BECKLEY, W.Va. — The recent rise of mass shootings across America have a lot of residents across southern West Virginia on edge.
The Beckley Police Department shares those concerns and is regularly training for situations like an active shooter. Training Division Commander Lieutenant Chuck Ragland joined “Radio Roundtable” on WJLS to talk about their initiatives. He assured his department’s training is always evolving as they learn from events across the nation.
“Our officers are no longer trained to wait and form teams. We have taken the next step in training; actually showing the officers that they already have all the tactics, all the techniques, all the knowledge to do this on their own.”
While Lt. Ragland agrees officer training is crucial, there are several ways the community can also help. He said awareness can greatly increase your chances of survival in the event of an active threat.
“So many people live their lives everyday on the phone, watching TV, they’re not aware of anything,” said Ragland. “When you’re walking around Walmart, that conversation on the phone or that text can honestly wait. Just be aware of what’s going on that way if you see something or hear something, react and let somebody know.”
A lot of times, the individuals committing massacres show warning signs long before committing the act. A recent Washington-Post report says Sutherland Springs, Texas church shooter Devin Kelley had a past that included “a conviction for beating his then-wife and stepson, charges of animal cruelty, mental health concerns and threats against his family members” among others.
Lt. Ragland told WJLS more often than not, people recognize the warning signs in others but don’t feel comfortable opening up them.
“If someone starts acting differently, if you really see the person has changed or their behavior changes, it’s time to stop being sensitive and going ‘I don’t want to go into their personal life’. Sometimes you have to step up and talk to these people.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides numerous resources for active shooter preparedness. One document provides potential warning signs in behavior that could lead to violence.
According to the document, those signs could include:
- Increasingly erratic, unsafe, or aggressive behaviors.
- Hostile feelings of injustice or perceived wrongdoing.
- Drug and alcohol abuse.
- Marginalization or distancing from friends and colleagues.
- Changes in performance at work.
- Sudden and dramatic changes in home life or in personality.
- Financial difficulties.
- Pending civil or criminal litigation.
- Observable grievances with threats and plans of retribution.
Lt. Ragland mentioned his department is willing to work with the community to ensure local businesses and organizations have the resources and knowledge they need to be prepared in the event of an active threat.
“We train for active threats. We continuously use the most recent training scenarios. It’s getting all of the members of a church, or all of the members of a private school, or a business to commit to these type of policies and the training that goes with them.”
For additional resources from the Beckley Police Department on active threat preparedness and crime prevention, click here.