committed to ensuring that if a crisis unfolds, their response is immediate, coordinated, and effective.

The Ashland County community, through its dedication to preparedness and interagency cooperation, is setting a standard for emergency response training. In the face of an unpredictable world, this training ensures that no one will face an emergency alone. Instead, they will stand together—ready, trained, and determined to protect their community.

On a personal note, I would like to say how impressed I was to see everyone on the same thought, and that’s to protect our children at all cost.

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