Army Reserve and local police partnership build on skills combatting active shooter events

Soldiers assigned to the 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command partnered with the Arlington Heights Police Department to conduct an active shooter training exercise, September 6, 2025, at the 85th USARSC headquarters.

The training was conducted to increase readiness in force protection and inform 85th USARSC members on life-saving skills in the event of an active shooter event.

Additionally, the exercise expanded on the partnership between the 85th USARSC force protection team and the Arlington Heights PD. The training focused on the Run, Hide, Fight model to combat potential attackers.

"Today we had a training event with the U.S. Army base here in Arlington Heights," said Sgt. Patrick Chojnowski, responding officer with the Arlington Heights PD. "When the military and Arlington Heights police department train together, not only does it build a strong partnership, but it also allows us to train on the active threat response. And personnel in the military get to understand the roles that first responders have in this scenario."

The 85th USARSC and the Arlington Heights PD conducted active shooter threat drills, during the past three years, amongst other training partnership events. Chojnowski shared that it is important for both entities to continue in the partnership and act as liaisons for each other, adding that the Army Reserve installation is a big facility in Arlington Heights and understanding the role that the military plays in the community is crucial during a real-life event.

"I think the officers did good on the nuts and bolts of the operation, to identify and neutralize the active threat, then switching to identifying and assessing the casualties to get them a higher level of medical care," said Chojnowski.

Active shooter training exercises help U.S. Army personnel develop tactics and doctrine to enhance the way they work alongside local first responders. By simulating realistic scenarios, first responders can identify potential challenges and refine their tactics, ensuring they are prepared to act swiftly and effectively in real-life emergencies. Training as we fight ensures Soldiers reach their potential and maintain a strategic advantage.

"In the case of an active shooter, one of the things we want our Soldiers to do is Run, Hide or Fight, fighting being the very last scenario in this situation," said Maj. Matthew Wisniewski, Force Protection Officer, 85th USARSC. "It's good to have a strong relationship with first responders because they are the ones coming into our building to help. If there wasn't that partnership, or the great relationship, we would falter in a way that we could have more potential casualties."

Command Sgt. Maj. Jeremiah Kelly, Command Sergeant Major, 85th USARSC, played the role of an active shooter during the exercise. Kelly touched on how the training reinforced the Army Reserve's position as a modern and ready force, prepared to fight and win.

"This active shooter exercise really focused on some individual readiness of the Soldiers. We're talking about incorporating skills that individual Soldiers need to know, such as shoot, move and communicate," said Kelly. "Our standard methodology in an active shooter situation is Run, Hide, Fight. We are talking potentially about armed guards responding with individual assigned weapons. We are talking about communicating with local law enforcement and being good witnesses to the responding law enforcement. It really incorporates a multitude of skills that Army Reserve Soldiers need to have in a very dynamic situation."