A recent active shooter training inside Dexter High School was nerve wracking for assistant superintendent Gavin Miller, who played the role of the active shooter during the simulation.
"I'm holding a real pistol," said Miller, who described sounds of gunfire in the background. "You have three or four people in the hallway trying to get out. People were bleeding and asking for help. I knew they were coming for me. It was very intense."
The purpose of the exercise, according to Miller, was to allow new and experienced Stoddard County law enforcement officers an opportunity to practice their emergency response skills in the event a real active shooter situation were to occur.
"As a superintendent, I'm grateful they wanted to use our campus, our buildings, our hallways, to train right where our kids are in case something were to happen," Miller said.
Multiple Stoddard County law enforcement agencies, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Bernie and Dexter police departments and the Missouri Department of Conservation, participated in the exercise.
Miller said he and his hostage, who was played by a teacher, were locked inside a classroom as officers swept the halls, searching for them.
"(The hostage) was screaming for help. I'm telling them to shut up or I'm going to shoot you," he said. "Our goal was to make it as real as possible for law enforcement."
Training, Miller continued, is important in any career, whether someone is teaching students, driving a school bus or maintaining the buildings.
"The more training a law enforcement officer can get will help them be better equipped mentally and physically down the road," Miller said.
Dexter Police Chief Trevor Pully agreed with Miller. He said attending training events that are as realistic as possible is key to ensuring preparedness in case of emergency.
"It's very important training for the officers and for the school district to keep kids safe," he said, noting that this, along with ALICE, or Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate, training are necessary in today's world.
Miller said following the simulation, he continues to believe schools need student resource officers and teachers and staff should be trained to respond to active-shooter situations. He said the scenario was hectic, as well as emotionally demanding, for all who were involved.
"It taught me we can't rely on locking the door," Miller said.