For Immediate Release

Friday, April 29, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Wakefield Police Complete Active Shooter Training

WAKEFIELD –  Chief Rick Smith reports that the Wakefield Police Department completed active shooter training last week.

The entire department participated in the training, which took place at Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School, 100 Hemlock Road, Wakefield, on April 19 and 21. Police transformed part of the high school to simulate an Acme Corporation building to specifically train officers on an active shooter situation at a place of business.

The fictional scenario, led by Sgt. Sean Beede, included smoke billowing from the front of the building, apparent explosions inside and two armed men holding an employee hostage on the second floor. After discovering that the gunmen fled with the hostage, the training moves outside, where officers implement tactics to retrieve the hostage.

The training also included dismantling bombs and reviewing the protocol for calling an explosive ordinance disposal unit to handle explosives.

Those who participated were divided into three groups of five. Each unit completed the training and a post-training debriefing, where organizers offered both praise and constructive criticism.

Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio rode along with a police unit in order to witness the training event. Police Chief Rick Smith also took part in the training.

“I am grateful to both our department for conducting this training and to Northeast Metro Tech for allowing us to use the building,” Chief Smith said. “Our officers performed extremely well under the conditions and I am confident the community will remain safe should an active shooter event ever occur in Wakefield.”

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