‘Until we do this we will continue to see mass murders’

Chalmers said a key to stopping school killings is to “harden the target” by putting police officers in schools and day care facilities. “Until we do this we will continue to see mass murders,” he said.

That presence is particularly vital during the first hour of the school day, what Chalmers called “the deadliest hour.”

The seminar is held annually by the Miami County Prosecutor’s Office and its Victim Witness Program. More than 200 people attended the seminar held April 19-20 in Troy.

Chalmers challenged the audience of those employed in law enforcement, education, social work and the courts to embark on a mission “of getting a cop in every school.”

Seminar participants also heard a presentation on violent intruder training by Miami County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Morando.

“It is very, very reasonable to expect that going down a busy city street, going to the supermarket or somewhere you visit on a day to day basis you can reasonably expect that you might be involved in some type of mass killing or an active shooter crisis,” he said.

Morando said it is important to be prepared to deal with a situation until law enforcement arrives.

He cited FBI statistics showing an active shooting is over in five minutes or less 69 percent of the time and in two minutes or less 36 percent of the time. The average law enforcement response time is five to six minutes, he said.

The response to shootings also has evolved over the years, Morando said, focusing on the run-hide-fight approach.

“If you can get out, do it,” he said. “If you can’t, find a place to hide.” If hiding being out of sight, out of mind is paramount and barricading doors helpful, if possible. “If all else fails, fight,” Morando said, adding to a weapon such as a fire extinguisher, if possible.