Methuen High School was the setting of an active shooter drill Wednesday that saw about 60 people involved as well as student role-players and simulated casualties.
Methuen Police, fire and school departments took part in the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training—or ALERRT—training teaches practical skills and strategies to “rapidly identify, isolate and neutralize active shooters.” Methuen Mayor David P. “D.J.” Beauregard Jr. said he directed Police Chief Scott J. McNamara, Fire Chief Tim Sheehy and school Superintendent Brandi Kwong to conduct the exercise.
“We will continue to prioritize training, collaboration and resources to keep our schools and community secure,” Beauregard said in a release.
Earlier this year, the departments also teamed up to conduct smaller-scale lockdown drills at each school in the district. Annual ALERRT drills are planned.
Officials said all Methuen High School students and staff went into lockdown during the drill and took the drill seriously. The drill tested the ability of first responders to defuse a threat and form rescue task forces, combining police and fire/EMS personnel, to evacuate wounded individuals from a “warm zone.” A warm zone is an area in an active shooter incident where the immediate threat has been neutralized or contained, but some risk remains, requiring coordinated efforts to safely extract victims.
“Methuen Firefighters play a critical role in such extractions, and training together with police and school officials builds the skills and readiness of all involved. This integrated response highlights Methuen’s readiness to manage complex emergencies with precision and unity,” officials explained in the release.