Active Shooter
The Active Shooter topic gives patrol officers and SWAT team members an invaluable resource to find news articles, tactical tips and expert commentary for active shooter response.
Communication is key during these high-stress events where initial responding officers are tasked with gathering intelligence
Your hard-earned knowledge about active shooter events may help to prevent your loved ones from becoming victims
SROs can start by being prepared, proactive, resourceful and decisive
Officers were shot or threatened with a gun four times in August and eight times in 2023 so far — that’s more than the previous two years combined
Body camera footage shows dozens of officers and a SWAT team attempting to stop the shooter and rescue a wounded woman
Students and faculty at the flagship campus barricaded themselves in dorm rooms, offices and classrooms for hours until a lockdown was lifted
“We did give him every opportunity to surrender,” Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Chief Larry Scirotto said
Once a firearm has been identified, alerts are dispatched, including the last known location of the shooter, to school staff and law enforcement
How can we avoid the most common planning errors in anticipation of the unthinkable?
The small lighting system can be used to temporarily impair the vision of assailants, giving people time to negate threats and seek safety until law enforcement intervenes
With hundreds, if not thousands, of calls coming in at once, a real-time crime center or emergency communications center could benefit from these two things
Police Chief Neil Noakes said the community refused to let the violence stop it from celebrating; Hundreds turned out for the parade less than 12 hours later
After the mass shooting on July 1, 1993, with the help of SWAT teams, SFPD changed how it approached skyscraper shootings — clear the tower room by room
A shooter wearing a ballistic vest and carrying a police scanner opened fire seemingly at random, killing four people and wounding two boys
To the officer who stopped the killing, we thank you for inspiring the entire law enforcement profession with your determined, courageous and effective response
“In reality, in the 2020s, if we are not looking at the digital footprint of a student of concern, we are really not doing a comprehensive threat assessment.”
How an open mind can help officers prepare for, prevent and problem solve the active killers problem
If you are honest enough to admit you do not possess an open mind, then aggressively strive to develop one
Lt. Col. Sam Samaroo said Deputy Scot Peterson was taught that even if he was alone, he would need to confront the shooter without waiting for backup
Strategies should include reporting the signs, anonymous tip lines and behavioral threat assessments
Officers inside the theater, where the graduation ceremony had been taking place, heard gunfire and radioed to police stationed outside, who found multiple victims
“A lot goes through your mind when you are driving to an in-progress active shooter at your own son’s school. I was thinking about my son and all my son’s friends. It’s hard to explain, but it was surreal.”
“It’s critically important that as many perspectives as possible come to the table in the assessment of risk or threat as well as assessing potential protective factors.”
How law enforcement and educators can develop effective threat assessment teams to stop school violence
There are many layers of complexity inherent in balancing transparency, public safety, and respect for the victims and their families
The majority of teachers responding to a RAND survey upheld the importance of a threat reporting and intervention system as critical for school safety
“Officer Nickolas Wilt has shown remarkable progress in his recovery,” the update said; he’s also responding more consistently to “yes” and “no” questions
A judge ruled Covenant School parents have a right to intervene against other groups that want the shooter’s writings, along with other police documents
While much attention is given to responding to attacks in progress, increased research provides hope for earlier intervention and prevention of school violence
To improve school safety against active shooters, we must work on prevention, disruption and response through a multitude of options
The Danvers Police Department said an officer’s gun had discharged while searching the school, which elevated the situation to an active shooter response
A Florida fire department is leading the way in bringing together first responders to train to respond to active shooter scenarios and other MCIs
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