Active Shooter training held

By Rita Cook
Correspondent
I Messenger Media

MIDLOTHIAN – Police Departments around the Dallas/Fort Worth area held Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (C.R.A.S.E.) training last Saturday. The training was open to all residents interested in understanding the dynamics and proactive measures to take when such an emergency arises.

The training included over two dozen cities in the north Texas region.

According to a report released by the FBI last year Texas had more active shooter incidents than any other state in 2024.

An active shooter event is considered when one or more individuals actively engage in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.

Commander Timothy Hicks and Officer Darren Burkhart who leads the C.R.A.S.E. training in Midlothian explained these incidents do not require fatalities or even injuries to be considered an active shooter event, only that there is an ongoing attempt to kill people using a firearm. 

They also explained the shooters rarely have a profile, but often an avenger mindset.

Over the years from 2000 to 2024 there have been 597 active shooter events in the United States with 4,055 casualties, and 1,415 dead as a result.

“We don’t want people to be paranoid to live their life,” Hicks said. “Just always be aware of your surroundings.”

Just one day after the training class week the tragic Idaho incident occurred in Couer d’Alene where firefighters were ambushed and shot when responding to a brush fire. Two fire fighters were killed and one was critically injured.

Midlothian Police Chief Scott Brown said of that incident and active shooter incidents overall “While active shooter incidents – like the one in Idaho – get a significant amount of attention and are the most prevalent, those of us in law-enforcement are also concerned with “active killers” – using other weapons to kill or injure multiple people.”

While there has been no active shooter event in Midlothian, prior to his time working in Midlothian Brown was with the Arlington Police Department.

“One of my assignments in Arlington was as commander of the APD Special Events Section, which meant I was responsible for safety and security at AT&T Stadium, Texas Rangers Ballpark and any other special event we held in the city. While we certainly focused on prevention of and response to active shooters, one of our other concerns was someone using other means to kill, such as a vehicle. The officers of the Midlothian Police Department are trained to recognize and respond to active killers no matter what means they are using.”

As for the tragedy in Couer d’Alene he added “I’m not sure what the first responders could have done differently. It is so sad that the individuals that dedicate their lives to help others were targeted. It serves as a reminder for all of us in public service – police, fire, medical, public works- to be careful and diligent as we perform our duties.”

And along with the diligence of first responders, they encourage civilians to stay diligent too. The first to that is being aware.

For example, determining the difference between fireworks and gunshots can save your life.

“A lot of time with gunshots it is a steady constant shot where fireworks are more random,” Hicks explained. “If it is a bad incident in a lot of these situations you are going to hear steady shots for what seems like forever, but it could be only seconds. It will go quiet for a minute as the shooter reloads and then you are going to hear that same steady cadence again.”

The strategy law enforcement urges in a case where a person finds themselves involved in an active shooter event is the Avoid, Deny, Defend (ADD) tactic developed by ALERRT (Advance Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training) in 2004.

To Avoid means if there is a way to escape do it, immediately. While taking others with you is honorable, do not let anyone cost you your life. It is also a good idea to always know your surroundings and identify exits when you arrive at a destination so you can leave the area if a critical event occurs.

The next step to Deny means if escape is not an option, find a secure location. Lock or barricade the doors and silence any electronic devices. 

The final option to Defend as a last resort means to be prepared to protect yourself with whatever means necessary and be committed to taking the shooter down.

While most people believe schools are the number one place for an active shooter event, the instructors said businesses rank first, followed by outdoor venues and then schools.

No matter where you find yourself during such a situation, if you are one of those people who mingles around trying to form a consensus on whether there is danger, you likely will be one to go down first.

The most important takeaway both Hicks and Burkhart stressed “The need for immediate action.” 

Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on travel, auto, crime and politics. A correspondent for Texas Metro News, she has published 11 books and has also produced low-budget films.