CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – On Monday night, deputies with the Horry County Sheriff’s Office learned what to do if there was an active shooter at the Horry County Government and Justice Center.
It was the first time this type of active training, taught by Sgt. Scott Puckett, was held at the courthouse.
“This is for real,” said Puckett. “There’s no win or lose for us. It’s life or death and if we don’t train that way, we’re not prepared for that.”
Deputies learned how to clear stairwells, courtrooms and jury rooms using unloaded weapons. They also learned how to use verbal and nonverbal communication while moving through the halls.
“If we don’t train, we don’t have a mental blueprint to what we may encounter,” added Puckett. “Unfortunately, we have to prepare for this. This is our job. We’re warriors, we’re guardians. There’s so much involved in saving people’s lives.”
Puckett said this realistic training opportunity has been in the works for a few months but is especially needed considering the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
“We as law enforcement officers, it’s a tough job,” he said. “Cops are challenged every day. We’re human beings and it’s important to remember that. We all make mistakes and the only way we’re going to get better is getting the opportunity to train.”
At the end of the training, Puckett said deputies will “be armed confidently and competently to save lives and protect people that deserve to be protected.”
All HCSO deputies went through the type of training which Puckett said is suggested by the FBI and is used by several agencies in South Carolina. He said the Sheriff’s Office plans to offer more training like this in the future and even offer more advanced training for deputies interested in expanding their skills.