Bobbi Lamon applies a fake gunshot wound to volunteer Amber Gay before an active shooter exercise. Photo by Adelia Ladson
I got some reactions from the volunteers after the training exercise was over.
“ I think it’ s good information. I do like that, as a spectator. … if it was a live shooting, we would know exactly what to do and just to see the quick response,” said Ora Coots, who volunteered.
Jamie Lowry, another volunteer, said,“ It was an experience to see how all the officials walked together and worked together and the way that they handled the situation.”
“ I think it’ s sad to know that we have to do this today but I think that it’ s great, that from an EMS point, all the first responders are preparing for if something bad really happened,” said volunteer Amber Gay.
For me, as an observer, it was interesting to see the agencies practice what they had been going over in class and in smaller exercises during the week. To me, it seemed that the agencies did a really good job of working together to get the“ victims” to safety and medical attention.
These officers weren’ t all SWAT team members and weren’ t used to constant tactical training. It didn’ t matter because all of them took it dead serious and it was cool to watch them work the situation together.
I watched as law enforcement officers, with their weapons drawn, surrounded EMS and Fire personnel, escorting them into the building to get to victims. These were victims that the officers had already collected into a room that they had secured. Then, once the victims were deemed stable by EMS and Fire, they were evacuated with officers also helping with that.
Like Moore said, we can’ t pretend that it could never happen here but I, for one, feel that our emergency agencies and law enforcement agencies have worked hard to make sure that they’ re prepared if it ever does. We’ re lucky to have these women and men who are committed to doing that.
AUGUST 2025 MoultrieScene 47