With the start of fall classes then just days away, Tallahatchie County Sheriff Jimmy Fly reported good participation for a Saturday, July 18, “Response to an Active Shooter” law enforcement training exercise on the campus of Charleston High School.
The eight-hour event, hosted by the Tallahatchie County Sheriff’s Office, came just five days before East Tallahatchie School District students, staff and administrators were to begin filling the halls.
“We had 16 participants from nearly every law enforcement department in the county,” said Fly, who cited attendance by himself and deputies from his own office, as well as East Tallahatchie School District campus police, and the Charleston, Glendora, Sumner and Tutwiler police departments.
Fly said the on-site training was provided by Lt. Antone Curtis, Sgt. Jeremy Haywood and Sgt. Brain Brock, all from the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team.
Brock, Curtis and Haywood were also among those who taught the same course at West Tallahatchie High School in February 2023.
“They taught tactics on how to safely enter an active shooter situation, how to safely clear rooms and buildings, and more,” said Fly, who noted that the methods can be utilized in other venues, too.
Fly said the group was provided a complimentary lunch courtesy of Tallahatchie County Prosecuting Attorney Lance Tennyson.
