Story and Photos By Jondi Gumz
God forbid that a troubled and alienated individual would ever plot to kill students and teachers at one of our high schools.
But if this were to happen, and school staff called law enforcement to report an “active shooter,” our sheriff’s deputies, police officers, state parks officers, and firefighter-paramedics would be prepared.
Firefighter-paramedic aids victim in active shooter training.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office organized a six-day training, Monday through Saturday, at the wide-ranging Aptos High School campus to get first responders familiar with the location and peers they would depend on – if the unthinkable did happen.
“Law enforcement are here to stop the attacker, secure the area, then treat the injured,” explained Lt. Nick Baldrige, handgun tucked into his belt, and a 20-year veteran with the Sheriff’s Office.
Officers came from Watsonville, Santa Cruz, and Capitola and firefighter-paramedics from Central, Watsonville and Scotts Valley. The district attorney’s office was represented.
Sheriff Jim Hart took over responsibility for active shooter training from UC Santa Cruz last year.
Baldrige has been in charge since then, organizing training at Scotts Valley High School last year. The previous year, the training site was San Lorenzo Valley High School.
Each campus has a different layout, with buildings spread apart and outdoor educational spaces.
Lt. Nick Baldrige consults with officer during the active shooter training scenario.
You probably have heard of mass shootings at schools elsewhere: Columbine High School in Colorado, Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Covenant School in Nashville.
“It’s mostly lone wolf attackers,” said Baldrige.
Asked if the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Trump, who is running again, has affected the training, Baldrige said, “Not really” because only one individual was targeted and this training focuses on the potential of a mass shooting, which means three or more people dead.
From 1997-98 to 2021-22, there have been 1,453 school shootings, 794 in the past five years, according to Clemson University researchers who published their analysis in the journal Pediatrics in March 2024.
Researcher Luke Rapa called for school-based interventions such as “Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports” to bolster students’ mental health.
Fatalities and injuries have increased, researchers observed, noting the resulting trauma for survivors.
Baldrige said the No. 1 priority for law enforcement is to “neutralize the treat” which will save lives.
A teen playing the part of the injured is escorted to safety.
For Thursday’s training, between 150 and 180 law enforcement officers came with guns and all their gear, along with 15-20 firefighter-paramedics and about 30 volunteers. Instructors wore red T-shirts. Everyone, including the media, wore face shields a la Darth Vader for protection.
When shots — we’re told they are blanks — were heard, officers jumped to action, running to the location to find the suspect shooter and neutralize.
Screams were heard as teens played the part of the injured.
One young man on the ground bleeding — it was fake blood — was very realistic, calling out “Help me.”
A young woman created a makeshift tourniquet for him as they awaited paramedics.
Some victims were limping as they were led away by officers.
It seemed to take a long time for paramedics to be allowed in, and sheriff’s staff explained that officers are checking every room to make sure no attackers are hiding inside.
That’s why when the officers ran by, they could not stop to help.
A paramedic with a navy backpack labeled “Fire,” did come to help.
Volunteer Liam Adler, 17, will be a senior at Santa Cruz High School, which was targeted in 2022 when a 911 caller reported an active shooter.
Not only was he and his classmates affected, but his mom works at the school.
He’s volunteering for the second time, wanting to give back for the help he got.
“I know how to prepare myself and help the people around me,” he said.
The 2022 call was a hoax, but it prompted a lockdown, with armed officers running from building to building, resulting in extreme stress for panicked parents and students.
The Sheriff’s Office has started a standard response for schools, showing teachers how to safeguard their students.
Local training for law enforcement will take place every year, Baldrige said, adding, “Not everyone does that.”
TOP PHOTO: Armed law enforcement looking for active shooter during training at Aptos High.