Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE)
Police respond as fast as they can to an active shooters incident. But numbers tell the story:
- Median police response time to an active shooter: 3 minutes
- Percentage of active shooter calls that are over before police even arrive: 66%
- Majority of active shooters strike between 8am-4pm
- 61 active shooter incidents took place in the US in 2021, a 52.5% increase from 2020
YOU can make the difference in your safety and the safety of others in that first three (3) minutes. Learn the principles of what to do if an active shooter incident happens and increase your chance of survival by knowing:
AvoidDeny
Defend
Also referred to as “Run, Hide, Fight”.
Officers will present active shooter case studies that highlight strategies victims used and the ultimate outcomes of their choices. These will also help participants understand Avoid, Deny, Defend in deeper detail.
MPD does not have a dedicated Emergency Management unit in the police department, and MPD personnel provide this training as a collateral assignment. As such, the number of trainings we are able to provide is limited. Two formats are available: see below for descriptions. A minimum of 2 hours is needed to carry out this training, but a longer duration may be necessary depending on group size.
Both training formats are FREE.
Individual or Large Group
Individual
If the group size is less than 25, we request participants attend the training provided at the Madison Police Department Training Center. This training occurs every other month. Our facility can accommodate 85 participants. To sign-up for this training, complete the form below. You will be contacted to confirm your attendance date.
- May 30, 2024: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- November 6, 2024: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
CRASE at MPDTC
The PDF document can be submitted to the MPD CRASE Team by filling out the document, saving, attaching and submitting to MPD CRASE Team.
Large Group
If the group size is more than 25, we will schedule the presentation at the location of your organization or business. Along with the minimum attendance requirement, your facility must have the necessary AV and projector needed to present a slide deck.
The PDF document can be submitted to the MPD CRASE Team by filling out the document, saving, attaching and submitting to MPD CRASE Team.
Officers are trained through Advance Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT)
ALERRT Mission: To provide the best research-based active shooter response training in the nation.
ALERRT Vision: Training and research that saves lives and protects communities.
The ALERRT Center at Texas State University was created in 2002 as a partnership between Texas State University, the San Marcos, Texas Police Department and the Hays County, Texas Sheriff’s Office to address the need for active shooter response training for first responders. In 2013, ALERRT at Texas State was named the National Standard in Active Shooter Response Training by the FBI.
Additional Resources
Don’t Name Them
Some suspects commit an active shooter event as a way to seek the fame that comes following the event. News media share their name and photo constantly as they report on the tragic events, feeding the suspect the notoriety sought.
The Don’t Name Them campaign challenges media and the public to leave the suspects name and photo out of the news cycle and social media platforms.
Sign-Up for Emergency Alerts from Dane County Emergency Management
You can sign-up to receive local emergency notifications by text, email, or both. Signing-up will enable county and local officials to alert you about potentially life-threatening and public safety emergencies in your community. Anyone who signs-up may be contacted through this system on behalf of local authorities with information about emergencies like:
- Armed person/active shooter
- Hazardous materials incidents
- Gas leaks
- Missing persons
This is a free service for residents and visitors in Dane County.