Active Threat Training Prepares Lincoln County Employees for Intruder Scenarios

Lincoln County employees participated in a perhaps life-saving active threat training session on June 23, 2025, at the Service center in Merrill.Deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office led the three-hour session, instructing county workers on how to respond to an armed intruder using the “Run, Hide, Fight” strategy, a departure from traditional lockdown procedures.

Shifting from Lockdown to Active Response

The training signifies a shift from the older “lockdown” approach, wich instructed individuals to hide and wait. Deputy holly Steckbauer explained, “we don’t really feel that lockdown is the right answer anymore. That’s not the solution.” This change is driven by lessons learned from tragic school shootings, including the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, where traditional lockdown procedures proved ineffective.

did You Know? The average response time for law enforcement to arrive on scene during an active shooter event is four minutes.

The “Run, Hide, fight” Strategy Explained

The “Run, Hide, Fight” response provides individuals with options based on their specific situation during an active threat. The strategy prioritizes:

• Running: Evacuate if it is safe to do so.
• Hiding: If evacuation is not possible, create a strong barricade.
• Fighting: As a last resort, fight back using available weapons.

Run: Evacuate When Possible

evacuation is the primary recommendation. Deputy Reed Lazarz emphasized, “If you’re not present, you can’t be hurt.” Employees were instructed to move quickly while staying low, using cover and concealment. They were also advised to avoid parking lots, which could become congested and dangerous during an evacuation.

Hide: Build a Fortress

If escape is not possible, the focus shifts to creating strong barricades rather than simply hiding. “I want you to build a fortress,” Steckbauer instructed.This involves stacking heavy items against doors to prevent entry. Even lightweight items like fire hoses can be used to jam door mechanisms.

Pro Tip: When barricading, reinforce the door with anything heavy you can find, and ensure it’s difficult to open from the outside.

Fight: Last Resort Self-Defence

When all other options are exhausted, employees were taught to fight back using whatever weapons are available, including scissors, hot coffee, staplers, and pencils. The training emphasized that in such a situation, there are no rules. Working together to overwhelm an attacker was also demonstrated.

Key Survival Tips During an Active Threat

The training provided several critical tips for surviving an armed intruder incident:

• Trust your instincts.
• Know your surroundings and escape routes.
• Call 911 immediately, providing who, what, and where information.
• Avoid using code words; call it like it is indeed: Active shooter.
• When barricading, don’t let anyone in without verifying their identity.
• If forced to fight, aim for the attacker’s head and work as a team.
• Throw objects to distract and disorient the attacker.
• Create noise and chaos to disrupt the attacker’s plans.
• Don’t point a gun at anyone unless you intend to use it.
• Drop the gun into a garbage can or purse and give it to responding officers.
• Show your hands to responding officers immediately.

Realistic Scenarios and the Importance of Practice

The training included realistic scenarios using simulation guns. Employees practiced evacuation and barricading techniques in different areas of the building. Tyler Verhasselt, the county’s emergency management director, emphasized that the training was designed to encourage proactive thinking and empower individuals to choose not to be victims.

The session concluded with the reminder that any action is better than no action, quoting Theodore Roosevelt: “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”