EVERETT — Everett police officers are prepping for emergencies amid masses.
In September, a 20-year-old man brought a rifle into Macy’s at the Cascade Mall in Burlington.
Arcan Cetin allegedly shot and killed five strangers before taking off.
One of the victims was spending the day at the mall with her 95-year-old mother.
Officers from every local police agency joined the manhunt for Cetin, which lasted almost 24 hours.
More recently, police received initial calls Christmas Eve about gunfire at Alderwood mall in Lynnwood.
Then, reports came in about a stabbing. It turned out no shots had been fired.
Police arrived at the mall prepared for both scenarios.
A man in his 30s had seen two young men fighting outside JC Penney. He decided to step in and was stabbed while breaking up the fight.
“Based on what’s going on nowadays, police need to have a dynamic response for the life and safety of the public,” Everett police Officer Aaron Snell said.
The Everett Police Department has scheduled monthly active shooter training at Everett Mall beginning next week.
The department is pulling out all the stops to make the training scenarios as realistic as possible for officers.
Actors have been recruited to play the role of shoppers.
Firefighters plan to bring their rigs and police will practice strategies aimed to keep people safe.
“Law enforcement cannot be one-dimensional,” Everett police Sgt. Maryjane Hacker wrote in a statement. “We must train for situations where rapid deployment, teamwork and quick thinking will save lives.”
About three years ago, Charles F. Sprague III was caught stealing a Nike T-shirt from Macy’s in the Everett Mall.
He was a 16-time felon, and had just been released on bail for a previous property crime.
He and his girlfriend fought mall security when confronted about the theft.
Sprague pulled a .40-caliber handgun. When an officer tried to take the weapon, Sprague bit him.
The gun fired and struck a door.
Two off-duty police officers rushed to lend a hand.
Shoppers fled. Police converged on the mall, not knowing what they were walking into.
“We have to think on our feet and be able to respond in appropriate ways to save lives,” Snell said.
With the Everett Police Department’s south precinct across the street from the Everett Mall, Snell anticipates quick response times in the case of an emergency.
Training is set to be held in areas that are not open to the public. That way, local businesses are not disrupted.
Shoppers will have access to the mall.
The first active shooter training scenario is scheduled for Jan. 2 and 3.
Future training dates will be posted on the police department’s Twitter account, @EverettPolice.
Caitlin Tompkins: 425-339-3192; ctompkins@heraldnet.com.
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