Fund drive, grant provide local active shooter safety equipment

Shown holding one of the bullet-proof ballistic barriers are Howard Kool, from left, Ike Brown, McCook Police Chief, Nate Schneider, McCook City Manager, Senior Sgt. Kevin Darling, McCook Police Department and Gene Weedin. Kool and Weedin began fundraising for the barriers last year.

Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. —Two portable ballistic barriers to shield medical personnel during an active shooter incident have been purchased at the McCook City Police Department.

Each bullet-proof barrier weighs 63 pounds and are 4x8-foot. Each comes with different sized rods to set up the barrier quickly. The barriers have been developed to provide protection for emergency medial personnel brought into an active shooter location by armed officers. This strategy allows EMS to treat victims while the active shooting incident is still occurring, whether in an hallway, on a street or residence or at a business. They will be available for all law enforcement in the area to use if needed, said Ike Brown, McCook City Police Chief.

The barriers are invaluable, Brown said, as it allows victims to be removed or get life-saving treatment sooner.

“We hope that it gathers dust and is never used,” said Howard Kool, who with Gene Weedin, retired teacher and current McCook City Council member, spearheaded the fundraising efforts to purchase the barriers. Kool and Weedin have spent the last year collecting donations from businesses, organizations and individuals.

Sometimes the smallest donations meant the most. Kool told how during the fair this year, where he and Weedin had a booth for fundraising, he noticed a young girl watching him as he gave his “sales pitch” to onlookers. After about 20 minutes, she walked over and gave him three quarters. “She said, ‘I wasn’t going to give it to you but I changed my mind,’ ” Kool said.

Along with funds raised, a COPS school violence prevention grant of $14,724 was used to purchase the barriers. Extra funds from the grant will go toward the McCook Public School District to enhance capabilities of video security cameras, Brown said.