Active Shooter Task Force Approved In Long Valley

LONG VALLEY, NJ — The Township Committee voted to approve the creation of a new "Rescue Task Force" at the Feb. 13 meeting, which would be responsible for responding to active shooter and mass casualty situations.

The task force is a joint effort from law enforcement and the Long Valley First Aid Squad to help increase "pre-hospital patient survivability" during a potential mass casualty incident in the township. Through the partnership, first responders will work together to best respond to mass shootings, particularly those in schools.

"The rescue task force is being put in place as part of the county’s RSVP (Responsible School Violence Program) toward school violence situations. The idea behind it is an agreement between the emergency services in town and the police department to work together in the event of an incident," Police Chief Jeff Almer said.

Previously, police would fully secure an area before EMS could begin responding to patients. Under the new task force, police will isolate the shooter and EMS will be able to respond to shooting victims with the help of a police escort to prevent death from blood loss.

The task force will be funded through a county grant from the Department of Homeland Security; the funding will cover training and equipment, such as bullet proof vests for EMS, the Observer Tribune reported.

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