How to handle what law enforcement officials call an "active shooter," someone who is threatening the lives of others with a firearm, requires special training - which most small police departments can't offer.

However, the town of Wiscasset and the Wiscasset School Department will be receiving $32,000 from the Homeland Security Administration which will pay for that training.

Lieutenant John Allen announced at last week's selectmen's meeting the federal agency had approved $19,000 in grant money, which will be funneled through the Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency, headed by Director Tim Pellerin.

Then at Tuesday night's selectmen's meeting, Allen said they have just received word that the administration has approved an additional $12,000 grant.

About $5,000 of the grant will be paid to a professional facilitator, Allen said. The Maine State Police Tactical Team, led by Sgt. Grass from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, will be actively involved in the training, Allen said, which will take place over the next several weeks.

Allen said the training will involve all the personnel and equipment that would reasonably be required in any type of hostage or shooting situation, including police, firefighters, first responders, communications personnel, ambulance personnel, schools, teachers, school bus drivers, hospitals and hospital personnel.

Much of the grant money will be used to pay to cover the shifts that people in training would ordinarily be working, Allen said.

The training may be tested during the school vacation in April, and a mock hostage or terrorist scenario will be staged in October. School staff and students will be asked to participate by playing various roles, Allen said.