Hauppauge, NY - April 3, 2018 - The commonly used catchphrase during a recent active shooter training was: “run, hide, and fight.” Suffolk County Police Officer Moira Larmour conducted a seminar at the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO building in Hauppauge, which gave an overview of active shooter situations from the past and basic survival strategies for the future. The Suffolk County Police Department’s catchphrase was created in order to give guidance to employees in the workplace regarding how they should react to a potential active shooter incident. Police Officer Larmour stressed the importance of employers developing an emergency action plan in case an active shooter situation or other emergency situation emerges in the workplace.
“I commend Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and the Suffolk County Police Department for their collaboration to make this seminar an educational asset to our community,” said Legislator Lindsay. “We are fortunate here in Suffolk County to have a police department that is committed to preventing active shooter situations, and prepare tirelessly for a wide variety of emergency situations. As a father of two children, I want to ensure that our schools are a safe place for all of our children to attend. Our schools, as well as all places of employment in Suffolk County must have an emergency action plan for active shooter situations. If we are proactive now, then if need be, we will end up saving lives in the future.”
John R. Durso, President of the Long Island Federation of Labor, said “Our movement has a strong partnership with the New York Committee on Occupational Safety and Health addressing the ever changing health and safety challenges we come across in the workplace. It is with tremendous sadness that we are forced to confront the reality that an active shooter scenario is something more and more working people are forced to acknowledge as a possibility.”
Durso continued, “As with all other health and safety concerns our movement works to educate working families, and equip them with the tools and information to be able to respond appropriately. During the seminar, we heard from the Suffolk County Police Department’s Division of Homeland Security. In the past we’ve conducted trainings in partnership with the Nassau Police Department’s Division of Homeland Security, as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. We’re hopeful that those that attended our trainings never have to call upon the information and skills presented to them. However, if necessary they’ll be trained to respond in a manner that could save lives, possibly their own.”
To learn more about the Suffolk County Police Department’s Counter-Terrorism and Anti-Crime program, SCPD Shield, please visit http://suffolkcountyny.gov/scpd-shield/Home.aspx. To setup training for your business, please email SCPDSHIELD@suffolkcountyny.gov and place “request for training” in the subject line.