Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- During an emergency with an active shooter, law enforcement officers from various agencies can respond to a scene.
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety wants to make sure its officers are ready even if they are not working with people from their department.
Troopers work all over South Carolina and have statewide jurisdiction. The new active shooter training can make a difference during emergencies, saving critical time when everyone has the same knowledge and officers do not have to wait for members of their own agency in order to move in.
"I think this training goes a long way in saving lives," said Corporal. Oliver Milhouse, who went through the training Wednesday.
Milhouse typically works to enforce the state's traffic laws and investigates crashes.
Wednesday, with a simulator weapon and troopers at his back Milhouse and others learned how to react in quick response situations even if they do not know the people they are stepping into danger with.
"It doesn't matter which officer shows up on the scene we all have the same goal and that's to save lives," said Milhouse.
Captain Art Felder, DPS's training officer says the preparation will put anyone who responds to an emergency on the same page.
"About 700 people are working the roads so the chances are that when an incident occurs that one of our people will respond and they may respond with a sheriff's deputy or a city officer you'll have people from different agencies," said Felder.
In his 22 year career, Milhouse has never had to respond to a situation with an active shooter but he says the training will help him be ready if that day ever comes.
"It's been happening so much lately, all over the nation," said Milhouse. "Again we're training because we wanna prepare for when the moment arises or the need arises, we'll be ready to act."
Felder says they are about a fourth of the way through training everyone in the department. He says a group will also be working to develop a statewide curriculum for law enforcement as well.