Active shooter presentation objective to protect lives

By Abigail Beeson

Lieutenant Michael Burgeson of the Yankton Police Department wants his message to save lives.

Burgeson will give an active shooter presentation Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

Burgeson has one thing he wants everyone to take away from Saturday’s presentation:

“If you are ever in this situation, you have to do something to save your life,” Burgeson said.

Burgeson wants to educate delegates this year at South Dakota Girls State.

“We need to get the message out to the girls that come to Girls State,” Burgeson said. “They are future leaders, and they need to know what to do. We want to teach people what to do in the case of a crisis.”

Burgeson will explain the same method that was used in the recent University of Los Angeles, Calif., shooting.

The shooter killed a professor, then himself in a murder-suicide. This caused thousands of students to lock themselves in classrooms.

“Its all about the evil heart — if you want to hurt someone you’re going to do it,” Burgeson said.

Burgeson remembers who inspired him to become a law enforcement officer over 20 years ago.

“My grandfather was a Custer County Deputy Sheriff, and I remember his stories and they were intriguing,” Burgeson said.

Burgeson started spreading awareness for active shootings just a few years ago.

“Law enforcement officers started teaching active shooter training on a limited basis because of the trend that was coming,” Burgeson said. “Hopefully it never happens, but if it does, we want people to be safe.”

Christina Enninga, Minneapolis, is looking forward to learning something new.

“I’ve never thought about being in a shooting before, but I think this should be helpful,” Enninga said.

Enninga isn’t the only delegate who wants to learn safety methods.

“I think its important to be prepared for any situation, and hopefully this presentation will educate us,” said Shealyn Bunch, St. Louis.