INDIANAPOLIS -- As the investigation into what prompted the deadly shooting in California continues, many are wondering if it could happen in Central Indiana.
The Indiana State Police will host a public forum on the topic of active shooter situations Tuesday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sheridan Community Center located at 300 E. 6th Street in Sheridan, Indiana.
The program will provide prevention strategies and response options to increase the opportunity to survive an active shooter situation.
The program has been presented to dozens of school systems around the state.
Indiana State Trooper John Perrine, a specialist on active shooter situations, explains what someone can do in the case of an active shooter situation in the video player above.
Perrine says people should be aware of their surroundings, and formulate a plan. He said it is not a matter of changing the way you live, but rather thinking about how you would respond to a violent encounter.
If the first time you think about how you would respond to a situation like this is when it is happening, you will already be at a disadvantage, he said.
There are three options to consider in an encounter: Run or escape, hide or fight.
"We're not asking people to go out and seek a fight in these situations, if it comes to and you're encountered by this violence, you may have to fight. And improvise weapons around you, use as many people as you can and prepare yourself for that," he said.
There also some psychological indicators of potential active shooters that you can look out for.
"What we find is anybody who has major life changes, depression, withdrawal, anybody who may be suicidal, and of course there's a long list of indicators. Just because you see these indicators doesn't mean somebody is going to become an active shooter. However, it might be enough concern to say something to somebody, maybe somebody else's seeing some of the same indicators or even different indicators," Perrine said.
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