Faculty Welfare Senate Committee, TUPD preparing for active shooter training session

The Faculty Senate Welfare Committee, partnered with Troy University Police Department (TUPD), will be holding an Active Shooter Training Session on Oct. 20 to better prepare faculty in the event of an emergency. 

The training session will act as a second part to the “Run, Hide, Fight” campaign shared by TUPD earlier this semester, allowing faculty to ask questions regarding specific scenarios and gain a more complete understanding of the safety protocol on Troy’s campus. 

“We’re going to discuss, a little more person to person, what we’ve already shared with ‘Run, Hide, Fight,’” said TUPD Police Chief George Beaudry. “Things that will just help you – on a day-to-day basis – think about how you would respond, and then we will talk about, if the worst happens, what you need to do in response.” 

This meeting will be the first of its kind to be held on Troy’s campuses. TUPD plans to make discussions such as the training session a more routine aspect of the university’s safety measures. 

“These are just the beginning,” Beaudry said. “We’re going to keep doing this.  

“We’re going to do this on probably a quarterly basis where we will set these little short meetings up. We just want to get the word out there.” 

This heavy emphasis on active shooter safety comes as Troy University is growing more cautious of the influx of shooter events at universities and around the country. 

“Active shooter preparation is a priority for faculty due to the increasing frequency of mass shootings, which heightens concerns about safety in educational environments,” said Chair of the Faculty Welfare Committee Felicia Carter-Slocum. “By focusing on preparedness, faculty aim to enhance response strategies, ensure student safety and create a more secure atmosphere on campus.” 

This training session is planned specifically with faculty and staff in mind, so they may know the proper response to an emergency to keep themselves and their students safe, but the session will be recorded and might be released as a resource for students. 

“The information that had been sent out by University Police to the Troy University community established the foundation for handling crisis situations,” said Faculty Senate President Dr. Lenetra Jefferson. “At present, this is being planned for faculty and staff.  

“If approved, the Senate would be happy to make the recording available to everyone in the university community.”  

While students themselves will not be available to attend these meetings, Beaudry said the main point to remember is that staying prepared is the most important measure you can take. 

“If you’ve never thought about what you would do in response when something bad happens, your body is going to potentially freeze,” Beaudry said. “If you’ve taken time to think about it ahead of time, even a little bit, you are one step closer to a quicker, safer response.  

“Should the worst happen, [that preparation] could save lives.” 

The Active Shooter Training Session is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 20, and it will be held in the Trojan Center Ballrooms. There will also be sessions on Troy’s Montgomery and Dothan campuses in the subsequent days.