Police first on scene of a horrific tragedy, are forever changed by what they see.
Friday night, a first responder who was there during the Nickel Mines Amish School shooting years ago, talks to CBS 21 News about the training that kicks in and what happens afterwards.
In PA we're fortunate to have people who are paid and those who volunteer their time, risking their lives to save others in crisis.
October 2nd, 2006, Charles Roberts walks into an Amish school in Nickel Mines, Lancaster County with a handgun. He sent away the boy students, chained the girls together and shot them, killing five and wounding five others. He then killed himself.
That day, Duane Hagelgans brought in the South Central Pennsylvania Task Force.
"Obviously it was bigger than the local community could handle. The State Police were the lead agencies to assist them with logistics with public information, helping the locals,” Hagelgans explained. “We did a lot with critical incident stress debriefing."
The critical incident stress debriefing is a must for first responders in situations like the one we saw in Lancaster County back then, and in Connecticut Friday.
"These responders will truly live with this the rest of their lives,” Hagelgans told us. “This is something they will never ever get over. And you can't. It's just an incredibly sad story."
Hagelgans says that training for school shootings has changed since Columbine. Instead of waiting outside, first responders are told to run in as soon as they arrive.
"What we learned in Columbine is they were waiting for the SWAT teams to get together and they were formulating their plan,” Hagelgans commented. “What they have since determined is that, every minute, every second you wait, there's something terrible going on."
They rely on that training. But after it's all over, the training fades and emotions kick in.
"You know what your job is,” Hagelgans urged, talking about first responders. “And because you train to do these things you can never be prepared for this, you can certainly never be prepared for the death of a child."
After it's all over, first responders are not allowed the leave the scene until they talk to someone or get grief counseling if they need it.
Afterwards, some are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and have to leave the field entirely.
Friday night, a first responder who was there during the Nickel Mines Amish School shooting years ago, talks to CBS 21 News about the training that kicks in and what happens afterwards.
In PA we're fortunate to have people who are paid and those who volunteer their time, risking their lives to save others in crisis.
October 2nd, 2006, Charles Roberts walks into an Amish school in Nickel Mines, Lancaster County with a handgun. He sent away the boy students, chained the girls together and shot them, killing five and wounding five others. He then killed himself.
That day, Duane Hagelgans brought in the South Central Pennsylvania Task Force.
"Obviously it was bigger than the local community could handle. The State Police were the lead agencies to assist them with logistics with public information, helping the locals,” Hagelgans explained. “We did a lot with critical incident stress debriefing."
The critical incident stress debriefing is a must for first responders in situations like the one we saw in Lancaster County back then, and in Connecticut Friday.
"These responders will truly live with this the rest of their lives,” Hagelgans told us. “This is something they will never ever get over. And you can't. It's just an incredibly sad story."
Hagelgans says that training for school shootings has changed since Columbine. Instead of waiting outside, first responders are told to run in as soon as they arrive.
"What we learned in Columbine is they were waiting for the SWAT teams to get together and they were formulating their plan,” Hagelgans commented. “What they have since determined is that, every minute, every second you wait, there's something terrible going on."
They rely on that training. But after it's all over, the training fades and emotions kick in.
"You know what your job is,” Hagelgans urged, talking about first responders. “And because you train to do these things you can never be prepared for this, you can certainly never be prepared for the death of a child."
After it's all over, first responders are not allowed the leave the scene until they talk to someone or get grief counseling if they need it.
Afterwards, some are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and have to leave the field entirely.