By Greg Mellen, Behind The Badge
Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer
Active shooter events have risen sharply in just six years from 20 in 2016 to 50 in 2022, with 2022 having the most fatalities in five years, according to the FBI. Nonprofit organizations such as the Gun Violence Archive and Everytown, which use much broader definitions for mass shootings that encompass injuries beyond fatalities, peg the number at more than 600 mass shootings in 2022.
On Saturday morning, at the Santa Ana Court House the responders participated in a five hour simulated active shooter scenario, involving the Santa Ana Police Department, Orange County Fire Authority, U.S. Marshals Service, and courthouse personnel, who were all taking the drill very seriously. The scores of “victims” consisted mostly of Police Explorers and CERT team members in costumes and makeup. With also about 25 to 30 Santa Ana police participated, as well as 15 OCFA firefighters and paramedics, while trained evaluators observed and graded the response. A detailed briefing was held afterwards.
In the same way that officers train and drill, Sgt. Ricardo Diaz of the Santa Ana Police Department and its Homeland Security detail said it is important for the public to remain vigilant, alert, and prepared should an actual active shooter event occur.
As part of the national See Something Say Something campaign, online sites such as SafeOC contain information on how to be ready and react in the case of an active shooter.
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