Waco DC Associates Play Important Parts in Local SWAT Team’s Active Shooter Drill

About two dozen Waco Distribution Center managers and associates volunteered to participate in a Waco Police SWAT team’s active shooter drill. Firefighters and medical first responders also participated in the exercise. (Courtesy Waco Police Department)

On a hot June evening, several associates at the Waco Distribution Center volunteered to play dead or wounded as the Waco Police Department’s SWAT team conducted an active-shooter drill at the DC.

“I played a victim with a chest wound and a lower leg wound,” said DC Manager Preston Huddy, who volunteered for the exercise, along with five other managers and about 20 associates. “Once a SWAT team gets the shooter, they look for victims, so they go around and find everybody.”

Many of the Waco Distribution Center associates who volunteered to participate in the active-shooter drill played someone who was wounded, as shown in this screen capture from a closed-circuit television at the DC.

The exercise also included Waco firefighters and medical first responders. After law enforcement officers met with volunteers to discuss the drill plan and various scenarios, volunteers received cards explaining their roles in the scenario.

Some played people who had been killed; others played injured, and the card specified what the injury was. Some played survivors who were unhurt but hiding, remaining in hiding until law-enforcement agencies said it was okay to come out.

While nobody was actually hurt, the exercise was otherwise pretty realistic.

“They literally dragged me for about 100 yards across the floor,” said Huddy, who estimated that he was lying “wounded” for 20 to 25 minutes. “And then they put me on a sling and four guys carried me out to an ambulance, where they loaded me and drove off.”

Other associates playing people with major injuries were also dragged outside, and those playing people with minor injuries were escorted out. Those playing dead were the last to be removed from the facility.

“The associates at the Waco Distribution Center were exceptional,” said SWAT Commander Steve Mosely. “[They] made our Waco PD SWAT officers feel like they actually wanted us there to teach them and were open to learning about what they should do and what law enforcement officers have to do in active-shooter incidents.”

Associates said they appreciated the learning experience.

Lisa Monda, an occupational health nurse at the DC, played the role of someone helping other people who were injured. Even though she know it was a drill, she described the experience as surreal and scary.

Monda said she learned the importance of reporting information, being aware of her surroundings, knowing who and where others are. She volunteered in order to help the community by providing a realistic environment for the first responders and others involved in conducting the drill.

Destinee McFadden, daytime storage foreman, played a runner. When the shooting started, she found a place to hide until law enforcement came and told her she was safe.

“It was an awesome experience,” McFadden said. “I learned a lot and would definitely volunteer again if asked.” She added that she participated in part to learn techniques that would help her protect her children in dangerous situations.

JDA specialist Tyrone Richardson, who played a gunshot victim, said the experience taught him how to react and hide during an active-shooter incident. He also learned the different roles law enforcement agencies play in such scenarios.

Trish Collier, senior Loss Prevention operations manager, and Bret Thibodeau, regional Loss Prevention manager, were also at the DC for the exercise.

The drill took place after hours, with law enforcement arriving about 4 p.m. and the exercise lasting into the hot Texas evening.

“These guys were here for hours,” Huddy said. “They were doing this after their normal shifts. The drill leaders were all geared up, with long sleeves, pants, vests, helmets and goggles on. They were really hot in there. We had tons of water for everyone to stay hydrated.”

And after the drill, the DC made sure everyone was fed.

“The Waco DC associates also provided hot dogs and hamburgers and we greatly appreciate the use of their facility and hospitality,” Mosley said. “It was a great training day and everyone that was involved enjoyed it thoroughly.”

Waco DC-based Exchange Security & Safety Associate Zeina El Halabi contributed to this story.