Walmart is giving the Bentonville Fire Department a grant worth $97,000 to fund active-shooter training.“This will give us an opportunity to have a change in real action,” said Bentonville Police Chief Jon Simpson.The grant isn’t the first Walmart has given to a fire department.“If something does happen, as terrible as that will be, that our emergency responders will be doing their best to help me, my family, my neighbors and the community,” said Ken Senser, of Walmart.The training will look similar to a practice in Clarksville in 2012, except paramedics will not be armed.“They’ll be wearing the same body armor that the SWAT team wears,” said Kevin Boydston, of the Bentonville Fire Department.Crews will come in behind police officers to treat victims faster.“It’s the one thing we can do that’s becoming prevalent in the nation with EMS and fire service is to incorporate these tactics and get them out there in order to save those lives that are near and dear to us,” Boydston said.EMS crews typically wait until police clear a building in active-shooting scenarios, which can take 30 minutes or longer.The Fire Department said they will begin their training in May.

Walmart is giving the Bentonville Fire Department a grant worth $97,000 to fund active-shooter training.

“This will give us an opportunity to have a change in real action,” said Bentonville Police Chief Jon Simpson.


The grant isn’t the first Walmart has given to a fire department.

“If something does happen, as terrible as that will be, that our emergency responders will be doing their best to help me, my family, my neighbors and the community,” said Ken Senser, of Walmart.

The training will look similar to a practice in Clarksville in 2012, except paramedics will not be armed.

“They’ll be wearing the same body armor that the SWAT team wears,” said Kevin Boydston, of the Bentonville Fire Department.

Crews will come in behind police officers to treat victims faster.

“It’s the one thing we can do that’s becoming prevalent in the nation with EMS and fire service is to incorporate these tactics and get them out there in order to save those lives that are near and dear to us,” Boydston said.

EMS crews typically wait until police clear a building in active-shooting scenarios, which can take 30 minutes or longer.

The Fire Department said they will begin their training in May.