Join the Maryland Emergency Preparedness Network and the Maryland-National Capital Homecare Association for this important training session for Maryland homecare providers. In this 75-minute session you will learn from the Maryland State Police on how to respond to an active shooter situation.

The Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) course is designed and built on an “avoid, deny and defend” strategy developed by Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT). The course provides strategies, guidance and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. Topics include the history and prevalence of active shooter events, civilian response options, medical issues and considerations for conducting drills.

Over the past two decades, horrific mass shootings have been thrust into public consciousness. Mitigating the effects of these sudden incidents is the responsibility of those who serve in our communities’ public safety organizations. Across the nation, the average response time for law enforcement to these events is 3 minutes. While this is the best in the world, a motivated moderately equipped suspect can inflict a great deal of destruction in that short amount of time. Studies have shown that it is the initial actions taken by people immersed in an active shooter event that have the greatest impact on their survival. CRASE arms people with the information they need to know to protect themselves and others around them in those crucial first 3 minutes, should they be caught in a critical incident. This presentation is an overview of the body’s disaster response system, how it affects decision-making during high-stress incidents, and how to employ the avoid-deny-defend principles to counter an active assailant. Since February of 2016, the Maryland State Police has delivered the CRASE program to over 10,000 citizens in person in both public and private sector organizations.

About the Trainer

Sergeant Matthew Cantwell is currently assigned to the Maryland State Police Education and Training Division, Professional Development Unit.  

Sergeant Cantwell has over 25 years of law enforcement experience and has delivered the Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE ) training to over 5000 law enforcement and civilian students.  

 The event is free but registration is limited and required.