SANFORD — If someone walked into your place of business, your school or a shopping center armed with a gun and threatened to use it, what do you do? What is the best way to respond – the best way to survive?

A mass shooting hasn’t happened here – but it has happened in communities across the country, seemingly with increasing frequency.

To help everyday folks know how to respond, the Sanford Police Department will host a two-hour seminar, “Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events,” at 6 p.m. Oct. 12 at City Hall.

The program will go over threat recognition, identification of vulnerable locations and events, recommended responses and an interactive scenario called “you make the call.”

“We don’t want to scare the people in the community, we want to empower them,” said certified instructor Sgt. Jason Champlin, who will present the program. “I hope people are looking for the opportunity to learn more and be better prepared.”

Developed by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training program at Texas State University, the program advocates an “avoid, deny, defend” approach: getting away safely from the situation if possible, denying the perpetrator the opportunity to get to you, and defending yourself – getting physically and mentally prepared to do whatever is necessary to survive.

Along with “avoid, deny, defend” comes “if you see something, say something.”

“Your gut is usually right” if you get the feeling something is amiss, said Sanford Police Chief Thomas Connolly. “Report it.”

People should be aware of their surroundings, he said, like knowing where the exits are.

So what do you do if you’re in a place where an active shooter emerges?

“As soon as you’re aware of an active shooter or violent event, we want you to avoid it,” advised Champlin. “Take whatever steps you can take to get away; deny the ability for the perpetrator to get to you. Secrete yourself within the facility and fortify it and defend yourself. Try to fortify your position and get prepared mentally, emotionally and physically to take a defensive action against the threat.”

If that means using a pair of cuticle scissors, your high heel or a nail file to defend yourself when the chips are down, so be it.

Connolly outlined a scenario in which there are 10 people in a room when an active shooter walks in – when it’s too late to get away or fortify your position.

“If all 10 people attack, your chances are good,” said Connolly. “Kick and bite … and perhaps someone will get hurt. But at least he won’t kill all 10 of you.”

Champlin took his first class related to workplace violence and active shooters four years ago. Along the way, a threat assessment system was developed that points out possible security flaws in the workplace or city- or school-owned public space, and makes recommendations on how to make it safer. The service is free to businesses and industries in Sanford and Springvale.

After a threat assessment of City Hall, Connolly said, the use of several entrances and exits, which had been in place for years, was changed to one entrance and one exit about a year ago.

Champlin recalled a social media posting of a threat against a Sanford school by a student a few years ago. The child’s mother reported the posting to police, and danger was averted. Champlin said he regularly meets with Sanford’s athletic director, the bus company and other first responders on school and sporting event safety.

The Oct. 12 program can accommodate 70 people; 55 had already registered by the middle of this past week. Folks who want to attend must pre-register, and may do so through the police department’s Facebook page.

This is the first event of its kind in Sanford. If the venue is full and there is additional demand, Champlin said police will schedule another session.

Workplace and school violence incidents have been in the news once again in recent weeks – and close to home for Champlin, who has some family members living within a mile of the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, where a man opened gunfire and killed five people on Sept. 23.

Champlin’s family is safe, but there were some unnerving moments when the suspect was on the loose.

“It’s become commonplace, unfortunately,” said Connolly.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.