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Sheriffs Conduct Interagency “School Shooter” Training Event at Topanga Elementary
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Three “agencies” evacuate victims from the “hot zone” where the active shooter is located. Students from age 7 to 17 participated in the drill as victims during the emergency scenario. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies from the Malibu/Lost Hills Station, including the Malibu Search and Rescue (SAR) Team and other agencies, conducted an "active school shooter" training event at Topanga Elementary School.
Topanga CA—Early Saturday morning, Feb. 23, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies from the Malibu/Lost Hills Station, including the Malibu Search and Rescue (SAR) Team and other agencies, conducted an "active school shooter" training event at Topanga Elementary School in Topanga Canyon. 
The training was part of the Sheriff’s Department’s ongoing efforts to prepare and train for events involving active shooter incidents at schools or other locations. More than 30 officers and deputies cycled through several training scenarios involving armed shooting suspects with multiple adult and child victims.
Conducting the training scenarios with other agencies provides deputies and rescue team members the opportunity to learn and practice different tactics and training methods with different equipment and procedures.
This type of training facilitates interagency communication and cooperation and prepares for the eventuality that multiple agencies will be called upon to respond to such an event with the same end goal of stopping the incident and saving lives.
“The children who volunteered enjoyed their experience and provided real-world reactions to the scenarios. While they knew that the scenarios were staged, they could not help but feel what it would be like in a real active shooting scenario,” said David Katz, S/R Sgt. and Public Information Officer for Malibu SAR. “There is no doubt that the kids are better prepared for such an event,” Katz added.
For more information, questions or updates on recent rescues and news about Malibu SAR, please e-mail R06@malibusar.org; on Facebook (Malibu Search and Rescue Team); Twitter @Malibusar; www.malibusar.org.
