With all the media attention on how the police in Uvalde Texas did (and perhaps did not) handle the deadly elementary school shooting there, Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart was clear.

“The first man or woman on scene must go in and is required a solo response,” Gebhart told Mayor Scott Fadness in a Wednesday night Webinar.  After the Columbine High School shooting, police departments planned a mass response, but according the the Chief, experience in mass shootings of all types has resulted in the assumption that a Fishers officer on the scene will respond at the scene.

Mayor Fadness scheduled the school safety Webinar to update the local community on how local law enforcement constantly trains for situations such as school shootings.

Gebhart emphasized that the responding officer must be trained and equipped to handle an emergency such as a school shooting.  Fadness had witnessed such training and said it was “an impressive thing to see.”

The mayor also asked about how police evaluate threats and Gebhart said all threats are evaluated and the response is tied to the level of that threat.  His officers, the Chief said, have been known to awaken parents at 2am if there is sufficient cause to look at a potential school threat.

Gebhart reminded the community that all School Resource Officers (SROs) are sworn officers, part of the Fishers Police Department.  Officers in his department compete for SRO position openings.  There are also patrol officers in the area of school buildings prepared to respond quickly if needed.

Fishers Police have two leaders on the scene of any incident to support the officers responding.  Gebhart said he has expectations of leadership among his uniformed staff and officers.

The mayor provided a hypothetical situation where an employer is planning to fire an employee and there is some concern that the worker being let go may have a violent response.  Gebhart replied that his department is notified of such situations all the time and arrange for what is needed based on the level of possible threat.  It could just mean an officer is parked in the business parking lot while the firing happens.

Fadness emphasized that police officers are fathers and mothers as well and are being expected to go into a potentially dangerous situation if they are the first on the scene of a school shooting and must go in.  Gebhart replied that all officers understand the risks of the job.

Both Mayor Fadness and Chief Gebhart emphasized that the community plays a role in alerting authorities if there is a threat.  The city offers a High Threat Response program where businesses, churches and other parts of the community may receive training on responding to emergency situations.  To learn more about the program, use this link.