This Rapid Deployment Team goes straight to the sound of gunfire

"When there’s a crisis like a shooter in a school, for instance, the first three or four officers on the scene quickly assess the situation and a plan of action to stop the shooting,” said Southwestern Community College firearms and rapid deployment instructor Jim Mackey. “Even though we generally go by rank, in rapid deployment any officer is trained to take the lead.”

Choreographing his rapid deployment team in a diamond-shape formation, specialized firearms instructor Charles Crisp trains the men in how to rapidly stop a shooter in a crisis situation. Participating in the Southwestern Community College training are, from left, Jackson County Sheriffs’ deputy Chip Beegle, Lt. Jimmy Clawson, Crisp, deputy Donnie Allen and deputy Kenneth Woodring.

"And it’s not just an officer from their same agency,” said Susan McCaskill, vice president for extension education and economic development at Southwestern, who sponsors the training. "They could be officers from the sheriffs' departments, police departments, highway patrol, forest service, national park service and wildlife offices.”

"Officers continually train within their agency and with other agencies to be prepared and ready to respond when called,” said Mackey. “What makes it work is that everybody is taught the same way- we’re choreographed.” The practical training also involves emergency dispatchers, EMS units, fire departments and rescue squads. School personnel also work with these agencies to understand the tactics and to be prepared when an incident occurs.

Southwestern was one of the first colleges in North Carolina to conduct rapid deployment training, according to McCaskill., who said, “We were doing it in the 1990s before it was mandated.” Since 2001 the NC Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission requires rapid deployment as part of basic law enforcement training.

The technical and tactical skills training consists of classroom lectures, discussions and practical exercises and shooting at the range.

"What I teach is muscle memory or automatic response. That’s what is going to save their lives,” said Mackey, a 22-year veteran of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Department. “You can practice at the range all you want, but when that target starts shooting back, your response must be instantaneous.”

In the beginning it takes an officer drawing his weapon 3,000 times a week to learn that muscle memory, Mackey said.

"After an officer has been in a real shooting situation he will tell me later that it happened so fast,” Mackey said. “That’s when the training kicks in automatically. I tell them over and over that repetition can save their lives.”

Along with Mackey, Charles “Bubba” Crisp, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy and specialized firearms instructor, trains the officers in understanding the mindset of an active shooter.

"A shooter will continue to shoot at victims or will turn and shoot at law enforcement, run with the weapon, shoot himself or give up,” said Crisp. “As a rapid deployment team we go straight to the shooter and our mission is to stop the shooting. We use speed to get that shooter to make a decision.”

Although the officers are trained mainly to respond to a shooter in a school setting, they are equipped to handle situations in factories, businesses, public places and other scenarios, Crisp said.

"Our community is served by law enforcement professionals who are dedicated and well trained; we should be very proud of each one for protecting us and our communities,” said McCaskill.

For more information on SCC’s Rapid Deployment Training call 828.369.0591.

###