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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 2018)
MARCH 9, 2018, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3 Arming teachers might not be as simple as it’s being sold Gabliks likened a school campus to what a law enforcement offi cer would encounter on a plane with a hijacker. “It’s not just about the perpetrator. It’s about a dynamic situation that has many variables: time of day, location, innocent bystanders, potentially other perpetrators, what is behind or next to the perpetrator, if I shoot my weapon where will the bullet go,” Gabliks said. Gabliks stressed that DPSST provides the training required by state and federal laws only to public and private safety organizations. If a mandate were to come from the Oregon Legisla- ture to begin arming teachers, it may not require DPSST training or its equivalents, or school staff could receive training at private ranges without any sort of public agency vetting. “A school teacher with a gun (legally) would have no more rights or protections given to them than any other armed citizen,” Gabliks said. Still, there are many other considerations and questions that would have to be answered, he By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes In the wake of a shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 people dead last month, one of the most talked about responses has been arming school staff to deter such violence. While the presence of more weapons might give those looking to shoot up a school more pause, there is a vast gulf between handing a teacher a gun and learning how to use it to con- front an active shooter. In an email interview with Eriks Gabliks, di- rector of the Oregon Department of Public Safe- ty Standards and Training (DPSST), Keizertimes asked what types of training current law enforce- ment offi cers receive for such scenarios to get a better understanding of what an armed teacher would need to do to prepare to confront active shooters. DPSST provides certifi cation and train- ing for all law enforcement offi cers, from guards at jails to Oregon State Police. 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If teachers were to begin packing heat, the called a high risk vehicle stop. Making the vehicle district’s insurance company would likely have to stop follows a specifi c procedure but to give new increase coverage and premiums. Determining offi cers complex problem solving opportunities how weapons would be stored on the campus we add things such as a school bus coming down would be another concern. the street, people on a sidewalk or sitting on a “Off the top of my head, here are some things bench who walk up to the area and start record- to consider: the school teacher that is armed is ing the incident on their phone, and other vari- overpowered by an angry parent ables. We don’t specifi cally focus or student and now has a fi rearm; on active shooter in basic but we the weapon is taken from a desk “A school teacher do allocate a lot of our regional drawer and used for unlawful training effort to this important purposes; the teacher uses the ... would have no topic,” Gabliks said. weapon and shoots an innocent Generous support by Or- bystander, a student in crisis, a more rights or egon’s elected offi cials has en- fi rst responder or a fellow em- protections given sured that the training facility the ployee,” Gabliks said. agency has is top-notch. Gabliks said DPSST has received visitors At DPSST, instructors work to them than from almost every state in the na- with the Department of Home- tion and six other countries who land Security’s model for best any other armed hope to model their facilities on practices and coordinate with Oregon’s. Active shooter classes state and local agencies to make citizen.” take place in real venues, like sure everyone is on the same — Eriks Gabliks schools and offi ce complexes, page. Additionally DPSST fol- DPSST director that offi cers might be called to lows the work of national or- for service. ganizations and culls from the Emotional survival is also a component of insight produced in trade journals, conferences, webinars and other resources to create its re- what is taught at DPSST. Confrontations with an active shooter on a school campus could rap- sponse plans. “We need to keep our staff up to date so they idly take turns no one predicted in the chaos keep the curriculum we use and the training we that ensues. Aside from the stress of the moment, offer current and relevant,” Gabliks said. After DPSST is working to create programs that pre- earning initial certifi cations, offi cers are required pare and help offi cers recover from the at times to complete a certain amount of continued horrifi c nature of their jobs. Gabliks said fi ve offi cers in the past three years training hours each year. Training for new police offi cers takes 16 have died by suicide in part because of trauma weeks and takes place in the classroom and from their job. To help combat the issue, Oregon through hands-on environments. About half of is taking a page from fi refi ghters and the military, the training takes place in a classroom, but it both of which have developed programs gener- only begins once recruits have passed through ally called stress fi rst aid. “This program has been well received and we rigorous background checks and physical and psychological screenings – none of which are offer it to all newly promoted supervisors and managers in their two week training program at required for teaching. Once recruits are attending the academy, ro- the Academy. We are expanding it now into the leplaying becomes a major component of how basic police course. The concept is that if you co- worker doesn’t seem to be themselves ask if they they learn. “One scenario we use involves making what is are okay,” Gabliks said.
