A retired Las Vegas cop who reacted to the Harvest Festival shooting has spoken out.

Officer Ashton Packe of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), who assisted in the response to the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in October 2017, shared what he keeps in his luggage to remain prepared for the unexpected.

At CrimeCon 2022, a true-crime conference held in Las Vegas between April 28 and May 1, Packe discussed the heroism he witnessed on the day of the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, the strength of the LVMPD, and the importance of establishing positive relationships between police and community members.

“At the end of the day, we have no idea what the universe has in store for us. Some things are beyond our control. Some things are within our power. However, situational awareness and safety training are required. In all of my vehicles, I have a tourniquet. I have two: one for myself and one for the injured individual. It’s similar to a first-aid kit. It’s all mine. It’s all set to go. It’s the equivalent of keeping a fire extinguisher in your home “According to Packe, who worked in the LVMPD’s Counter-Terrorism Section.

He “always” has a weapon, a knife, a tourniquet, and a key to his handcuffs in his luggage.

“You never know who could try to kidnap you and take you away,” he continued, “but I don’t think the average citizen needs to worry about that.” “However, having a medical kit, a tourniquet, and a technique to halt a gaping chest wound was critical.”

Apart from physical instruments, Packe stressed the need of remaining physically active, eating properly, and praying or meditating on a daily basis in order to maintain the mind and body sharp in the case of a crisis. “Having the correct tools in one’s bag is just as crucial as having situational awareness,” he remarked.

He described a moment of bravery on the day of the Harvest Festival shooting, which left 58 people dead and over 800 injured after Stephen Paddock opened fire on concertgoers from the Mandalay Bay hotel’s 32nd level before killing himself.

“Mike Gracia’s story is one that I want to emphasize. He is a police officer from Southern California who attended the festival. He was hit in the head with a bullet. He collapsed. I won’t go into detail about the injuries and how terrible it was at the time, but his wife basically patched it up, was shot, and then had enough situational awareness to go grab some cowboys and say, “My husband is a police officer, please get him the treatment he needs.”

Packe claimed that Gracia’s wife — then his fiancée — followed his phone to a medical clinic and arrived “with a compression…with her own injuries.” The couple is now parents to a kid.

“After the tragedy, you watched citizens transform into first responders, heroes, and heroics of the night. I usually argue that other than showing up that night, I did nothing heroic “Packe said. “The men and women who sprung into action are the true heroes. Some of them are just ordinary citizens. However, they were aware that their fellow man need instant assistance.”

“Not everyone is faultless. We understand. We educate them. “Police will make errors,” we say. You just need to recognize when you’ve made a mistake and then repair it. We don’t expect you to be flawless, you know… As long as you’re doing it with good intentions and a decent heart, I think your police career will be great “According to the former officer.

Every year, Hope for Prisoners graduates over 450 formerly jailed persons. The group is centered in Las Vegas, but it plans to expand to other correctional and law enforcement institutions around the country.