Realistic Active Shooter Exercise at Reagan Elementary Tests Ashland County’s Emergency Response
ASHLAND, Ohio — It is a scenario that strikes fear in the hearts of parents, law enforcement, school officials and the entire community.
Inside the halls of Reagan Elementary School, the sound of simulated gunfire rang out from what law enforcement refers to as a “shot box,” kicking off a full-scale active shooter exercise with real-life intensity.
Ashland law enforcement, Ashland City Schools and Ashland County EMA took the training seriously from the first sound of gunfire to the final debrief. Volunteer actors were placed throughout the building, portraying everyday students, teachers, faculty, school staff and community members. Some wore realistic makeup to simulate gunshot wounds and other injuries, creating an intense and emotional training environment for first responders.
The actors did not simply stand in place. They played the roles of frightened victims, a hysterical grandmother and an angry father trying to get inside the school. That added to the confusion as Ashland Fire Department and EMS crews worked to remove victims from the building, triage the injured and manage the chaos outside.
For those watching, it was one of the most realistic training scenarios seen in Ashland.
The full-scale exercise was planned and coordinated through the Ashland County Threat Team, known as ACTTT, a multi-disciplinary team focused on prevention, preparedness, response and recovery efforts throughout the community.
Ashland County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Director Anne Strouth said the training allowed first responders, schools and partner agencies to practice working together in a coordinated way should the unthinkable ever happen.
Strouth, who serves as ACTTT chair and director of Ashland County EMA, said the exercise helped agencies strengthen relationships, test plans, identify opportunities for improvement and build confidence in their ability to respond as one unified team during a crisis.
“Many community members never see the countless hours of planning, training, and collaboration that occur behind the scenes to keep our county safe,” Strouth said. “Exercises like today’s demonstrate the dedication of our schools, first responders, emergency managers, volunteers, and community partners who work tirelessly to prepare for emergencies before they happen.”
The scenario was meticulously planned to account for response times, agency availability and the real-world locations of first responders. Law enforcement agencies stationed near Reagan Elementary could only respond in the amount of time it would realistically take them to arrive from their different locations.
The purpose was not only to test what agencies do well, but also to reveal weak points, strong points and areas that need further consideration before a real emergency happens.
Multiple agencies took part in the exercise, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland Police Division, Ashland County EMA, Ashland Fire Department, Polk Fire Department and Jeromesville Fire Department.
Ashland Police Chief Curt Dorsey said the exercise showed the importance of teamwork during a large-scale emergency.
“The collaboration between agencies is so great to see,” Dorsey said. “In the event of a large scale emergency it is inevitable that multiple agencies would respond. Being able to work together on communication, tactics, rescue operations, and overall allocation of resources will save countless lives if we are ever faced with a large situation.”
Dorsey said first responders in Ashland County have a “same team” mentality and will continue working closely with the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Loudonville Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ashland EMA, Ashland City Schools, Ashland Fire Department and surrounding fire departments.
Ohio State Highway Patrol Ashland Post Commander Lt. Brian Beal said active shooter calls are something no public servant wants to face, but preparation is critical.
“It is a call that no public servant wants to respond to, but active shooters are an unfortunate reality of today’s world,” Beal said. “Preparation for these terrible events is critical.”
Beal said the training was another example of how well agencies in Ashland County can work together toward a common goal.
“These types of training exercises are vital for the safety of our students and residents alike,” Beal said. “Countywide preparation for active threats of violence of this magnitude will help all of emergency responders act quickly, decisively and effectively in the event we’re faced with such a horrific situation.”
Ashland County Sheriff Kurt J. Schneider said Ashland County’s ability to protect children and families depends on strong collaboration between agencies and community partners.
“Ashland County has been successful protecting our children and families because of the strong collaboration between agencies and the support of our community partners,” Schneider said.
Schneider said realistic training opportunities help prepare first responders for situations they hope never happen.
“These types of incidents seemingly are happening more often and creeping closer to Ashland,” Schneider said. “We’ll keep training and working with the entire community to prevent one of these scenarios from playing out here in Ashland County, but we’ll be ready if it happens.”
Ashland City Schools Superintendent Steve Paramore said planning for the exercise began months ago. He said law enforcement, fire and EMS had already practiced inside Reagan Elementary before the full-scale drill, allowing responders to become familiar with the building and its layout.
Paramore said the training was important not only for Ashland City Schools, but also for agencies that could respond from across Ashland County and surrounding counties during a real emergency.
“Safety is the absolute most important thing in our district beyond educating kids and taking care of them,” Paramore said. “It’s keeping them safe and also the community having the understanding that we practice these things so they trust us with their children.”
Paramore said the exercise also tested communication plans, including how the district would stay in contact with other school buildings, initiate lockdowns and manage information during a crisis. In a real emergency, he said, the district would also have to deal with perimeters, parent response and reunification.
Ashland Fire Department Chief Rick Anderson said the exercise gave fire and law enforcement personnel a valuable opportunity to work together in a realistic setting.
“It’s a great chance for multiple agencies, both law enforcement and fire departments, to get together and work together on something that unfortunately isn’t an if, it’s a when,” Anderson said.
Anderson said volunteers helped make the exercise more realistic by acting as victims. He also noted that the scenario included a hostage situation and hostage negotiation component, something he had not previously seen in similar training.
Strouth thanked Ashland City Schools, Superintendent Paramore, first responders, CERT volunteers, Richland County EMA evaluators and everyone involved in planning and carrying out the exercise.
“Together, we continue to build a safer, stronger, and more resilient Ashland County,” Strouth said.
Making each other better, more prepared, and proud to say we serve this great community.” remarking Ashland Police Chief Curt Dorsey.
The exercise served as a powerful reminder that while no community ever wants to face such a tragedy, preparation, coordination and teamwork can make all the difference when seconds matter.
