Area bank tellers can practice thwarting would-be robbers next week in a class organized by Collins Career Center.

Thursday, May 03, 2001

Area bank tellers can practice thwarting would-be robbers next week in a class organized by Collins Career Center.

It’s not self-defense. It’s not confrontational. It’s information about how you should respond when confronted with a bank robbery situation, and you’re on the other side of the counter, said Eva Christian, who works in workforce development with Collins Career Center.

Last year, the career center sponsored classroom training with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and others about dye packs and techniques on what to say and do in case of a robbery, Ms. Christian said.

"This year, because of the recent bank robberies, we have decided to do a mock robbery," she said. "We want to put front line people in that type of situation so they’ll learn how to react in the correct way."

The training – scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 8 at the Radisson Hotel in Huntington, W.Va. – will feature work and classes by the Huntington Division of the FBI and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Ms. Christian said.

It’s aimed at bank tellers, security officers, any front line people employed by banks, she said.

Since the Tri-State has seen two robberies recently, one at Proctorville and one at Point Pleasant, W.Va., the training – especially a mock robbery – will be important to many who work at banks, Ms. Christian said.

Participants will likely work one-on-one with instructors, receive information about how to respond to would-be robbers, maybe even about how to remember an accurate description for police and investigators.

"In light of the situation we’ve been in here in the Tri-State, I think it will be good training," Ms. Christian said.

Banks and their employees must pre-register for the class by calling Ms. Christian at the Workforce Development Resource Center at 532-3140, ext. 236.

Classes will cost $25 per participant; or $20 per participant if there are five or more people from one bank or business.