APD trains for school tragedy

Ashland police officers, left to right, Matt Caswell, Scott Wenzel, and Michael Vanderlip train on tactical movement at Southern Oregon University on Sunday. Officer Chad Woodward faces the rear, rounding off the group of four. Carsen Maciag | For the Tidings

Since the deadly Columbine High School shooting in 1999, 42 school shooting incidents have occurred worldwide, resulting in 120 deaths and 125 wounded victims, according to news reports compiled by Pearson Education Inc.

Ashland Police Department's officers completed live training scenarios on May 19 and Sunday to prepare for school shooting events and any situation where there is an "active shooter" on the scene.

"The amount of shootings that we've had in this country at schools, churches and universities hasn't slowed down," Lieutenant Corey Falls said. "These are happening all over the world and we want to be prepared for it."

Sergeant Malcus Williams conducted Sunday's live training session with eight APD officers and five Talent police officers at Southern Oregon University's Taylor Hall. The rest of the APD officers completed training at the May session.

Falls said live exercises help responding officers to "be on the same page" in the event of an active shooter, whether the shooting is taking place at Ashland High School, a business or SOU.

The training allowed officers to practice different responses and movements according to multiple situations. They used blue hard-rubber handguns and rifles throughout Taylor Hall classrooms and hallways.

Chad Woodward, 26, APD's newest police officer, participated in Sunday's training session.

He recently graduated from the police academy in Salem, but said the training at SOU was a good refresher course.

"The scenarios we trained for are likely to occur anywhere," Woodward said. "Ashland's not immune from these types of crimes and it's better to be as prepared as possible."

Reach reporter Michele Mihalovich at 482-3456 x226 or mmihalovich@dailytidings.com.