Training days

Sgt. Stephen Powers demonstrates the “Run, Hide, Fight” PowerPoint presentation. (Photo by Erin Pence)

The Wright State University Department of Public Safety is offering a new active threat program for students, faculty and staff.

“Run, Hide, Fight” training sessions will be offered on Tuesdays from 4 to 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 to 11:30 a.m. during the Spring Semester. Sessions are free and held on Webex.

Reserve your spot by emailing Sgt. Stephen Powers at stephen.powers@wright.edu.

The course prepares participants to proactively handle an active threat event or an aggressive individual. The program was developed by the Miami Valley Crime Prevention Association.

The program is designed to supplement the two-hour, in-person A.L.I.C.E. program the department has used for five years.

“It will have a lot of the same information and will accomplish everything that we want in a shorter amount of time,” said Kurt Holden, interim director of public safety.

The 30-minute course features a PowerPoint presentation, training videos in which participants observe various active threat scenarios and the opportunity to ask questions with a Wright State police officer. Participants will also learn about the various stages of response during an active threat, situational awareness and crime data.

“This is a great educational program. It isn’t supposed to scare you or make you nervous. It’s to shed light on some of the things that are happening in our country and how to stay safe,” said Holden.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, 250 active shooter incidents took place in the United States from 2000 to 2017. Institutions of higher education account for 6% of those incidents. The Institute for Childhood Preparedness reported in June that despite the COVID-19 pandemic there was a surge in active shooter events in 2020.

Holden said the shorter training program will help the Department of Public Safety to educate more people in the Wright State community.

“We want to educate students, staff and faculty because we want to continue providing a safe community for everyone,” said Holden.

The Department of Public Safety will continue offering the in-person A.L.I.C.E. program to the campus community upon request.