UNION TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A Union Township police officer led an active shooter awareness training session for staff and volunteers at IPM Food Pantry, walking attendees through how to recognize warning signs and what to do if a shooting breaks out, the department said in a Facebook post.
Officer Siekbert taught the nationally recognized “run, hide, fight” protocol, which instructs people caught in an active shooter situation to first try to escape the area, then barricade themselves out of sight if they cannot flee, and only fight back as a last resort. The session also covered how to behave once officers arrive on scene, including dropping bags and jackets, keeping hands visible and avoiding sudden movements, quick questions or pointing.
The department said the training was meant to give IPM staff and volunteers practical tools to stay prepared in an emergency, calling the session part of its “ongoing commitment to serving and protecting” the community.
IPM Food Pantry, short for Inter Parish Ministry, was founded in 1964 and operates a distribution center at 4623 Aicholtz Road in Union Township. The nonprofit’s mission is “feeding families in need and connecting neighbors to life-enhancing resources,” and it serves families across more than 30 ZIP codes in four counties, distributing more than 1 million pounds of food a year through partnerships with roughly 50 community organizations. In addition to its drive-through pantry, IPM runs mobile food pantries, a resource-connection program and a culinary training initiative.
Union Township Police Department was formed in 1965 and has grown from a single part-time officer into a 60-member, internationally accredited agency under Chief Anthony Rees. The department is organized into three command bureaus — operations, investigative and professional standards — and regularly offers community programs such as a Citizens Police Academy, women’s self-defense classes and a children’s gun safety class.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Union Township Police Department.