First responders from across Missouri attend active-shooter training in Moberly

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

First responders from around the state gathered in Moberly on Tuesday for a two-day training focused on responding to active shooters.

The Active Attack Incident Management course brings together law enforcement, fire and EMS to train for how they would coordinate and manage resources during an incident.

The training is taught by Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training. ALERRT instructor Damian McKeon said the training focuses on the officers responding directly to a threat and establishing a command structure to manage everything happening around them.

“We need security outside. We need to form rescue task forces, and they escort the medical folks in there and get the patients out. And none of that can happen without an incident command framework to set it up in a move,” McKeon said.

McKeon said the first officers arriving during an active attack are trained to go toward the sound of gunfire. He said the training then focuses on the integrated response of fire and EMS and how they can coordinate.

McKeon said scenes can be fast-moving, emotional and intense, making repetition important for those who may eventually be responsible for managing a response.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety made the training available to law enforcement agencies in all nine regions of Missouri through federal grant funding. Jason Baillargeon, a homeland security specialist with the Missouri Department of Public Safety, said participating departments do not have to pay to send first responders to these trainings.

“It is it is free to local law enforcement, across the state. And the initiative went for all nine regions. So we are trying to incorporate the entire state. So we have trainings in all nine regions,” Baillargeon said.

Baillargeon said this is the first year the Missouri Department of Public Safety has offered active-shooter incident management training.

The course goes beyond the initial response of an individual officer to an active shooter.

“It is another process moving away from the officer on the ground dealing, dealing with this specific incident. But how to manage the crisis in its entirety and so I believe this is what you would call probably a 'big brother' to the initial training that took place and is still taking place across the state of Missouri today,” Baillargeon said.

Participants spend two days completing the training. Baillargeon said responders who are not already familiar with the concepts first learn them before putting those lessons into practice. During the exercises, first responders used iPads and tabletop scenarios to work.

“So with active attack incident management today, the students are able to one work with technology as well as a tabletop and go through a critical incident from start to finish. It may be it may be multiple critical incidents,” Baillargeon said.

Moberly Police Chief Bobby Calvert said the course allows first responders from different agencies to learn the same terminology and understand where resources need to go during a critical incident.

Some participants included the Hannibal Fire Department, Moberly Police Department and Randolph County Sheriff’s Department. Fire personnel are also learning how their role fits into a response alongside law enforcement.

Hannibal Fire Department Deputy Chief Dane Riefesel said this was his first time participating in scheduled training with his local police department for this type of scenario.

“I mean, unfortunately, if it does happen, I mean, you want to be prepared for it. So we try to prepare for everything that could could happen. And this is one of those things that I think is important to be ready for, to to help your community in a time of need,” Riefesel said.

Baillargeon said the DPS plans to continue the training through the rest of this year. He said locations are arranged for law enforcement officers to attend the training.

“We, we arrange locations and, then, of course, the law enforcement officers are able to come and so hope that they can come. And I’m hoping, we don’t know as of yet, but we’re hoping to continue this activity. Incident management training as Big Brother two, level one, active shooter training in the future. In 27,” Baillargeon said.

Baillargeon later said the department is planning to continue training into 2027, but the funding source and the direction DPS will take for the future remain undetermined.