Teachers Get 'Active Shooter' Training

Strongsville police are going into each school in the district to train teachers and staff in new methods of handling an active shooter.

Police Chief Jim Kobak said the department has conducted intruder alert drills in the schools for years, but is introducing new techniques aimed at giving staff more power.

"Never before have we asked teachers to engage a shooter," Kobak said. "Now we're giving them an option -- if you're faced with no other choice, you can go ahead and attack that intruder."

The training includes drills and officers firing blanks for added realism, as well as to teach teachers to distinguish between different types of weapons.

Superintendent John Krupinski said he spoke with employees at one of the first schools to undergo the training and found a positive reaction.

"I think the staff felt much more empowered," he said.

Council President Mike Daymut said the same thing this week after speaking with school staff.

"They feel much more secure," Daymut said.

Mayor Tom Perciak said a security analysis is being completed for each school.

"We wanted to make certan we were very proactive on this," he said.

The fresh look at school security was prompted by the Dec. 14 shooting of 26 students and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.

"A lot of this we've been doing for years," Kobak said. "But you always want to re-evaluate and see if you can do things better."