NEWS RELEASE Contact: Chief Cynthia McAlister
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE cmcalister@purcellvilleva.gov, 540-338-7422
PURCELLVILLE POLICE ONCE AGAIN HOST CIVILIAN ACTIVE ATTACK CLASSES
PURCELLVILLE, Va., July 13, 2023 — The Purcellville Police Department is pleased to announce they are once again hosting classes for civilians as part of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice’s (DCJS) Active Attack Program. The program provides free training for Virginia citizens and first responders to enable them to work together when an active attack occurs. The Department is fortunate to offer two in-person classes; one on Friday, August 11th and one class on Saturday, August 12th. The Civilian Response and Casualty Care (CRCC) course is a four-hour class providing strategies, guidance, and a plan for recognizing, responding to and surviving an active attack event. The class is being offered on Friday, August 11th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Saturday, August 12th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with participants only needing to register for one preferred date/time slot.
This class combines the civilian response with the Stop the Bleed Campaign, which empowers civilians to provide life-saving medical aid before first responders ever arrive. Topics include the history and prevalence of active attack events, civilian response options, and medical issues. If someone has attended one of these classes previously, you may sign up and attend again as a refresher course to reinforce the important tactics and strategies previously learned.
The course is designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend/Run, Hide, Fight strategy developed by Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) in 2004. All Town of Purcellville and Loudoun County residents, local businesses and community members are encouraged to attend, including school employees, students who are 16 years or older, faith-based communities, and civic organizations. Local first responders including law enforcement, Fire/EMS, and dispatchers are also invited to attend. Classes will be held at the Purcellville Town Hall, in the Council Chambers Room, located at 221 S. Nursery Ave, Purcellville, Virginia. Classes will be limited to 50 students, with a minimum of 25 registered students needed to hold each class. Therefore, please share this information and encourage your coworkers, neighbors, family, and friends to register for this potentially lifesaving course.
For additional information on the class, please visit the DCJS website at https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/training-events/civilian-response-and-casualty-care-crcc.
The CRCC class is offered free of charge, and participants must register themselves individually for one course using the following links:
Friday, August 11th Session at 1pm-5pm:
https://forms.office.com/g/xYXra8HXbd
Saturday, August 12th- Session at 9am-1pm:
https://forms.office.com/g/UuL9auVt9j
“This is will be the third year we have hosted this training, and everyone who has taken it has expressed they hope more people could attend and learn this important information first hand. I wish this training was something we did not need to provide, however, due to the active attacks that have occurred across our state and country, this is a class everyone should attend. This course provides valuable information and strategies on how to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your fellow community members safe if you were ever involved in an active shooter or active attack situation. Unfortunately, these tragedies can happen anywhere: grocery stores, small businesses, government buildings, colleges, and schools, all places we have here in town. While I hope none of us have to witness such an event, if one ever does occur in your presence, I want you to be prepared for how to act to protect yourself and if able, others too. I encourage you to take a few hours out of your summer to help empower yourself with this potentially lifesaving information,” stated Chief Cynthia McAlister.
The Town of Purcellville, Virginia
“Purcellville-your small Town, where history and progress intersect and people prosper,” is an award-winning town of over 10,000 residents located in Loudoun County, approximately 50 miles west of Washington, DC. Having received the prestigious Siemens Sustainability Award for Small Communities, Purcellville continues to be honored for its green initiatives with most recently being the Tree City USA recipient for the 13th year. The Town was reaffirmed as a AAA rated community by S&P Global Ratings, the highest credit rating possible, and is ranked “Safest City” in Virginia in 2020. Once a stop along the W&OD rail line, which has been converted to a multi-use trail from Alexandria, VA to Purcellville, the Town has maintained its historic old-town feel through the restoration and maintenance of its many downtown structures, reflecting the Victorian architecture popular during the early 1900s. Today, Purcellville is the economic hub of western Loudoun County and a popular weekend destination for antiquing, equestrian activities, farmer’s markets, wineries, breweries, distilleries and restaurants. More info at www.purcellvilleva.gov.
