U.S. Attorney's Office Taking Proactive Measures To Address Active Shooter Incidents

BUFFALO. N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that the Western District of New York, which covers 17 upstate counties, is sponsoring three upcoming training sessions that will address violent crime, in particular shootings, and how it impacts law enforcement, schools and businesses.

"In light of the recent shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and Webster, N.Y., the timing of these trainings couldn’t be better," said U.S. Attorney Hochul. "As someone who has worked directly with our local police and federal agencies for the past three decades, the public needs to know that our law enforcement officers are well trained and dedicated when it comes to handling these highly volatile situations. Nevertheless, we must continue to be proactive and do all we can do to educate and prepare not only members of law enforcement, but also the public."

The first training, "Street Survival and Officer Safety," is scheduled for February 8, 2013. Organized specifically for members of law enforcement, this training will focus on three case studies which involved the death or serious injuries of police officers and the safety training that followed these incidents. This training is co-sponsored by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Hilbert College.

On March 15, 2013, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with the United States Secret Service, The University at Buffalo, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, will co-sponsor the 10th Annual Safe Schools Initiative Seminar. This all day program, entitled "Understanding Human Aggression and Violence, and Making Our Schools Safe," is designed for school officials and officers, and will feature Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, one of the world's foremost experts in the field of human aggression and the roots of violence and violent crime.

Finally, the U.S. Attorney's Office, along with other local police agencies, are in the planning stages of a training to be held in April that will focus on active shooters in a business environment. The goal of the training is to educate employees and owners of local businesses and equip them with the tools needed to be protect their staff and operations from a violent crime incident.

"By partnering with law enforcement, the education and business communities on a topic as important as active shooter, I believe we can better protect the public and each other from the many challenges such a scenario presents,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul.

“While no one solution exists which will eliminate all violent crime, by collectively discussing and implementing best practices, we will all be in a better position to ensure that the proper steps are taken to both prevent, and address, such dangerous situations if they ever present themselves again."

For more information about these trainings, please contact Public Affairs Officer Barbara Burns at 716-842-5817.