By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Alabama Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials will hold an Active Shooter Training for 911 call takers, 911 dispatchers and emergency first responders on Aug. 28.

This training will be held at Alabama Power’s Clanton office conference room

from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The deadline to register is Aug. 1.

“The training is actually done from the dispatch perspective (and) those that are on the radio hearing the call,” Becky Neugent, a member of the APCO International Gulf Coast Region board of directors, said.

Both police officers and 911 dispatchers will be presenting during the training. Police officers will focus on what happens at the scene, and the dispatchers will be highlighting what questions need to be asked in an active shooter scenario. Emphasis will also be placed on how to remain calm and talk to the caller.

Cost for the course is $50 and includes lunch.

Neugent described the training as “invaluable.”

“I think this is going to be a good thing,” Neugent said. “Our goal always is to provide good training at a cheap price.”

The APCO Alabama Chapter offers a variety of training opportunities throughout the year. Neugent said topics for the trainings are selected based on recommendations at the quarterly meetings.

She said a similar training had been offered several years ago, but many felt they would benefit from a refresher course.

For more information and to register, visit apcoalabama.org and click on “Quarterly Meetings and Trainings” under the meetings tab.

The Alabama Power building is located at 2030 Seventh Street S. in Clanton.