BCSO ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT

The Bay County Sheriff's Office will conduct its annual active shooter response training Tuesday through Friday each week during the month of July. This year's training will take place at Merritt Brown Middle School and will also utilize the front parking lot of Tommy Smith Elementary School.

The training will include personnel from multiple local public safety agencies, providing an opportunity to strengthen coordination, communication, and response capabilities during critical incidents.

Residents may notice an increased law enforcement presence at both locations throughout the month. Deputies, officers, first responders, patrol vehicles, fire apparatus, ambulances, and specialized equipment may be on site as participants engage in realistic training scenarios.

The public should not be alarmed by the heavy emergency response presence at Merritt Brown Middle School or the front parking lot of Tommy Smith Elementary School. There is no threat to the community, and all activities are part of a planned training exercise.

Active shooter response training is a critical component of preparing first responders for high-risk, rapidly evolving situations. These exercises allow participating agencies to enhance tactical skills, improve communication between disciplines, practice unified command, and reinforce coordinated response strategies in a realistic school environment.

The Bay County Sheriff's Office remains committed to ongoing training and professional development to ensure deputies are prepared to protect our schools and community. While we hope these skills are never needed, we are dedicated to maintaining the highest level of readiness through continuous, realistic training.

We appreciate the public's patience and understanding as we conduct these important exercises throughout July.