Van Wert County Hosts Active Threat Training

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The Van Wert County Sheriff's Office is hosting a three-day Active Threat and Rescue Task Force training event this week at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Convoy, Ohio. The training will bring together law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel from multiple agencies to practice an integrated response model for entering 'warm zones' during active shooter incidents and rapidly treating and evacuating victims.

Why it matters

Active threat training is crucial for improving public safety and reducing casualties during mass shooting events. The integrated response model allows first responders to work together efficiently to provide lifesaving medical care under police protection, which has been shown to significantly improve survival rates.

The details

The training will take place from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday this week. In addition to the Van Wert County Sheriff's Office, the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Van Wert Fire Department, and Van Wert Police Department will all be participating. The training focuses on the Rescue Task Force (RTF) model, which is designed to allow law enforcement, fire, and EMS to rapidly enter 'warm zones' of active shooter incidents to treat and evacuate victims.

• The training will take place from February 11-13, 2026.
• The sessions will run from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

What’s next

The training is expected to improve coordination and response capabilities among first responders in Van Wert County in the event of an active shooter incident.