This week, I was given a great opportunity that I would encourage anyone to take part in if they were ever given the chance. I got the chance to be an actor (hostage) in an active shooter drill that was put on by my local PD for several agencies. During this, I spent five hours (and numerous) drills with officers. I was at the back room of an office with an active shooter acting as a hostage. When I heard commotion start, I was supposed to make more and make it seem real.
I knew before taking part in this exercise that in this kind of situation, as a victim/hostage/good guy without a gun, that when the men and women in blue showed up, YOU DO AS YOU ARE TOLD. But, holy wow, does this reinforce that to the n'th degree. These men and women are so amped up by the time they get to you, that I can't stress the "comply with the orders that you're given" mantra enough. After two and a half or three dozen drills, I had been ordered onto the ground, and cuffed, probably six times. Another half a dozen or more instances, I was ordered to the ground while a flashlight and weapon were trained on me. Some officers were OK with me going to my knees with my hands up, and others ordered me to the ground spread eagle. In any of these instances, follow commands.
In none of these drills was I ever shot. And I can tell you, even though everyone in the activity knew this was only a drill, the adrenaline drop is real. It is absolutely imperative to follow directions to the letter if you're ever in that kind of situation. They aren't on a power trip, they aren't trying to put you in your place, they legitimately need the full cooperation of everyone because the situation is one giant unknown for them.
If there are any officers that frequent this board that participated, I want to say that everyone did a great job from what I saw. Thank you!
I had an absolute ball, and have a new found understanding and respect for these types of situations. It was also a lot of fun to just stand around with the officers that were running the activity in between drills and talk about all sorts of things. (including how as a license holder they see us in this type of situation -- again follow instructions!) Really a great opportunity, I can't say it enough.
