Gibson Co. agencies prepare for active shooter emergency response

HUMBOLDT, Tenn. — While students in Humboldt are on fall break, first responders in Gibson County joined forces Friday for emergency response training, testing how efficiently they can get an active shooter situation under control.

“We decided that we wanted to come together as a community, as a county, and training together,” Humboldt Police Sgt. Heath Smith said.

Gibson County emergency response teams searched the halls of Humboldt High School Friday morning during active shooter training. Humboldt and Milan police looked for the shooter and possible victims, training first responders say they need.

“It’s starting to get closer to home,” Smith said. “And with it getting closer to home, we might as well start training for something like this to happen.”

For the first time, local fire departments also joined in the training, helping victims get medical attention after police cleared the building.

“We’re all going to be here working together to try to save lives,” Gibson County Fire Chief Bryan Cathey said. “And if we train together, then when we have to work together in the real scenario, it will be a whole lot better for everybody involved.”

Humboldt students volunteered to play the victims during the exercise, making the scenario more realistic.

“It’s going on all around the world, and they need to have us ready and have them ready,” student volunteer Micaiah Knox said.

“I had fun — better than being at home,” student Caitlyn Armstrong said.

Sgt. Smith says he hopes this county-wide training happens more often so everyone is prepared. “Every avenue of every specialized team that was here seen that there is something they can brush up on,” Smith said.

Gibson County officials hope other counties will have similar training in their communities as well.