BEDFORD (WSLS10) - Police and first responders are sharpening their skills and preparing for active shooter situations. Some are on high alert since the deadly shooting that left 5 officers dead in Dallas but one department in Bedford practiced drills Saturday. The goal of the event is to make sure officers and corresponding agencies know how to handle the situation if there was an active shooter in Bedford County.
Organizers held a training exercise at Bedford Elementary School.
It's part of the training exercise between the Bedford Police Department, Bedford County Sheriff's Office, Fire and Rescue and Virginia State Police.
"I'm extremely excited, I think it's an unparalled opportunity to train," Deputy Rob Ferguson with the Bedford County Sheriff's Office said.
The overall goal, according to Sheriff Mike Brown is to give the community confidence law enforcement can protect the public is there was any danger.
"You're never 100 percent prepared, but we are I think we are pretty well prepared to handle anything that comes down," Brown said.
Brown said this is the 7th time they held a an active shooting training exercise and they started having them about 2-3 years after the Columbine shooting.
He said this exercise was planned before the Dallas shooting and is glad to see all the agencies working together to make sure the area is safe.
Bedford County Chief of Fire and Rescue Jack Johnson Jr. said the training help crews as well.
He said times have changed when fist aid would be provided after law enforcement secured a building, now to save more lives, crews may have to go into locations not as safe.
"Its still a dangerous area, because we're able to save more people and actually decrease the loss of life," by being there that much quicker, its like a combat medic mentality," Johnson said.
Brown said after Saturday's exercise, his team will go back and look at the areas where they can improve.