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In a rare bit of encouraging news, the FBI’s 2024 report on active shooter incidents shows a 50% drop in cases — from 48 in 2023 to 24 in 2024. But is this a trend or an outlier?
In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with two of the country’s foremost experts on mass shootings and prevention: former FBI executive Katherine Schweit, author of “Stop the Killing” and host of “Stop the Killing” podcast and psychologist Dr. Peter Langman, author and threat assessment consultant. They break down what’s behind the drop and what law enforcement and communities need to do to sustain progress.
Schweit and Langman dig into key drivers behind the decline, including expanded civilian preparedness, stronger threat assessment protocols in schools, improved collaboration between law enforcement and behavioral health, and the use of AI technologies like ZeroEyes. They also weigh in on legislative factors such as red flag laws and gun purchase restrictions, while warning about new threats like increased use of IEDs and the normalization of political violence.
| RELATED: 10 active shooter response and training questions every officer should be able to answer
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Tune in to discover:
- Why a 50% drop in active shooter incidents may signal progress — but not a reason for complacency
- How school-based threat assessment teams are changing the prevention landscape
- Why casualty rates have declined even as incidents rose — and what role civilian preparedness plays
- What red flag laws, policy shifts and community reporting mean for early intervention
- How firearm detection AI and rapid-response protocols are making real-time prevention possible
Key takeaways from this episode
- Civilian and organizational training saves lives: While active shooter incidents have risen over the past 25 years, casualty rates have declined — from an average of seven per incident to four — thanks in part to Run-Hide-Fight training and better preparedness in schools, houses of worship and workplaces.
- School threat assessment teams are proving effective: Langman notes a significant expansion in school-based threat assessment teams across the U.S., helping identify and intervene before violence occurs.
- AI tech and human review are changing response timelines: Tools like ZeroEyes combine firearm detection AI with live human monitoring, enabling rapid law enforcement response and reducing false alarms.
- Red flag laws show promise, but implementation varies: Schweit and Langman highlight how red flag laws, paired with effective threat reporting and assessment, can prevent attacks — but inconsistencies across states present enforcement challenges.
- Law enforcement must remain vigilant and adaptable: Despite the drop in incidents, emerging threats — including use of explosives, fire and politicized violence — require evolving law enforcement strategies, interagency collaboration and public education.
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