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Agencies offer active shooter training for businesses to protect themselves

Posted at 6:37 PM, Jan 24, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-24 18:37:50-05

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Several agencies offer active shooter training by request to businesses who want more training for their employees.

“Every year we’re doing the presentations more and more,” Deputy Chuck Skipper with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputy Skipper is a member of the Crime Prevention and Community Awareness Unit.

He said their presentation is about an hour long. Their message is run, hide and fight.

“It’s important that you have a plan already in place,” he said.

The sheriff’s office also offers security surveys. They are tailored to the needs or concerns of the particular business that requested the security survey.

“For a security survey, we typically look for property crime, you know. (For example ways) we can reduce chances of there being a property crime. If it’s a public access thing, (something) like that, we may also address, you know, things like active assailants,” he said.

With reports of mass shootings across the country and nearby, deputies want as many people as possible to be prepared and always aware of their surroundings.

“These things happen so fast and they’re so unexpected that you need to have a plan in place,” Deputy Skipper said.