MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Michigan State Police held active shooter training simulations on Thursday, March 23rd at the former Marquette General Hospital. This afternoon to help local law enforcement agencies prepare for active shooter situations. These scenarios can bring a high level of stress that officers have to be prepared for to ensure the safest possible outcome.
“When a crisis occurs a lot of people are running away from it, we’re the ones running into it,” said Michigan State Police Lt. Mark Giannunzio. Around 40 officers from the MSP, Marquette City Police department, and other local law enforcement took part in several active shooter and assailant training simulations. The goal is to keep that instinct and training in the forefront of their minds, even when surprised by a situation.
“Responding to a call like this everything is heightened you got people yelling you got smoke gunshots going off,” continued Detective Fezatt. Officers say the simulation is a good recall to early training and helps keep them on their feet in these fast-changing dangers.
The officers went through various shooter scenarios on Thursday, searching for danger in the thick of screaming, gunfire, and even situations with complete silence. Michigan State Police Lt. Giannunzio says mass casualty shootings have seen an uptick over the last 15 years and this training is a crucial part of wearing the badge. “If law enforcement isn’t prepared and isn’t at their best then that’s when lives get lost,” said Michigan State Police Lt. Mark Giannunzio.
“When that call comes in in a school or a church or in a bank wherever it may be that there going in and going to eliminate that threat immediately,” continued Lt. Giannunzio.
