Akron Center for Child Development received ALICE intruder training

AKRON, Ohio - Staff members at the Akron Center for Child Development were trained on how to best deal with an armed intruder, especially in light of the deadly shootings at a Connecticut elementary school last week.

The teaching staff at the school received lessons from the nationally known A.L.I.C.E. training protocol. A.L.I,C.E. stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate.

The intruder training was taught by the University of Akron Police Department, and was led by Lt. Chad Cunningham.

During the hands-on training, instructors were shown how to best scatter and evacuate their students and staff, in the event an intruder enters their building.

"Don't simply hide under a desk or in a corner, if an armed gunman enters the classroom," explained Cunningham. "It's important students and instructors scatter and find the best possible exit."

Cunningham told NewsChannel5 that students should take a close look at their classrooms and come up with a plan of escape, in advance.

The A.L.I.C.E. training program also shows students and staff how to create barricades with common classroom items.

Lt. Cunningham believes improving the flow of information is one of the best ways to respond to a gunman who makes his way onto school property.

"How can we empower our faculty, staff and students on the mental mindset of survivability," explained Cunningham. "We best provide information by looking at video cameras, by giving announcements, by text messaging. Any way we can get that information out to increase that empowerment."

The nationally-renowned A.L.I.C.E. training was developed following an examination of school shootings, like the one that occurred at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999. The University of Akron Police have taught A.L.I.C.E. training to more than 26,000 students and staff, both on and off campus, over the past four years.

The University of Akron Police have posted an A.L.I.C.E. training video on its website, as part of its on-going education effort.

Anyone interested in obtaining intruder training for their school or community, can contact the University of Akron Police Department at 330-972-2911.