CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police saw a jump in requests for a training class offered to schools and businesses called Surviving an Active Shooter.
"Unfortunately, people don't look for these classes until something bad happens," said Officer Chris Kopp.
Kopp teaches the class to businesses and schools in Mecklenburg County that want to be prepared.
"If an active shooter were to happen here, what should you do, what are your options - some do's and don'ts," Kopp said.
WATCH a video about the class.
It's a combination of survival skills that Kopp says is critical, because most active shooter situations begin and end within 12 minutes, which is before police can arrive on the scene.
"I've also taken federal programs from FBI, Secret Service, Homeland Security and combined them into one class, put a little bow on it, and that's what I'm trying to offer to the community," Kopp said.
Greg Carano manages a security business and his staff took the class.
"What we have found is most people do not have a plan," he said.
He says it helped them think through what to do if confronted by a gunman.
"We use the philosophy run-hide-fight," Carano said.
They even reviewed options in case they're cornered.
"They may have potential weapons that they may not be aware of - one example would be a fire extinguisher," Carano said.
They are important tools, because Kopp says active shooters come ready to harm others and prepared to die doing it.
"A lot of people say it will never happen here, but sometimes it's just more of when it's going to happen here. We'd love to prevent it if we could, but we are going to be prepared if it were to happen," Kopp said.
For more information on the "Surviving an Active Shooter" class, contact Officer Chris Kopp with CMPD's University Division by emailing ckopp@cmpd.org.
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