August 4, 2009, was a dark day in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. On this day, a shooter entered the LA Fitness and took the lives of three women and injured nine. Our own Corporal Jim Lancia was working for the Bridgeville Police Department at the time and was one of the first officers on the scene. Despite training in that era advising law enforcement wait for backup before entering an active shooter scene, Corporal Lancia knew he had to get in there immediately. Once locking eyes with Corporal Lancia, the shooter took his own life, ending the nightmare. Today in Pinellas County, it’s not a question. When there’s a mass shooting, law enforcement is to enter and stop the threat whether they are the only deputy there or not. They’re not working an office or retail job. They’re in the business of saving lives. Want to hear the full story? Corporal Lancia shares what it was really like to be first on scene that night and how law enforcement response has since changed. Listen to his full interview on 56: A Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Podcast, available now wherever you get your podcasts.