William J. Hochul Jr., Active Shooter Incidents, New York 2013

Buffalo, NY – In a shocking turn of events, the Western District of New York has taken proactive measures to address the growing threat of active shooter incidents. U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced that the district, which covers 17 upstate counties, is sponsoring three upcoming training sessions to tackle the issue.

The recent shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and Webster, NY, have highlighted the need for increased vigilance and preparedness. Hochul emphasized that the public needs to know that law enforcement officers are well-trained and dedicated to handling these situations, but that proactive measures must be taken to educate and prepare both law enforcement and the public.

The first training, ‘Street Survival and Officer Safety,’ is scheduled for February 8, 2013. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Hilbert College, this training will focus on three case studies involving the death or serious injuries of police officers and the safety training that followed these incidents.

On March 15, 2013, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with the United States Secret Service, The University at Buffalo, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, will co-sponsor the 10th Annual Safe Schools Initiative Seminar. This all-day program, entitled ‘Understanding Human Aggression and Violence, and Making Our Schools Safe,’ is designed for school officials and officers and will feature Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, one of the world’s foremost experts in the field of human aggression and the roots of violence and violent crime.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is also planning a training session in April that will focus on active shooters in a business environment. The goal of the training is to educate employees and owners of local businesses and equip them with the tools needed to protect their staff and operations from a violent crime incident.

U.S. Attorney Hochul believes that by partnering with law enforcement, the education and business communities, they can better protect the public and each other from the challenges presented by active shooter incidents. While no single solution exists to eliminate all violent crime, collective discussion and implementation of best practices will ensure that the proper steps are taken to prevent and address such situations.

For more information about these trainings, contact Public Affairs Officer Barbara Burns at 716-842-5817.

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