Putnam County Sheriff’s Department hosting a de-escalation training at Life Church this Saturday.
Sheriff Eddie Farris said several churches in the county approached his department asking for advice on the topic. He said preparation is key in emergency events.
“How do we make sure we get the EMS in and out in the proper way, that’s just one small thing but there are lots of things we can do,” Farris said. “To go ahead and talk about and put scenarios in place and have a checklist for the churches to have to go ahead and get started on this.”
Farris said they’ll cover everything from an active shooter situation to a medical emergency. He said they’ll also consider what congregation members are present who could potentially help in situations, such as a member of law enforcement or a medical professional.
Farris said with over 100 churches in Putnam County, the training is limited to two representatives per church. He said they are hoping this will be the first in a series of similar training opportunities.
“We look forward to doing this and we’re glad to be able to do this for the churches and our community,” Farris said. “And we look forward to being able to provide.”