All Manchester Township employees are now trained in ALICE, the system of proactive survival strategies designed to increase survival rates and save lives during a violent intruder situation.
ALICE — which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate — can be utilized by schools, universities, places of worship, hospitals and other workplaces. The goal of the ALICE program is to provide individuals with survival-enhancing options for those critical moments in the gap between when a violent situation begins and when law enforcement arrives on scene.
“We have taken a proactive approach to preparing our employees for a situation involving an active shooter or violent intruder. Of course, our hope is that we never have to put our training into practice,” said Personnel Officer James Gant. “But rest assured that all of our employees are equipped with the knowledge, skillset and wherewithal to increase their chances for survival.”
Manchester Township and our Police Department have been proponents of ALICE for several years, as it increases survival rates by empowering individuals to take a proactive role in finding ways to survive a dangerous situation, rather than the commonly accepted practice of locking down in place while awaiting the arrival of law enforcement. ALICE is in line with recommendations from the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In addition to Township offices, ALICE has also been implemented in the Manchester Township School District.
As a cost-saving measure, four Township employees — Business Administrator Donna Markulic, Police Records Supervisor Ron Rhein, Code Enforcement Officer Matt Quinn, and Personnel Officer Gant — received their ALICE Training Certifications last August. These four employees, the first three of whom are retired law enforcement officers, hosted eight training sessions throughout this past January and February for our Manchester Township employees. In addition to informational presentations, employees participated in interactive scenarios designed to simulate a violent intruder situation.
“ALICE is something that employees can use during any critical incident that involves a violent intruder, no matter what the location,” said Chief of Police Lisa Parker. “Manchester is a very progressive Township that cares about their employees. This training is a positive, forward-thinking approach that can be implemented in a professional or personal environment.”