Eugene Nielsen
In recent years, the frequency and severity of active shooter incidents have underscored the critical need for comprehensive training programs for law enforcement personnel. It is imperative for officers to be well prepared – both mentally and physically – to handle such high stress situations.
An active shooter is defined as an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area. These situations are unpredictable and evolve rapidly, often concluding within minutes before law enforcement can arrive on the scene. Effective training can significantly enhance the ability of officers to respond swiftly and efficiently, potentially saving countless lives.
Responding to an active shooter incident requires law enforcement officers to act decisively to neutralize the threat. The basics of active shooter response include quickly assessing the situation upon arrival, establishing a command post and coordinating with other responding agencies.
Officers must prioritize locating and engaging the shooter to prevent further harm, while also ensuring the safety of civilians by directing them to evacuate or find secure hiding places. Effective communication is crucial – both among officers and with other emergency responders – to ensure a coordinated and efficient response. Additionally, officers must remain vigilant and adaptable, ready to adjust their tactics as the situation evolves. By adhering to these fundamental principles, law enforcement can effectively manage active shooter incidents and minimize casualties.
Best Practices for Active Shooter Training
Scenario-based training is a cornerstone of effective preparation for active shooter incidents. This method involves creating realistic simulations which replicate the chaos, stress and unpredictability of an actual active shooter event.
Training environments are meticulously designed to closely mimic real-world settings such as schools, offices, shopping malls, and public spaces. This helps officers become familiar with the types of locations they may encounter during an actual incident.
Props, such as furniture, vehicles and other objects, are used to create realistic obstacles and scenarios. Role players, including volunteers or actors, simulate victims, bystanders and suspects to enhance the authenticity of the training.
By exposing officers to high stress scenarios in a controlled setting, they can develop the ability to remain calm and make sound decisions under pressure. This process, known as stress inoculation, helps officers build resilience and improve their performance in real-life situations.
Conduct of Training
Training scenarios start with basic situations and gradually increase in complexity and intensity. This allows officers to build confidence and competence as they progress through the training.
The development of tactical skills is crucial for officers responding to active shooter incidents. One essential skill is room clearing, when officers systematically search and secure rooms to locate and neutralize threats. This process involves using cover and concealment, effectively communicating with team members and maintaining situational awareness to ensure safety and efficiency.
Another vital skill is breaching techniques which officers practice to gain entry into locked or barricaded areas. This may involve the use of specialized tools such as battering rams, pry bars or hydraulic breaching equipment, depending on the situation’s requirements and the level of training.
Lastly, officers practice engaging the shooter with the intent to neutralize the threat. This includes honing their marksmanship skills, accurately identifying targets and making critical decisions under pressure. These tactical skills collectively prepare officers to handle high stress situations and protect lives effectively.
Before beginning any training exercise, it’s crucial to conduct a safety sweep to ensure the environment is free from any unsafe conditions or circumstances. A safety brief follows, reminding all attendees of the safety rules and emphasizing that they are as responsible for their own safety as those conducting the training. The lead trainer then provides an evolutionary brief, explaining how the training will progress.
A critical step in maintaining safety is the triple check. Trainees, trainers, observers, and role players must check themselves to ensure they have no live weapons or ammunition. This is followed by a partner check and then another check by a trainer. This procedure is repeated for anyone entering or reentering the training area, including visitors.
Role players are given specific guidelines to follow to ensure the training objectives are met and to maintain a safe environment. An equipment check is conducted to ensure no live weapons are used and that all safety equipment is functional.
For Force-on-Force (FOF) training with Simunition®-type marking cartridges, the minimum safety equipment includes a full face helmet, throat protection and groin protection for both men and women. Additional full body protection is recommended for role players who will be taking multiple hits.
If force-on-force weapons are used, it’s imperative to check the weapons to ensure the magazines are loaded with the correct rounds and that no live rounds or more damaging rounds are mixed in. An experienced trainer should issue the equipment and oversee the proper charging of any force-on-force weapons.
The first safety loop involves checking all safety equipment on participants to ensure it is properly in place and documenting any preexisting injuries. Before starting the training scenario or isolation exercise, a second safety loop is conducted. The training safety officer is asked if it is safe to begin and the officer in charge asks the trainees if they feel safe to continue. Trainees should speak up if they see any unsafe conditions.
The training officer in charge then calls out, “The range is hot” and “Begin scenario/exercise.” Anyone can stop the scenario if someone is injured or at risk of injury by shouting, “Stop!” or “Red!” When appropriate, the training officer calls out, “End scenario/exercise.”
After each scenario or isolation exercise, participants are asked if there are any injuries, indicated by a thumbs-up if there are none. Finally, a debriefing session is held where the officer in charge, student officers and role players discuss the scenario to enhance the learning experience. Questions such as “Why did you do what you did?” and “How do you see yourself acting the next time this same thing happens?” help draw out learning points from the students.
These after-action reviews provide an opportunity for officers to reflect on their performance, receive feedback from instructors and learn from their experiences. Debriefing sessions emphasize the importance of learning from mistakes and continuously improving. Officers are encouraged to share their perspectives and insights, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
By incorporating these key aspects into scenario-based training, law enforcement agencies can better prepare their officers to respond effectively. This comprehensive approach ensures that officers develop the necessary skills, resilience and confidence to handle high stress situations and protect the communities they serve.
Interagency Coordination
Interagency coordination is crucial for an effective response to active shooter incidents, as it often requires seamless collaboration between multiple agencies. Regular joint training exercises involving local law enforcement, emergency medical services, fire departments, and federal agencies are essential. These exercises help establish clear communication channels and protocols, ensuring that all parties can work together efficiently during an actual incident.
Developing a unified command structure is another key element. This structure ensures that all responding agencies have clearly defined roles and responsibilities which helps prevent confusion and enhances the overall efficiency of the response. Establishing standardized communication protocols is also vital, as it helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures that critical information is shared promptly among all involved parties.
Resource sharing is another important aspect of interagency coordination. Agencies collaborate to share specialized equipment and personnel which enhances their overall response capabilities. By pooling resources, agencies can ensure that they have the necessary tools and expertise to handle active shooter incidents effectively. This collaborative approach not only improves the immediate response, but also fosters a culture of cooperation and mutual support among different agencies.
Behavioral Analysis and Threat Assessment
Understanding the behavioral patterns and characteristics of potential active shooters is critical for prevention and early intervention. Training programs can teach officers to recognize preincident indicators, such as changes in behavior, social isolation and expressions of violence or anger. By identifying these warning signs early, officers may be able to take proactive measures to prevent potential threats from escalating.
Many agencies establish threat assessment teams which include law enforcement, mental health professionals and educators. These multidisciplinary teams evaluate potential threats and develop intervention strategies tailored to each situation. By leveraging the expertise of various professionals, these teams can create comprehensive plans to address and mitigate risks effectively.
Behavioral profiling is another critical component of threat assessment. Officers learn to identify common traits and behaviors associated with active shooters which helps in assessing the likelihood of an individual posing a threat. This knowledge enables officers to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions to prevent incidents.
Community engagement plays a vital role in early intervention. Building strong relationships with community members encourages the reporting of suspicious behavior, enabling law enforcement to intervene before a situation escalates. By fostering trust and open communication, officers can work collaboratively with the community to enhance overall safety and security.
By incorporating these key components into their training programs, law enforcement agencies can better prepare officers to identify and address potential threats, ultimately preventing active shooter incidents and protecting the community.
Mental Health and Resilience Training
The psychological impact of responding to active shooter incidents can be profound, making mental health and resilience training an essential component of law enforcement training programs. Incorporating these elements helps officers manage stress and maintain their well-being, both during and after such high stress events.
One key aspect of this training is teaching stress management techniques. Officers learn methods such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and visualization to help them manage stress effectively. These techniques can be used during an incident to maintain focus and calm, as well as afterward to aid in recovery.
Peer support programs are another crucial element. These programs allow officers to share their experiences and provide mutual support which can significantly reduce feelings of isolation. By fostering a sense of camaraderie and understanding, peer support programs help officers cope with the emotional aftermath of traumatic events.
Access to mental health resources is also vital. Providing officers with access to mental health professionals and counseling services ensures that they can seek help when needed. This support can be critical in addressing any psychological issues which arise from their experiences and promoting long-term mental health.
Resilience building is another important focus of these training programs. By promoting physical fitness, healthy lifestyle choices and positive coping strategies, officers can build resilience to better handle the demands of their job. This holistic approach to well-being helps officers maintain their mental and physical health, enabling them to perform their duties effectively and sustainably.
By incorporating these key aspects into their training programs, law enforcement agencies can better support their officers’ mental health and resilience, ultimately enhancing their ability to respond to active shooter incidents and other high stress situations.
Resources
The FBI’s ASAPP training is a two hour course which combines lessons learned from years of research and employs scenario-based exercises to help participants practice the decision-making process of the Run, Hide, Fight principles. This training is designed to enhance the preparedness of individuals and organizations in responding to active shooter incidents by providing practical, hands-on experience in a controlled environment. Additional information may be obtained from the FBI’s resource website
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offers comprehensive resources and training materials, including the Active Shooter – How to Respond booklet. This booklet provides detailed guidelines on how to prepare for, and respond to, active shooter situations, covering essential topics such as recognizing potential threats, developing emergency action plans and implementing effective response strategies. Download a copy of this booklet (PDF).
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) provides a range of courses, materials and workshops focused on active shooter preparedness. These programs cover preincident indicators, potential attack methods and the development of emergency action plans. By participating in CISA’s training programs, individuals and organizations can enhance their ability to identify and mitigate potential threats before they escalate. Additional information
Final Thoughts
Training for active shooter scenarios is an essential component of modern law enforcement. By adopting best practices and participating in comprehensive training programs, officers can enhance their preparedness and effectiveness in responding to these critical incidents. Through continuous education and interagency collaboration, law enforcement can better protect communities and save lives in the face of active shooter threats.
Eugene Nielsen is the owner and operator of a firm which provides private intelligence, security consulting and training services. He has a background in law enforcement and a BA degree from the University of California. He has written over 1,500 articles which have been published in various national and international journals and magazines. He was a member of SWAT Magazine’s contributing staff for more than 20 years.
Securing Campus Life: Strategies for Effective Access Control in Higher Education
Raffaele Ceravolo, Regional Sales Manager, Traka Americas
Often operating as complex, self-sufficient ecosystems, colleges and universities represent unique security challenges for campus law enforcement. With dozens of buildings spread out across thousands of acres, combined with a diverse mix of students, staff, faculty, and visitors, it’s paramount for security officials to have comprehensive measures in place to ensure safe working, learning and living spaces.
There are many solutions to consider when pursuing that standard. Still, law enforcement should start with arguably the most fundamental threat and let that serve as the foundation for implementing additional measures. Access and asset control impact every person on a college or university campus, and many schools use some version of badge or key card access for exterior entry. In the more advanced settings, staff, faculty and contractors use those credentials to access critical keys and assets in intelligent cabinets and lockers connected to the school’s general access control system.
The benefits of this integration are extensive. Faculty and staff don’t have to worry about a different badge, key or password to access the storage solution. Administrators can remotely designate who can access which cabinet, locker or asset. They can then be notified when something isn’t returned on time. When a badge holder leaves or is terminated, their access can be deactivated immediately, both to the buildings and to the internal storage solutions.
The same technology can be utilized by campus law enforcement who often need to access those same buildings and their own highly secured facility. Badge access can be integrated to help with internal operations, like key cabinets which store fleet vehicle keys. Those cabinets give administrators an idea of which cruiser was taken out and when. When that vehicle is returned to the station, the officer can note if there’s something wrong with it (flat tire, needs an oil change, etc.) which can restrict that vehicle from being checked out until the fault has been corrected. This can help extend the life of vehicles and reduce the number of officers trying to check out the “favorite” one.
That concept applies to shared devices like radios, tablets, laptops, and firearms. Intelligent lockers can safely house sidearms and long guns, and weapons can be RFID tagged to help track their usage further. Like non-law enforcement personnel, access to these heavily used items can be deactivated instantly if the storage solutions are integrated into the central access control network.
When solutions communicate with each other, it streamlines operations and helps safeguard against unauthorized access and behavior. Ultimately, these intelligent key and asset storage solutions and their respective integration within a school’s access control footprint represent foundational keystones in building a solidified security environment, both for campus officers and those they pledge to protect.
