SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Department of Public Safety says they hope we never see a mass shooting in Utah like the one that occurred in Florida, but they train all the time, just in case.
Officers say their first priority is always to stop the shooter, but if you find yourself in a shooting situation, there are some things you can do as well.
“If you’re in an active shooter situation.... get out and get away if you can,” said Sgt. Wyatt Weber of the Department of Public Safety’s training section. “Obviously, the further you can get away, the safer you're gonna be. The second thing we promote is, if you can't get away, if for some reason you’re trapped or contained in a small area, make it difficult for the shooter to get to you. Basically, barricade yourself inside of a building or structure and make him work to get to you.”
Weber has been training officers for 10 years on how to respond to an active shooter, but if you find yourself in a situation where his trainees haven't arrived yet.
“The last thing, be ready,” Weber said. “If he makes it to you and gets to you, or you’re somewhere that you can’t run or hide, to fight. There's no harm in turning around and just going all out.”
The Department of Public Safety says they have a good track record of resolving mass shooting incidents quickly, like the ones at Trolley Square and Library Square.
