Fall River businesses plan in case of an active shooter

The Bristol County Chamber of Commerce offered a seminar Tuesday morning, educating business operators on how to respond when a shooter attacks.

FALL RIVER – You think you know – you are sure you know – what you would do if someone entered your workplace and started shooting.

Run, right?

But what do you do if the main exit is blocked? And what do you do with your hands when you run out of the building and face a line of police officers, all with guns drawn?

For 30 business people, those answers are now more clear.

The Bristol County Chamber of Commerce offered a seminar Tuesday morning, educating business operators on how to respond when a shooter attacks.

“There just seemed to be a need for this,” said Brian LeComte, chair of the Chamber. “The Chamber felt, encouraged by Kim, that there was a need to have this in our educational offerings.”

Kimberly Coroa Moniz, the Chamber’s interim director, said owners of small businesses asked if a program like this was available.

“Because of the times we live in, there is an understanding that people should be prepared,” she said. “I called the Fall River Police for advice and they offered to put it on.”

Officer Nicholas Custadio presented the program to 30 Chamber members.

“He covered topics like what to do to prepare a business and employees, what to look for, how to lock down a business and when to call 911,” Moniz said. “He even covered how to exit a building safely and where to keep your hands as you exit with the police there.”

LeComte, treasurer of Gold Medal Bakery, said he sent three employees to the seminar as part of a regular review of the company’s security practices.

The seminar teaches how to prepare to survive an incident with an active shooter, he said.

“It is more of an awareness,” he said. “You want to be aware of your surroundings. You go to work every day and there is a lot you don’t see. This trains you to notice more.”

Bigger companies can afford to bring in their own experts, but small companies can’t LeComte said.

“This was tailored to the smaller businesses that can’t afford a consultant plan,” he said.

“This wasn’t offered to make anyone scared,” Moniz said. “But, with the world we live in today, it is good to be prepared.

“If there is enough interest, we will offer it again.”

Email Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com.