Arizona DPS holds active shooter training in West Valley

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Public Service on Wednesday held an active shooter training in the West Valley with the goal of teaching first responders how to pass on the information they learned to eager community members.

About 150 first responders participated in the event, which was held at the Christ’s Church of the Valley in Peoria.

The training cost the department $20,000, which DPS Director Col. Frank Milstead said was worth the price if it helped educate first responders and eventually those in Valley communities.

“We want to get into people’s heads what to do and make it second nature if they are involved in a mass casualty event,” Milstead told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News.

First responders spent the day being briefed on the A.L.I.C.E. — alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate — training.

Tracy Montgomery, Surprise’s emergency manager, said she hopes to take the training and share it in her community.

“This is a way to satisfy need, answer those questions and fill in gaps for those people who are really hungry for emergency training,” Montgomery told KTAR News.

Happening today, 150 first responders from across the Valley are participating in #ActiveShooter training. It’s called @ALICEtraining. (Alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate) @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/h50OwEIjK3

— Ali Vetnar (@Ali_Vetnar) September 18, 2019

Arizona hasn’t experienced a mass shooting since 2011, but such events have been prevalent across the country in recent years.

“It’s a new phenomenon that law enforcement and public safety has to deal with along with the community,” Milstead said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ali Vetnar contributed to this report.

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