Preparing for the Unthinkable - STPSO Holds Active Shooting Training

Preparing for the unthinkable, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office held an agency-wide Active Shooter Training this morning (November 24, 2022.

Sheriff Randy Smith took advantage of the Thanksgiving school break to hold the scenario-based training at Mayfield Elementary, but he stresses such training prepares the deputies for incidents at any business or building in the parish.

Deputies from multiple divisions participated in the training, with some playing the roles of the shooters as well as students and teachers.

"We tried to make this as realistic as possible," Sheriff Smith said.

Following the exercise, a debriefing was held with all involved to discuss what areas could be improved upon.

“We want to make sure we realize where our vulnerabilities are and to correct them now so we are prepared in case we find ourselves dealing with a real-life active-shooter situation in the future," Sheriff Smith said.

Sheriff Smith would like to thank the St. Tammany Parish School System for allowing the Sheriff’s Office the opportunity to use the school facility for this very important training.