Preparing for the unimaginable: Local law enforcement, other agencies, conduct active shooter training at Grayson Co. HS

Led by the Leitchfield Police Department, multiple agencies conducted an active shooter training drill Thursday morning at Grayson County High School.

Between 2018 and the end of the 2022 school year, there were 119 school shootings (27 this year) in the United States, according to Education Week.org. And with the May 24 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, fresh on the minds of law enforcement, along with the nearby school shooting at Marshall County High School in January 2018, first responder training for the unthinkable has become a necessity.

“The purpose of the training is to create a cohesive, multi-agency response to a mass casualty incident,” LPD Det. Ian Renfrow said. “Using specially designed training weapons and simulated ammunition, officers responded to the threat of gunfire inside the building to stop the danger of further injury or death.”

In addition to the Leitchfield Police Department, participating in the active shooter drill were Grayson County Schools employees, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Grayson County EMS, the Leitchfield Fire Department, and Grayson County Detention Center staff.

“The prayer of each agency, and our community, is that this will never happen in Grayson County. However, Marshall County High School, Robb Elementary School, and far too many others serve as a reminder of our need to prepare for the worst possible scenario,” Renfrow stated.

Shootings of any variety create uncertainty and fear among those directly impacted, particularly in a school environment where so many young lives are at stake, in addition to the endangered adults charged with educating and protecting young people.

“This training is designed to help our first responders and school staff to see the level of chaos created by this type of incident,” Renfrow said. “Our goal is to incorporate the protocols and tactics we have been trained in efficiently, while seeing first-hand where improvements can be made as other agencies are added to the equation.”

In Thursday morning’s drill, EMS and fire department personnel trained to enter the high school building “swiftly, and effectively begin treating and extracting the injured (who were portrayed by numerous volunteers comprised of school staff and students).”

“A fluid understanding of each agency’s duties during such incidents is paramount to an effective response,” Renfrow added. “Our school houses are our most precious resource in the community; (they are) our future. We hope to build upon this training in the future and continue to work to be as prepared as we can possibly be for any mass casualty event that may arise.”