WMBCTV: Police School Safety Training for Moments When Every Second Counts

In the wake of school shootings across the United States, first responders often run active shooter drills to stay prepared. At Memorial Middle School, the Little Ferry Police Department is holding a series of active shooter response trainings - classrooms are being transformed into training grounds for a scenario police officers say they hope they will never face, but must always be prepared for. Officer Joe Gaglioti with the Little Ferry Police Department says the drill is designed to recognize warning signs, respond under pressure and save lives.

“I’m one of the active shooter instructors and we’re running an active shooter training at the school,” said Officer Gaglioti. “It’s training, giving our officers the equipment, the tools and the policies and procedures in place if the situation unfolds that there is an active shooter.”

Nationwide, officials say the urgency is clear. According to national data from Everytown for Gun Safety, the United States has recorded at least 141 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, resulting in 44 deaths and 129 injuries this year. Officials say those statistics underscore why schools remain central to preparedness efforts.

“Unfortunately, you see it more and more nowadays that active shooter situations unfold in a school so we want to make sure that our officers are trained with the proper training and tools so they know what they’re doing,” said Officer Gaglioti.

The training covers topics from situational awareness to hands-on practices of how to deal with an active school shooter situation when every second counts.

“We have a big responsibility on our hands to be able to call for mutual aid and thankfully we have the Bergen County SWAT Team and we have the prosecutors office and we have other agencies like Moonachie, south Hackensack, Bergen county sheriffs officers to be able to respond and be able to assist us,” said Officer Gaglioti. “Trust in us and trust in the agencies that we are there for the kids and we are there for each and every civilian and we are doing the best in our ability to make sure that they’re safe. We will have something that we put out if a situation unfolds that they’ll be able to follow the proper guidelines to make sure the kids are safe - that’s our main responsibility and that’s it.”