Clackamas Town Center shooting: Police, mall workers trained earlier this year for shooting scenario
By Rick Bella, The Oregonian The Oregonian
on December 12, 2012 at 6:07 PM, updated December 12, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Six months before a lone gunman burst into Clackamas Town Center Tuesday, firing dozens of rounds into the crowds of shoppers, police and mall employees trained together for just such an emergency.
On Wednesday, police and mall employees credited that training, along with quick thinking and brave actions by some of the estimated 10,000 people at the mall, for saving lives. "To be familiar with all the back hallways and stairwells in advance really was helpful," said Clackamas County sheriff's Capt. Kevin Layng, who coordinated Tuesday's massive law enforcement response.
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In late spring, several teams of sheriff's deputies worked with the Clackamas Town Center's unarmed security staff to put on a one-day training seminar during which they staged several "active shooter" scenarios. The security staff later advised mall tenants on how they would be informed of emergencies and how to respond.
"We chose the active-shooter scenario to train with because a real incident has the greatest potential for multiple injuries through an act of violence," said Sgt. Adam Phillips, sheriff's office spokesman. "We actually have trained in several different locations over the years -- schools, businesses and the courthouse. But this last time, we chose the Town Center."
The Town Center isn't alone.
Shopping centers nationwide started training in case of attack after 9/11, said Malachy Kavanagh spokesman for the International Council for Shopping Centers. Over time, Kavanagh said, the threat shifted from terrorists to "lone wolves," shooters who are distraught or disenfranchised from the world.
"These individuals who commit these acts are basically looking to do it in a place where they have the most impact," he said. Malls, often one of the largest gathering places within a community, are targets of opportunity. Since 2005, at least 10 other shootings have occurred at North American malls, including four since June.
The training paid off Tuesday at Clackamas Town Center.
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Statistics: Posted by elfismiles — Thu Dec 13, 2012 4:38 pm