Effective response to active shooter and mass casualty incidents requires a multi-faceted approach, involving collaboration between various agencies and professionals. In a recent Police1 webinar, experts Joshua Bitsko, Peter Blair, Juan Carlos Cardona and Jack Rozel discuss multi-disciplinary threat assessments in an active shooter situation.
Explore highlights from the webinar below. Click here to register view the webinar in its entirety.
The power of behavioral threat assessment in preventing violence
Multi-disciplinary threat assessment and management (MTAM) is used by agencies like the Secret Service, FBI, and local law enforcement to prevent violence, including school shootings. Developed over 40 years, it unites law enforcement and behavioral health professionals to assess threats. Combining criminology, behavioral sciences and intelligence, MTAM is an evidence-based strategy effective in managing high-risk situations.
The need for enhanced training in active shooter scenarios
Police agencies across the country have developed similar responses to active shooter and mass casualty incidents, particularly since the Columbine tragedy, with tactical training becoming more standardized. However, despite this uniformity in training, occasional failures still occur, prompting an examination of the underlying causes. This has led to collaboration with mental health professionals to create alternative training approaches for law enforcement, with the goal of improving responses to critical incidents, particularly active shooter situations.
Strategic planning and collaboration for active shooter events
Creating pre-established partnerships between medical, police, and fire departments is crucial for responding effectively to an active shooter event. Despite differing views on the matter, it is clear that collaboration plays a vital role in the success of response and recovery efforts. By planning ahead and discussing strategies for facing threats and managing recovery, agencies can ensure a more coordinated and successful outcome during a crisis.
Critical links in the active shooter response chain
The “chain of survival” concept outlines the key stages in responding to a crisis, from victim to survivor. Research over the past 20 years has identified five critical links in this chain, starting with the civilian response, which plays a crucial role in determining the number of injuries during an event. As law enforcement arrives, their primary goals include distracting the attacker, isolating them, and restricting their movement to prevent further harm to victims. Finally, law enforcement makes contact with the attacker and uses necessary force to neutralize the threat.
To watch the entire webinar, follow the link below to the on-demand version.
Some content in this article was created with the assistance of generative AI.
