Overall, the Lesson Plan for Active shooter is in depth and easy to follow. 

However, the only clarfication is the sextions that refer to Emeregency Medical dispatch (2.4.16.9.1) EMD. It is unclear what is to be taught. Is that EMD gets suspended or how doe a Communications Officer actaully EMD these types of calls?  More clarification on this area needs to be addressed.

2.4.16.9.2 Add in the word Dispatcher " Tactical Emergency Dispatch Response Team"  This will ensure that no confusion that the TERT team is referring to dispatchers. 

The same information can be found on pg. 28 also.

I fully support adding Active Shooter Training to the Communications Basic Certifcation Training Program.

Resubmitted with corrections****

Review of Active Shooter pg.18

Overall, the Lesson Plan for the Active shooter is in depth and easy to follow. 

However, the only clarification is the sections that refer to Emergency Medical dispatch (2.4.16.9.1) EMD. It is unclear what is to be taught. Is that EMD gets suspended or how does a Communications Officer actually EMD these types of calls?  More clarification on this area needs to be addressed.

2.4.16.9.2 Add in the word Dispatcher " Tactical Emergency Dispatch Response Team"  This will ensure that no confusion that the TERT team is referring to dispatchers. 

The same information can be found on pg. 28 also.

I support adding Active Shooter Training to the Communications Basic Certification Training Program.

I am submitting comments from our Training Supervisor and Training Coordinator regarding the DCJS curriculum and Active Shooter Dispatcher, specifically:

I do not feel that the current DCJS curriculum is appropriate for agencies that have separation of duties such as ours: calltakers, police dispatcher, and fire dispatchers. It is difficult to teach to students that are training for an entry level position as a calltaker, but then to blend in dispatcher functions to meet practical and testing standards. With that being said, I do not feel that Active Shooter Dispatcher Judgement is appropriate to add to the current Basic lesson plan. If standards could be optional for solely calltakers, then sure. This section will likely be added regardless and I do not wish to necessarily comment on the Town Hall, but more to make you aware that I’m direct on pending changes.

Additionally, last year we tried to get ahead of this and did make a power point and lesson plan for our staff here, which was then followed by HTR training from the police department. Much like CIT where 6 months to a year experience is requested by instructors, this course would be more suitable to revisit for the in depth coverage beyond release to solo duty.

I agree with the above. I understand that DCJS deals with a lot of agencies (of various sizes) but as an instructor it is challenging when there are mandatory requirements that need to be taught and you know that what you are teaching is something that isn’t really going to be used by the student (due to our structure – entry level position is call taker and dispatching is not attained until later).  Making it an optional standard – or even something that could be covered at a later time (for example within 12 months of being released to solo duty) would actually make it more beneficial to the student because they would then have a better foundation so it would actually make sense to them - and isn’t them understanding what they are learning vs. something they are just regurgitating for a test our ultimate goal? 

After review of the proposed training standards for dispatchers regarding active shooter incidents.  I am in complete support of this type of training being added to DCJS standards. 

I support the addition of Active Shooter training to the minimum standards for dispatcher training and appreciate the detail in the lesson plan.

I echo Ms. Tidey's (Orange County) 3/9/17 requests for clarification of section 2.4.16.9.1 reference EMD, particularly if EMD is suspended by the PSAP during the incident due to overwhelming call volume, as well as 2.4.16.9.2. 

I support adding Active Shooter to Dispatcher Training cirriculum.  I agree with Michelle Sardum that this should be taught separately from Basic Dispatch.  Consider making Basic Dispatch a prerequisite and require the Active Shooter training within 2 or 3 years of hire.