Press Release
☷Picatinny Arsenal Police and Fire Departments train to deploy a Rescue Task Force
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Feb 07,2024
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The Picatinny Arsenal Police Department and Fire Department are teaming up to train for active shooter situations and the deployment of a Rescue Task Force ( RTF ) . An RTF is a group of teams that provide medical care to victims in dangerous situations . They treat and remove injured people while law enforcement officers protect them . This training prepares them for scenarios involving shooters or other threats . These incidents can be challenging for local police , fire , and EMS agencies , requiring careful planning and coordination . The FBI reported nine incidents in 2022 where officers exchanged gunfire with shooters , resulting in 16 officer injuries . To effectively respond to these incidents , it ' s crucial for police , fire , and EMS to work together and plan ahead . In 2022 , there were 50 active shooter incidents with 313 casualties . Given the increasing frequency of these incidents , fire departments need a coordinated response plan with EMS and police . The initial phase of training focuses on weapons proficiency for law enforcement officers and familiarizing firefighters with the sounds and smells of gunfire in a controlled environment . Picatinny Arsenal Police Chief Michael Champa emphasized the importance of not reacting poorly to gunfire during a real event . Safety instructions were given to both police officers and firefighters to ensure a safe training experience . This training aims to build camaraderie between the teams and prepare them for active shooter events and RTF deployment . Chief Champa described the training approach as a step - by - step process . We can ' t assume to know what we don ' t know . This is the first training event in a series to test out the concept of the Rescue Task Force here at Picatinny . Next up , we ' ll have a classroom session where things will be more relaxed since the police and fire departments have already trained together with the Live Fire Expose Exercise . In case of an active shooter situation , the U . S . Department of Homeland Security suggests the following: • Stay aware of your surroundings and possible dangers . • Take note of the two nearest exits wherever you go . • If you ' re in an office , stay put and lock the door . • If you ' re in a hallway , find a room and secure the door . • If all else fails , try to incapacitate the shooter as a last resort . Your chances of survival are better when you ' re up close and can ' t escape . • Call 911 when it ' s safe to do so . You can find more information on Active Shooter Preparedness at: https://www . dhs . gov/active - shooter - preparedness .
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