FRANKLIN, Wis. — The Franklin Fire Department purchased ballistic vests for all of its personnel who would respond to an active shooter event.
Police Chief Rick Oliva told Franklin Now the purchase is a response to a “paradigm shift” for fire department personnel: the need to enter the hot zone.
“You see what happens in different parts of the country seemingly on a daily basis,” Fire Chief Adam Remington said. “Prior to Columbine, we would stay at a distance and wouldn’t be involved until afterward, and basically the problem with that was people died from injuries.”
After recent mass shooting events, the police and fire department saw a need for medical and fire responders to enter a scene before it’s secured.
The new equipment was purchased using funds from 2015’s budget and would provide all responding fire and EMS personnel with body armor and helmets.