(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today joined educators and law enforcement officers at the first regional "Active Shooter Training for Educators" class taught today in Columbus.
Two training sessions are being held at the Education Service Center of Central Ohio, where Attorney General DeWine addressed participants.
"In terms of student and teacher safety, our educators are the first responders," said Attorney General DeWine. "I'm grateful to all of you for your willingness to be proactive and learn what you can do to help protect your students and colleagues."
The training, offered by the Attorney General's Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and the Ohio Department of Education, teaches educators how to protect students if an active shooter is in their school or classroom and provides educators with information on how to identify a troubled youth before a crime occurs.
The training is also designed to help educators and law enforcement work together to formulate a coordinated response plan.
Approximately 200 educators and 60 law enforcement officers registered to attend today's training sessions.
Preparations for the course began after last year's school shooting in Chardon, Ohio; however demand for the training increased significantly after December's shootings in Newtown, Connecticut.
Eight additional regional courses are scheduled in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and the Athens area. The courses do not include firearm training.
Educators can sign up for the training through the STARS program on the Ohio Department of Education's website. Law enforcement officers can register on the Ohio Attorney General's website.
A schedule of the upcoming courses can be found here.
–30–
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840