Jul 22, 2026

📷 Hays Police Department conducts active shooter training at Hays High School

Posted Jul 22, 2026 10:00 AM
Officers Caleb Koehn, Officer Joseph Lantz and Officer Tate Bartlett arresting acting suspect Ethan Dague during the active shooter training exercise at Hays High School on Tuesday. Photo by Alin Hett/Hays Post.  
Officers Caleb Koehn, Officer Joseph Lantz and Officer Tate Bartlett arresting acting suspect Ethan Dague during the active shooter training exercise at Hays High School on Tuesday. Photo by Alin Hett/Hays Post.  

By ALIN HETT
Hays Post

The Hays Police Department this week conducted active-shooter training at Hays High School to help officers prepare for a potential emergency. 

Lt. Brandon Hauptman said the training helps officers become familiar with school layouts while practicing building clearing, weapons handling and emergency medical response.

Hauptman said while Hays is a safe community, the department wants to make sure officers are prepared.

“Things this does for us is it gets us into the schools, so we are familiar with the schools, the officers know the layout of it, and we are prepared for something like this to happen,” Hauptman said.

The exercise included 19-year-old Ethan Dague playing the suspect, while 24-year-old Maddy Welch and 20-year-old Connor Stephenson acted as injured victims.

Hauptman said the department typically conducts the training during the summer when schools are out, but similar tactics are practiced throughout the year during monthly training sessions.

Officers who participated in the training are listed below: 

  1. Officer Caleb Koehn 
  2. Officer Joseph Lantz
  3. Officer Tate Bartlett
  4. Officer Clay Robinson 
  5. Officer Gehrig Milledge
  6. Officer Cody Wolf 
  7. Officer Alex Lenser 
  8. Officer Chance Corsair
  9. Corporal Ethan Henderson
  10. Officer Jason Bonczynski
  11. Officer Erin Escritt
  12. Officer Martha Saldana

All photos by Alin Hett/Hays Post

Hays Police Department officers clear a hallway during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School while supervisors observe the response tactics.<br>
Hays Police Department officers clear a hallway during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School while supervisors observe the response tactics.
Hays Police Department officers clear a stairwell during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School, practicing response tactics for a potential emergency situation.<br>
Hays Police Department officers clear a stairwell during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School, practicing response tactics for a potential emergency situation.
Hays Police Department officers train alongside simulated victims and actors during an active shooter exercise at Hays High School.<br>
Hays Police Department officers train alongside simulated victims and actors during an active shooter exercise at Hays High School.
Hays Police Department officers train alongside simulated victims and actors during an active shooter exercise at Hays High School.<br>
Hays Police Department officers train alongside simulated victims and actors during an active shooter exercise at Hays High School.
Hays Police Department officers train alongside simulated victims and actors during an active shooter exercise at Hays High School.<br>
Hays Police Department officers train alongside simulated victims and actors during an active shooter exercise at Hays High School.
Hays Police Department officers arrest a simulated suspect during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School.&nbsp;
Hays Police Department officers arrest a simulated suspect during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School. 
Hays Police Department officerse take down a simulated suspect during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School.<br>
Hays Police Department officerse take down a simulated suspect during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School.
Hays Police Department officers clear a room during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School.<br>
Hays Police Department officers clear a room during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School.
Hays Police Department officers clear a stairwell during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School, practicing response tactics for a potential emergency situation.<br>
Hays Police Department officers clear a stairwell during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School, practicing response tactics for a potential emergency situation.
Hays Police Department officers clear a hallway during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School designed to improve emergency response skills.<br>
Hays Police Department officers clear a hallway during an active shooter training exercise at Hays High School designed to improve emergency response skills.
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