The Affton Southwest precinct of the St. Louis County Police Department held an active shooter preparedness discussion June 26 at Affton High School.
About 75 people were in attendance at the presentation, which was led by Lt. Shawn McGuire. Capt. Precinct Commander Guy Means, Affton Fire Protection Chief Nick Fahs and Mehlville Fire Protection District Chief Brian Hendricks were also present, along with other officers.
Additionally, Travis Bracht, Affton School District superintendent, was in attendance to answer any Affton School District-specific questions.
McGuire’s presentation had four main objectives: defining and understanding an “active shooter,” discussing how police and fire departments prepare for such events, discussing how communities, civilians and businesses should prepare for such events, and going over option-based programs such as the “Run, Hide, Fight” method. Informational videos were interspersed throughout to show examples.
McGuire explained that the St. Louis County Police and fire departments train rigorously to prepare for active shooter events. In 2010, the St. Louis County Police Department implemented MACTAC (Multi-Assault, Counter Terrorism Action Capabilities) training, a training specially designed to teach first responding officers the proper tactics and techniques when responding to such events. Fire departments around the county began working with the police department on specific active shooter training starting in 2014, making them one of the first departments in the region to do so.
Audience members were encouraged to ask questions at the end of each section, though there was also a designated question and answer discussion portion at the end of the presentation that many took advantage of.
This was the first event of its kind in Affton, however McGuire said the precinct would be open to more events like these, possibly partnering with other groups – such as mental health organizations – to reach more members of the community.
The Affton Southwest precinct is tentatively planning on hosting another community discussion in September or October focusing on different types of fraud, though nothing is set in stone yet. The precinct wants to continue having these discussions with community members “to show that (they) are here for them.”
“We all became police officers to serve our community … we want to help people,” McGuire said.
Read more in the July 27 print edition of The Call.
