Merrimac Police Department
Eric M. Shears, Chief of Police
16 East Main St.
Merrimac, MA 01860
For Immediate Release
Monday, June 27, 2016
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
*Media Advisory* Merrimac Police to Host Active Shooter Response Seminar
MERRIMAC — Police Chief Eric M. Shears announces that the Merrimac Police Department will host a Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) seminar to educate residents about proper actions in the event of a crisis.
The event comes as a response to the increase of gun violence and mass shootings, which has spurred action on part of government, lawmakers, and communities nationwide.
“It is our duty to help ensure that our department and members of our community are prepared in the event of an active shooter or other major incident,” Chief Shears said. “Recent history has proven that no community is immune to the scourge of gun violence.”
This event is free and open to the public.
WHEN:
Thursday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Merrimac Public Library, 86 W Main St.
WHO:
- Merrimac Officer Richard Holcroft
- Merrimac Officer Robert Coppola
- Amesbury Officer Craig Lesage
WHAT:
The one hour presentation, led by Officers Holcroft, Coppola, and Lesage, will discuss past active shooter events and some lessons learned from these tragedies. The department will provide ideas and principles that may be life saving for yourself, your family, friends, coworkers and even strangers in the event of a critical incident such as an active shooter situation.
The survival principles presented in the seminar were developed by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University. The Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) course, designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend strategy developed by ALERRT in 2004, provides strategies, guidance and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. Topics include the history and prevalence of active shooter events, the role of professional guardians, civilian response options, medical issues, and drills.
Anyone with questions on the seminar should email Officer Rich Holcroft at rholcroft@merrimacpolice.org.
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