To help educate businesses and citizens, Cedar Falls Public Safety will be holding open Active Shooter Training courses this summer. There will be a total of four opportunities for the community to attend with courses taking place on July 21 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.; August 4 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; August 11 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and on August 18 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Cedar Falls Public Safety Building (4600 South Main Street). Each session covers the same information.
The course, A Citizen's Response to Active Shooter Situations, is training supported by law enforcement to aid persons in increasing their survivability in the event they find themselves in the midst of an active shooting situation. It is presented by Cedar Falls Lieutenant Dennis O’Neill, a 25-year veteran in law enforcement with 22 years of experience at Cedar Falls. Lt. O’Neill served on the Cedar Falls SWAT team for 18 years. He currently works with outside law enforcement agencies, private businesses, public institutions, citizens, and students in the promotion of preparation for violent incidents.
"The goal of the course is for participants to sit, listen, and learn," said Lt. O’Neill. "We don't want people to be afraid but we do want them to be prepared with accurate safety information and procedures. Although we wish this training was not necessary, active shooting incidents across the nation have not slowed down. It is an important part of public safety services to provide this education to our community."
The course is free and recommended for participants ages 15 and up. To reserve a spot, email Amanda Huisman at amanda.huisman@cedarfalls.com by the Tuesday before the desired session. For those who cannot attend but would still like to receive this education, Cedar Falls Public Safety offers educational public speaking opportunities and facility tours for all ages. Please contact (319) 273-8612 to learn more.