TUCSON, Ariz. — In just one week, news broke about the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting in California, and now Saturday the shooting at a Walmart parking lot in El Paso, Texas.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department said this community hasn't had an active shooting situation since the 2011 Safeway shooting at then Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford's Meet and Greet that left six killed and 13 injured. However, that tragedy prepared the sheriff's department.
"We had that incidents at Safeway with Gabrielle Giffords multiple agencies, including our federal partners assisted us in that event so it would be very likely that it wouldn't just be us, at the sheriff's department, it would be multiple agencies," Deputy Daniel Jelineo with Pima County Sheriff's Department.
The Sheriff's Department doesn't want people living in fear, but Deputy Jelineo said if you do find yourself in an active shooter situation, be aware of your surroundings.
"If you are in a situation and you're caught in between an active shooter and not having away out, do everything in your power to find a safe place," Deputy Jelineo said.
He said this means finding a place where you're not seen, unless you can get out first. As a last resort, always fight back.
Jelineo said the Sheriff's Department does active shooter training year-round with schools and businesses.
"What we do is go in there and talk about how to keep a clear mind. How to run and hide insight, which would be FBI standards for any active shooter situation," Deputy Jelineo said.
If you would like to set up training, Deputy Jelineo said call the Sheriff's Departments Community Resource Center.
During the training, they will help you set up an plan on action for your business or school to best prepare you for these situations.
Deputy Jelineo said it's very hard for the Sheriff's Department to predict when an active shooter situation may happen, but they will be ready to respond at a moments notice.
