SACO — Imagine the scenario: an active shooter is loose in a local elementary school.

It’s a situation we all hope will never happened, but local police have to be prepared, just in case.

Which is why police officers from Saco and Biddeford have been training through active shooter scenarios this week at C.K. Burns School.

Friday morning, shots rang out through the school ”“ just blanks, but they sounded like the real thing and left the odor of gun smoke in the air.

Police officers entered the building armed with training guns that shoot colored soap pellets. They located and shot at the mock shooter, leaving spatters of pink.

Biddeford and Saco police departments began conducting joint active shooter trainings after the Columbine High School massacre. The two departments conduct the trainings annually, alternating between Saco and Biddeford schools. In the past, police departments from other communities have joined them for the trainings, police said.

Saco Sgt. Scott Sicard said Saco and Biddeford police often assist each other, and with both departments participating, they can work together and coordinate their training.

Biddeford Police Sgt. William Buhelt said the active shooter training is required for officers in Saco and Biddeford, and being prepared, should this sort of incident happen, is critical.

“You’re protecting lives, you’re protecting kids,” said Buhelt.

Conducting this training at different schools each year gives officers a chance to familiarize themselves with local schools, said Saco Cpl. Kenneth Foss. Active shooter trainings help police prepare for the occurrence of such incidents at any place where there is a large number of people, such as a grocery store, local festival or city meeting, said Foss.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].