On July 20, the Lakewood Police Department hosted an Active Killer Training at Georgian Court University.

The training was coordinated by Lieutenant Rob Shimonovich and the department’s training division.

Patrolman Leonard Nieves Jr. instructed the participants on the history and response to an active killer incident. Patrolman Joe Sandstrom gave a presentation on self-aid / buddy aid and the use of a tourniquet, which has become a hand in hand when dealing with any serious combat situation.

The cadre of instructors consisted of Lakewood Special Response Team and several Jackson Police Officers including their lead instructor Patrolman Vincent Rubio. The training was offered to all the surrounding Law Enforcement agencies at no cost.

There were over sixty officers that attended the training – with Lakewood Police, Jackson Police, Lacey Township Police and Georgian Court Security making up majority of the roster.

Officers were given a Powerpoint type lecture, then safety briefed and outfitted with simunitions (non-lethal training firearms) and put through several active killer scenarios.

“We use active killer as opposed to active shooter because it is not always a gun that’s involved in these acts – it could be a knife or any other type of weapons,” says Shimonovich.

The scenarios included role players which were students from the university and several Jackson High School students, making the training as life like as safely possible.

Sound mimicking equipment was also utilized at the training, which created shouting and screaming – causing confusion and alarm.

Officers were set up in groups of two or three then sent through the university in a tactical type formation searching for the active killer.

During their search, role players would pose as victims or fleeing students trying to get away. Officers have a great challenge when these victims are screaming and running towards them, with identification and deciding to bypass and continue the search.

The LRAD sound mimicker then causes confusion by mimicking gun shots, to which the officers then have to respond – towards the direction of the blasts. At some point, they come face to face with the active killer and have to stop the killer – which is also a role player utilizing a blank gun that creates anxiety and the sense of being shot.

“This hands on training is the most valuable type of training because it puts the officers as close to the real thing as safely possible,” says Shimonovich. “It makes the officers think of what I did right or what I could do better. This type of training is mandatory every year and a hands on scenario at least every other year.”