Businesses, organizations get ALICE training by police department

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police Department says being prepared is always a priority especially when an active threat is present. That’s why they held a program Tuesday for business owners and community members.

The seminar at Thalian Hall was part of the ALICE training institute. ALICE stands for alert, lockdown, inform, counter, and evacuate.

WPD Lieutenant Kelvin Hargrove says nothing on a major scale has happened in Wilmington, but this program is meant to be a proactive step toward a much safer, more prepared community.

“It’s active throughout the country,” Lt. Hargrove said. “When we look at the news or turn on the news channels everyday, we see different active shooter situations. It’s not the point have we seen it here, when it’s going to happen here, and we need to be prepared for when it does happen.”

“If enough businesses and churches take advantage of it, I think we can make the community a little bit safer,” Marvin Fineman, Unitarian Universalist Congregation Treasurer, said.

Hargrove says programs like this also help with face to face interaction and will leave a better impression on those trying to learn these steps to deal with an active threat.