Law enforcement trainers in northwest Georgia are using the old Eastbrook Middle School in Dalton — emptied in 2012 and replaced by the new Eastbrook Middle — to run "active shooter" simulations to train officers.

Whitfield County sheriff's Lt. Phillip Herren said the objective is to find the shooter and stop him.

As smoke filled the halls of the old school Tuesday afternoon, deputies with the Whitfield and Murray County sheriff's offices rushed to the sound of gunfire and screaming.

Several officers at the training said the simulation was realistic, with firecrackers used as sound effects, real smoke pouring through the hallways and plastic caps — which can hurt and leave large welts, but don't kill — as live ammo in the guns used in the training.

Tags: law enforcement training, school shootings, whitfield county sheriff, police training