Cambridge Police Training Dorchester Co Health Dept, to Handle Violent Crises

(CAMBRIDGE, Md) – The Dorchester County Health Department is receiving help from the Cambridge Police when it comes to handling violent situations, and that includes not only protecting their fellow county employees, but the people who visit the health department on a daily basis.

It’s part of the Cambridge Police providing ALICE Program training; which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate.

Police Chief Justin Todd says they’ve provided such training for more than just the health department.

“We still do training with our schools. We also do it with other businesses and locations, that wish us to come out and teach them survival skills. If an active shooter situation was to take place,” says Chief Todd.

We went and asked the health department about the need for training like this.

Health Department Public Information Officer, John Griep says, “You don’t have to go in line from alert down to evacuate. You, do it based on the situation that’s surrounding you and your circumstances.”

As well as how they can better make split-second decisions in a crisis.

“…If something, God forbid, did happen. So we do our best to assist them, with lockdown, with evacuation, whatever. It’s the best procedure at the time,” says Griep.

While the reality is unfortunate, helping prepare Health Department employees and patients for a violent scenario is crucial to save lives.

“…if security is breached, into a building and so forth that you’re able to take measures to possibly save lives, and that’s what we’re attempting to, help educate, the public to do…” says Chief Todd.

The Health Department says the police instructors teach them through guided situations and then apply realistic solutions