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The Greenville Police Department conducted its annual active shooter training and drills at Greenville Middle School on July 17-18, preparing officers for potential school emergencies. The training included participants from across the county, aiming to enhance readiness and response capabilities.

“We do this every year, but this year we extended it,” said Greenville Police Chief Justin Lovvorn. “We really harp on the basics, but this year we also made it more intense during the drills to see how they handled it. We went overboard really to make sure that our officers are fully prepared to handle something like that.”

The drills were designed to simulate real-life scenarios, pushing officers to respond under heightened pressure. 

“If something were to happen, we don’t want it to be the first time they think of all these things,” Lovvorn added. “It was pretty intense, but I think they really got more out of it this year.”

The importance of such training is underscored by a study published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which reports 328 injuries or deaths due to active shooter incidents at elementary and secondary schools from 2000 to 2022. The study also notes that these numbers were accumulated despite many schools being closed for in-person learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the 2022 data, educational settings were the third most common site for active shooter incidents. 

The training at Greenville Middle School reflects a growing emphasis on preparedness and swift, effective response in the face of potential school shootings. By incorporating officers from various departments within the county, the Greenville Police Department aims to create a unified and coordinated response plan to ensure the safety of students and staff in the event of an emergency.