(LONDON, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today he is sending a training video to every school district in Ohio to arm administrators, teachers, and school employees with knowledge should they ever face a school shooting crisis.
"Quite frankly, I hope it's knowledge no one in Ohio will ever have to use from this day forward," said DeWine. "But the reality is if there's a school shooting, teachers, principals, janitors, and others who work in that school become first responders. Our goal is to help them plan, train, and prepare, with the help of local law enforcement partners."
The video, entitled "School Shootings: How to be Aware, Prepare, and be a First Responder in a Crisis", is an extension of in-person training that's been offered to educators around the state since January, through the Attorney General's Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA).
So far, OPOTA instructors have held 24 training sessions, which 4,262 participants have attended. 41 more sessions are scheduled between now and the end of the year.
The in-person training and video include information about what Attorney General law enforcement experts have learned about shooters in prior incidents like Chardon, Columbine, and Virginia Tech.
The course also covers how to identify potential threats and reduce the danger of deadly escalation, how to coordinate with school administrators and law enforcement in the face of a real-time threat, and most importantly, how to save lives.
"As we remember each and every school shooting tragedy across the country and here in Ohio, may it serve as a reminder we need to train for the unthinkable event," said DeWine.
Educators can contact OPOTA with any questions about the video or in-person training by emailing AskOPOTA@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or calling 740-845-2700.
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Videos
Clip from Video featuring Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine
Clip from Video featuring OPOTA Instructor James Burke
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Eve Mueller: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840