After another mass shooting in the US, YPD says it’s prepared if something like that happens locally

YUMA, AZ (KYMA, KECY) – Just walking into the post office on an ordinary day can turn into something tragic.

Gerald Lundin, who travels across the border from Mexicali to work every day, says it is unsafe to step into the building.

Lundin says danger is everywhere.

“It’s not that I’m always afraid, but it’s that I have to take care of myself and watch out for anything suspicious,” Lundin explains.

He says these mass shootings are terrible and he hopes something gets done.

“I hope the government, the police, the FBI, or anyone else who is responsible for our own good will do something about it,” Lundin continues.

Yuma Police Department (YPD) Sergeant. Lori Franklin says officers often undergo active marksmanship training.

“We’re proactively doing things like this so our officers can be prepared for the situation when it comes to Yuma,” Franklin says.

YPD also works with other law enforcement agencies such as the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, Border Patrol, San Luis, Somerton, Arizona Department of Transportation, and Arizona Department of Public Safety.

“And we have great relationships with them,” said Franklin.

Franklin says their first job is to remove the threat.

“We are trying to eliminate the threat, but at the same time we are trying to help the victims,” explains Franklin. “It’s like a duel cost, but if you don’t stop the threat, there will be more casualties.”

If you have an active shooter and find yourself in a situation where you can’t get out, YPD recommends finding cover.

“If you can get out of it, find a way out. If it depends on your life, I mean fight for your life. That’s the best I can say. But you just hide out of the way, hide out of the way.

Imperial Valley resident Abraham Navarro says the shooting is not a top priority for him.

“Not that it’s irrelevant, but I haven’t seen it in my community because it’s happening elsewhere. It’s just kind of crazy.

However, he states that if he were in that situation, things would likely change.

“Maybe I’ll change my mind a little bit. It’ll make going to buildings, post offices, and markets more uncomfortable,” Navarro says.

According to the Violence Project, there are 53 workplace shootings between 1966 and 2022.

The Violence Project is a non-profit, non-partisan research center dedicated to reducing violence in society and using data and analytics to improve policies and practices.

If you want to know more about domestic shootings, website.

Stay safe and conscious.