DANFORTH, Maine — On Dec. 3, simulated gunshots rang out in the halls of East Grand School to give the impression of danger.
Under the guidance of the Maine State Police and Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, faculty and staff at East Grand School practiced responding to an active shooter in the school, using techniques collectively known as the ALICE program.
ALICE is an acronym that stands for the five principal responses to an active shooter. These are Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate. Although they are listed in a way that makes mnemonic sense, they are all viable options, and their use depends on the situation. The training provided by the state police helped East Grand’s staff to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each technique, and when one technique might be a better choice than the others.
The training session began with a lecture introducing the program, and explaining each technique in detail. At the conclusion of the lecture, the staff was given the opportunity to put their newly acquired skills into practice. In a series of high-intensity drills, the staff learned the practical application of ALICE techniques.
The first drill subjected them to a simulated mass shooting using the passive approach. A state police trooper armed with starter pistols added a dose of stark realism to the drill, and the staff got a frightening first-hand look at the results of passivity.
In the second scenario, the staff had the option of using ALICE techniques rather than cower and comply with the shooter’s demands. A call over the intercom alerted the staff to the presence of an active shooter, and the staff promptly evacuated the building.
The third scenario prohibited evacuation, and the staff was forced to barricade the doors to keep the shooter out. In less than a minute, the staff erected barricades using furniture and other objects in the classrooms. While the barricades were not impregnable, they did buy the staff valuable time and disrupt the shooter’s plan.
The fourth and final scenario pitted the staff members directly against the shooter. Staff members took various actions against the shooter, including grappling him, ramming him with a cart, and pelting him with tennis balls, which safely took the place of the more dangerous objects one might hurl at a shooter in a real situation.
To supplement the staff training, state police will return on Thursday, Dec. 13 to present the ALICE program to parents in the form of a classroom lecture. On Wednesday, Dec. 19, the state police will give the students the tools to respond to an active shooter threat.
