The Demopolis Police Department participated in a training this week as a part of the DPD annual in-service training in efforts to equip officers with the knowledge necessary in the unfortunate event of an active shooter.

“It is a two-day active shooter training, a 16-hour course, that teaches local officers how to enter a structure if there is an active shooter. The course is important so there won’t be a wait, the local officers will have the knowledge to go in and take care of the threat,” Cpl. Michael Britton, Alabama State Trooper said.

The Demopolis Police Department opened its training to other officers locally, from Linden police department, Livingston police department and Eutaw police department.

The training is designed to teach local officers what to do in the case of an active shooter. Officers gathered at the high school to participate in hands-on trainings covering a variety of topics.

The training was held at Demopolis High School. Chief Reese said about half of his officers went in for the training this week and more officers will attend next week. In this case, his officers will all be equipped with this training in case of an unfortunate event.

Chief Reese said in addition, his officers do a full week of in-service training annually which is approved by the Alabama Peace Officer’s Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC) for their Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

This training involves CPR re-certification, how to deal with the mentally ill, firearms re-certification and a host of other things.

Alabama State Law requires that all Alabama Law Enforcement Officers receive twelve CEU hours per year, but DPD Officers and any other officers that attend the Demopolis Police Department’s In-Service Training will receive thirty-two CEU hours for the full week which has been approved by APOSTC, according to Reese.