The training session provided City Hall employees with a classroom like discussion exploring the triggers and causes for some individuals to act out violently, along with simulated situational threats and response to identify, locate and neutralize the threat by the Springfield Police Metro Unit and Tactical Operations.
Mayor Sarno states, “It is becoming a very dangerous and difficult world we live in, be it mental health conditions that have been exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic or our courts and some judges not holding repeat violent criminals accountable for their actions. Again, taking myself out of the equation, the safety of my residents and employees is my number one priority, which is why after this serious act of violence with a deadly weapon where an individual was walking around City Hall with this weapon, I ordered a complete review of our security measures to City Hall and municipal buildings. If this individual that slashed my tires had encountered an innocent bystander, an employee or resident coming in to City Hall to do business, I fear what might have happened. Also, as we’ve also seen far too often in other parts of our country with active shooter situations, we must remain vigilant and ready to respond – this is the sad times which we live in.”
“I want to thank John Nettis and Steven Grasso from PASS for partnering with our Springfield Police Department to hold this active shooter training for our City Hall employees so that they have the training, tools and knowledge to better respond and react to these unfortunate situations if they should happen to not only help save their lives but the lives of our residents too. It is better to go through these coordinated and simulated training sessions and gain this life-saving experience and knowledge, then have to experience a real stressful life and death situation without the proper training. The session was also very insightful for our Springfield Police Department too,” said Mayor Sarno.
