Active Threat Cohort Training

Project Overview

While agencies and organizations within the Cook County, Illinois, region have trained on active threat preparedness and response, there has been little integration of the whole community to discuss each agency’s and organization’s role in preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

Understanding the Mission

The Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) requested the development of an active threat cohort-based training that would integrate multiple stakeholders from a single region to participate in a session and workshop.

The Hagerty Approach

Hagerty developed a two-and-a-half-day active threat preparedness training that integrated the whole community. This session was developed to include lectures and activities for days one and two, while the last half-day included hands-on training on how to respond to an active threat event with a real-world simulation. The effort incorporated six components of active threat preparedness, including behavioral awareness, threat assessment, protective measures, complex incident management, tactical response, and recovery. Following each component’s lecture, all participants participated in an activity.

Achieving Results

At the training, over 40 participants from various agencies and organizations worked together to identify plans, policies, procedures, resources, and services within their organization and community that could aid the preparedness, mitigation, response, or recovery efforts of a critical incident. Participants included members of the County’s various departments, such as the manager’s office, health and human services, parks and recreation, public works, police, and fire, as well as participants from hospitals, houses of worship, schools, universities, movie theaters, daycare facilities, and nonprofit organizations.