Staff at the Carroll County Courthouse ran through their first active shooter drill yesterday (Tuesday) morning as part of a broader effort to improve safety at every level of county government. County officials briefly closed the courthouse for the planned exercise, which involved the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and staff from all of the offices in the courthouse. Deputies deployed firecrackers to serve as simulated gunfire and activated the building’s notification system. County staff knew in advance that the drill was coming and executed their pre-planned responses. Carroll County Emergency Management Coordinator Jeff Cullen, who previously worked with the Iowa Department of Public Safety as a state trooper and investigator with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, emphasizes the importance of drills like Tuesday’s.
Cullen says this week’s drill was more of a walk-through than a full-on simulation. The next drill he has planned won’t be announced to staff in advance and could be much more intense.
Cullen adds that the importance of training and preparedness cannot be overstated, and knowing what to do in an emergency, rather than having to come up with a plan in the heat of the moment, is the difference between life and death in some cases. He cites Iowa’s impressive record of never losing an Iowa student to a school fire, and he credits the state’s dedication to frequent fire drills. Cullen notes this is the county’s first active shooter drill, as far as he is aware, and they plan to bring tornado and fire drills back into the rotation for county staff.
Cullen adds his office’s interest in safety and preparedness extends beyond county staff and facilities. Any Carroll County business or organization interested in organizing their own drills or emergency plans and would like a set of experienced eyes to offer insight can call Carroll County Emergency Management at 712-775-2166 or email jcullen@carrollcountyiowa.org.
