The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office held an active shooter drill Thursday at the Jefferson County Courthouse on the heels of a school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas earlier this week that resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers.
Woods spoke with Deltaplex News about the drill, saying that schools are soft targets and law enforcement agencies must know how to respond to any such emergency.
Woods said that history shows an active shooting situation is typically over within three minutes, and is often finished once law enforcement is able to respond.
Woods said that law enforcement agencies are constantly looking at new ways to combat active shooter situations, and that several schools in Arkansas are seeking approval to establish police departments on school campuses to help make sure they have enough security to combat situations like this.
Woods said that school are wanting to do this because local law enforcement agencies are having issues with recruiting and retention, so school districts are wanting to hire their own police chiefs and officers. Woods also said infrastructure improvements are needed in Arkansas schools.
The training the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office took part in is a national training called C.R.A.S.E., or Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events. He went on to describe the training.
Woods said that once an active shooter event begins citizens who could be victims must take action in order to survive until law enforcement arrives on scene.
Woods also said that citizens should contact their legislators to make sure money is being allocated to help law enforcement agencies prepare to defend against active shooters.
Woods added that people complain about the response times for law enforcement in Jefferson County while there is also a push to defund law enforcement agencies, and that isn’t needed when you’re facing situations which require response from officers.
