Active shooter training in Jefferson City

The Jefferson City Police Department and the Jefferson City Fire Department combined efforts to complete a three-day active shooter training course in Jefferson City.

It is the 11th year of this training.

The first day of the course started with the involvement of all Cole County police officers, firefighters, and medical personnel.

The course trainer, Sgt. Chad Stieferman said, “If something like this were to happen, this is not just a Jefferson City Police Department, Jefferson City Fire Department venture because this will be a multi-jurisdictional response.”

Without providing too much detail, he said they teach four-stage drills, using rescue task force teams and extraction teams.

The goal is to save the most lives.

Stieferman said the training is crucial: “If we don’t teach our officers in a low-stress environment on how to respond, we can’t build their gross motor skill functions.”

Lt. David Williams told ABC 17 that he hopes they will never be forced to use these skills.

“But at the same time, based on the way the world is right now, we have to be ready,” said Williams.