Specialized School Officer Training For Chester, Mendham Police

CHESTER, NJ — School resource officers within Morris County, including the Chester Police and Mendham Borough Police Departments participated in an inaugural special training program recently, coordinated by Morris County’s Office of Emergency Management and Sheriff James Gannon.

“Our schools are safer today because of our school resource officers, and now we are enhancing our preparedness and taking it to an entirely new level,” Gannon said.

The officers who participated were within the first class for the Morris County School Resource Officer Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Program, taught by several different instructors, the Morris County Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team teaching the tactical segments; and the County’s OEM Special Operation Group/EMS, Penn Tactical Solutions and RANT Strategies handling rescue and medical intervention training.

“It is no different than any one of us who expects to go home to our families at the end of our shift,” Gannon also said. “It is imperative that we remain prepared to ensure the same for our kids, faculty and school staff, every school day.”

In the two-day intensive classes taught at the Morris Plains Borough schools, officers trained in “medical skill stations and patient care simulations,” as well as took part in “interactive discussions.”

“The overall focus of the program was to train these law enforcement officers for both the tactics and lifesaving medical interventions that may be required during an active shooter incident, or similar acts of violence at a school,” said Jeffrey Paul, Morris County’s Office of Emergency Management Director.

“We know that the number one goal is to neutralize the threat, stop the killing and minimize injuries,” Paul continued in a news release about the program on Wednesday.

“At the point that this is accomplished, it is critical that we move into tactical field care to save lives and this program is designed to achieve this important objective,” Paul added.

After officers completed their training on Sept. 3, they were given a “large trauma and medical extraction system” to keep with them at their school while they are working.

“Regardless of how safe our communities are, we must always be vigilant and prepared for worst case scenarios,” said Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw. “That is how we save lives and keep our children and school staff safe.”

“My fellow commissioners and I are very supportive of the Morris County Office of Emergency Management’s EMS program and initiatives at the Morris County Sheriff’s Office designed to strengthen the level of preparedness and response throughout our area,” Shaw said.

In addition to Chester and Mendham Borough Police Departments, officers received training from the following Morris County police departments:

· Chatham Borough Police Department

· Dover Police Department

· East Hanover Police Department

· Florham Park Police Department

· Jefferson Township Police Department

· Montville Township Police Department

· Morris Plains Police Department

· Morris Township Police Department

· Morristown Police Department

· Mount Arlington Police Department

· Pequannock Township Police Department

· Washington Township Police Department

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.