RESPONSE TO ACTIVE SHOOTERS

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RESPONSE TO ACTIVE SHOOTERS
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Instructor Introductions
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Training Goals

• The student will be familiar with
• Historical overview of active shooter situations
• Police lessons learned from school shootings
• School Armed Intruder procedures
• School priorities during an active shooter
  situation
• Police priorities during an active shooter
  situation
• Police equipment and training needs
• Contact /rescue team tactics for immediate
  deployment.

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Course Administration Items

• Roster Verification
• Course Critiques
• Safety Briefing

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Pre-test
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CBS Sixty Minutes Story

• What really happened at Columbine?

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(No Transcript)
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Active Shooter Intro Video

• Video 1, part 1

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Familiar?
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Texas Tower Incident

• August 1, 1966
• Austin TX
• Suspect, Charles Whitman
• Killed 15 people (including an unborn baby)
• Wounded 31 (as far away as two blocks)
• Resolved by two police officers

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Other Active Shooter Incidents

• McDonalds Massacre
• North Hollywood Bank Robbery
• Columbine High School, Littleton, CO

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McDonalds Massacre

• July 18, 1984
• San Ysidro, CA
• Suspect, James Huberty,
• Killed 21
• Wounded 11
• Killed by Sniper

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North Hollywood Bank Robbery

• February 27, 1997
• North Hollywood, CA
• Suspects, Larry Phillips and Emil Mosuranyo
• Wounded 13
• One suspect commits suicide the other is killed
  by SWAT

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Columbine High SchoolLittleton CO

• April 20, 1999
• Littleton CO
• Suspects Harris and Klebold
• Killed 13
• Wounded dozens
• Both suspects commit suicide

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Lesson Learned

• Active shooter incidents are spontaneous.
• Suspects behavior unpredictable.
• Pre-incident signs existed in school incidents.
• Incidents occur in a target rich environment.
• First responders outgunned and/or didnt have the
  training to respond to an active shooter
  situation.
• A tactical intervention was too late.
• Multi-jurisdictional response issues were present.

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Definitions

• Active Shooter
• Suspect (s) activity is immediately causing death
  and serious bodily injury. The activity is not
  contained and there is immediate risk of death or
  serious injury to potential victims.
• Immediate Deployment
• The swift and immediate deployment of law
  enforcement resources to on-going, life
  threatening situations where delayed deployment
  could otherwise result in death or great bodily
  injury to innocent persons.

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Definitions

• Dynamic Situation
• The situation is evolving very rapidly along with
  the suspects action. Example, shooting and
  moving.
• Static Situation
• The situation is not evolving or in motion, it
  suspect actions appear to be contained. Example,
  suspect is barricaded in a room.

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Definitions

• Time Line of Violence
• The period of time from the suspects first
  violent action until his action is stopped or
  he/she transitions to another activity.
• Incident Transition
• That point in the incident where the active
  shooter stops his/her violent actions and tries
  to escape or barricades themselves.

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Definitions

• Barricade Suspect
• Suspect is in a position of advantage, usually
  barricaded in a room or building.
• Suspect is armed and has displayed violence.
• May or may not be holding a hostage (s)
• There is no indication that the suspect(s)
  activity is immediately causing death or serious
  bodily injury. The event is not dynamic but
  rather static.

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A School and PolicePartnership

• Work together to develop realistic school safety
  plans in response to various threats.
• Conduct joint, school and police, training
  sessions to test procedures.
• Conduct joint, school and police, field training
  exercises in a realistic environment with maximum
  sensory overload.

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Memorandum of Understanding

• Between the police and the schools
• Purpose
• To Establish procedures to be followed when an
  incident involving an act of violence or
  possession of a weapon occurs on school property.

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School Priorities During an Active Shooter
Situation

• Protect the lives of children, teachers and
  staff.
• Have a crisis management team and detailed School
  Safety Plan
• Implement an Armed Intruder procedure.
• Notify police.
• Provide follow-up counseling to children,
  teachers, and staff.

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School Armed Intruder Procedures

• What are school procedures when an Active
  Shooter starts his/her rampage?
• Must address a variety of threats
• Have mutually agreed upon procedures
• There must be training and exercises.
• Almost always have issues regarding school and
  police response.

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Lockdown or Evacuate?
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School Lock Down Procedures

• Signal/code
• Lock Doors
• Safe Area
• Account for Students
• Do Not Open Door Until Police Arrive
• Communicate

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Rules of Thumb For Schools

• Call 911 and stay on the phone.
• Isolate and evacuate as soon as possible.
• Collect as much information as possible.
• Dont try to be a hero.
• Allow police first responders to make contact.

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Resolution of an Active Shooter Situation

• Most likely by patrol.
• Non-traditional response.
• Minimum number of officers.
• Properly equipped.
• Properly trained.
• Able to transition to a barricade situation.

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Police Priorities During An ActiveShooter
Situations

• The capture or neutralization of the suspect, as
  soon as possible.
• The lives of those in proximity of the shooter.
• The lives and safety of citizens in the area.
• The safety of police officers.
• Containment.
• After event investigation and a return to
  normalcy.

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LE Policy and Procedure for Response to Active
Shooters

• Do we need a police response policy for active
  shooter situations?
• Do we need procedures for active shooter
  situations?

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Police First Responder Tactics

• Position your patrol vehicle to act as cover with
  the best possible field of view.
• Use a target site numbering system consistent
  with department policy for points of reference.
• Collect and communicate assessment of situation
  clearly and concisely

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DEPLOYMENT
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Target Site
2
4
1
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Building - Side/Opening Designation . . .
Side 4
Side 3
2
1
1
5
4
3
1
2
1
2
Side 2
Side 1 - FRONT

• Sides - Clockwise - starting with front as Side 1
• Levels - Bottom to top
• Openings - left to right

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First Responder Actions

• Tulsa Video
• Video 1, Part 2

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Proper Equipment for Patrol Officers

• Weapons
• Shouldered fired weapon with light mounts,
  shotgun with slug or police rifle.
• Protective Gear
• Ballistic helmet
• Ballistic shields
• Mechanical Breaching Equipment
• Halligan tool
• Sledge hammer

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Weapons

• Why a shoulder fired weapon?
• Accurate weapons fire
• Defeat body armor
• Over penetration
• Not an issue

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Protective Gear

• Ballistic Helmets
• Ballistic Shields

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Breaching Equipment

• Sledge hammer
• Halligan tool
• Ram

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Off Duty-Plain Clothes Personnel

• Should be Clearly Identifiable as Police Officers
• Windbreaker, External Armor with placards,
  traffic vests, etc.
• Radio Communications available

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Police Response to Dynamic Active Shooter
Incident

• Quick Assessment
• Communicate Assessment
• Quick Intervention

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Quick Assessment

• Obtain as much information as possible en-route
  the location.
• Suspect actions (static or dynamic), location,
  description, weapons
• Victim injuries and location
• Request school official to meet you in the
  parking lot
• Upon arrival position yourself in the best
  possible location
• On side one, front of school
• Determine if you have an active shooter or
  possible barricade situation

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Communications

• First responding officer becomes the ad-hoc
  incident commander until relieved by a
  supervisor.
• Collect information enroute and upon arrival at
  the location and communicate this information as
  quickly and concisely as possible to dispatch and
  responding units.

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Ad-hoc Incident Commander

• Responsibilities.
• Collect information.
• Direct responding units to a staging area.
• Assemble an entry-contact team and move to the
  shooter.
• Remain outside the location to direct additional
  responding units.
• Transition command to a supervisor

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Intervention

• If a barricade situation use the 4Cs
• Contain, Control, Communicate, Call SWAT.
• If a dynamic, active shooter situation
• Put together an entry-contact team made up of
  patrol officers and move to the shooter.
• Maintain an ad-hoc incident commander outside the
  location to gather additional information and
  direct additional responding personnel to
  location.

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Immediate Deployment TacticsPatrol or SWAT

• Contact-Rescue Team
• Concept

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Immediate DeploymentDefinition . . .

• The swift and immediate deployment of law
  enforcement resources to on-going, life
  threatening situations where delayed deployment
  could otherwise result in death or great bodily
  injury to innocent persons.

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When Utilized . . .

• Aggressive Deadly Behavior
• Suspect(s) actively engaged in causing death or
  great bodily harm.
• e.g., Active Shooter, edged weapon assaults,
  explosives, etc.
• And . . .
• The location is believed to contain multiple
  victims. e.g., schools, parks, playgrounds,
  sporting events, day care, high-rise structures
  etc.
• Citizen/Officer Rescue
• Deadly assault(s) may or may not be on-going.
• Delayed law enforcement action could result in
  continued injury to citizens/officers.
• Delayed recovery of victim(s) could result in
  victim(s) demise.

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• Immediate deployment tactics are not a substitute
  for conventional response to Barricaded Subjects.

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Organization . . .

• Minimum - (3-4) Officers
• 1. Team Leader
• Delegates team member responsibilities.
• Formulates and implements plan.
• 2. Assistant Team Leader
• Communicates with responding units.
• Acts as additional Contact or Rescue Officer.
• 3. Designated Cover Officer (Point )
• Armed with shotgun (Slug ammo if Dept. criteria
  is met).
• Police Rifle - if Dept. criteria is met.
• 4. Rear Guard

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Deployment . . .

• Organize Contact/Rescue teams.
• Attempt diagonal deployment
• Place containment teams in a position to cover
  the Predictable Target Area
• Area that suspect can potentially move within
• Area where suspect may attempt to escape
• Area where suspect has access to vehicles
• Move to location and attempt to stop violence
• Coordinate 360 degree containment with other
  responding units and SWAT
• When SWAT arrives - transition control

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Contact Team Conduct

• Priority is to make CONTACT with the suspect(s).
• Move with 360 degree coverage (point, flanks,
  rear).
• Stop deadly behavior.
• Limit movement of suspect(s).

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Contact Team Movement

• Four Person Diamond Formation

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Contact Team

• Prevent suspect escape.
• Continue past victim(s).
• Continue past explosives.
• Communicate progress to other responders.

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Contact Team

• Provide preliminary assessment
• Victim(s) locations and medical needs.
• Prioritize if possible.
• Explosives - type and location.
• Suspect(s) description and location
• Types of weapons (if known).

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Rescue Team Conduct

• Priority is RESCUE RECOVERY of victim(s).
• Identify suspect(s) location if possible.
• Enter and/or approach location to locate
  victim(s).
• Extract victim to a safe area and notify the
  Incident Commander.
• Notify medical personnel if necessary.
• When multiple victims are present . . .
• Expand Rescue Team size as needed and emphasize
• Custody, Control and Accountability of victims
• Coordinate actions with the Contact Team Leader
  and other responding personnel.

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Victim Located . . .

• After locating victim, first officer steps over
  and provides cover.
• Cover danger areas.
• Secure victim and evacuate - communicate recovery
  to Incident Commander.

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Victim Located
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Contact Team MovementVideo Clips

• Patrol officers in contact team formations
• Video 3, Scenes 1-22

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Contact/Rescue Team Movement

• From vehicles to the building
• Building entry
• Movement to contact
• Halls
• Stairs
• Room entry and clearing
• Variety of configurations
• Criss Cross
• Step in and button hook

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(No Transcript)
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ROOM ENTRY Closed Door Criss-Cross
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ROOM ENTRY Open or Closed Door Step In Button
Hook
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Contact Rescue Team Movement Past Open Doors
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Movement Room Clearing Variations
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Considerations

• Losing contact with the suspect
• Suspect contact and apprehension
• Evacuations
• Use of deadly force
• Suppressive Fire
• What to expect on entry
• Encountering explosive devices

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Losing Contact

• What do you do when the shots and the screaming
  stops during your entry?
• Has the suspect committed suicide?
• Has he taken hostage and barricaded himself?
• Has he escaped.
• Lock team down in room or area and listen,
  request updates and collect intel

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Suspect Contact and Apprehension

• Primary goal
• Stop suspects deadly behavior
• Take suspect into custody
• Remain in a position of cover, bring suspect to
  you.
• Give clear and concise orders to suspect.

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Evacuations

• Evacuations for an active shooter are not like a
  fire drill
• Move to a safe distance behind cover
• Types of evacuations
• Escorted
• Police accompany evacuees to safe area.
• Unescorted
• Police direct evacuees to a safe area.
• When in doubt, have teachers and student secure
  themselves in a classroom until a police escort
  can be provided.

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Use of Deadly Force . . .

• Based on IDOL (Immediate Defense Of Life).
• INDIVIDUAL OFFICER makes decision.
• Does not require approval from higher authority.
• Utilized to stop the threat.
• The law - Objectively Reasonable.

no exception to the law . . . or policy
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Suppressive Fire . . .

• A worst-case scenario - should only be employed
  when other options are not REASONABLE.
• Directed at a target specific threat.
• Always be cognizant of background
• Utilized to stop or prevent deadly behavior
  caused by the suspect(s) when . . .
• Entering an exposed area to gain a tactical
  advantage
• Entering an exposed area to affect a
  rescue/recovery
• All personnel must be aware of intended
  deployment.

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What To Expect Upon Entry . . .

• Noise, confusion, screaming, alarms etc.
• Victims running, hiding, confused and frightened
  - not responding to law enforcement directions.
• Carnage.
• Fire and sprinkler operations.

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Encountering Explosives . . .

• Identify and report locations.
• Position an officer for protection.
• Dont move - dont touch.
• Visually inspect for potential detonation.
• Trip wires, timing device burning fuse etc.
• Move past - continue to locate suspect(s) and/or
  victim(s).

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SWAT Arrival During an Active Shooter Situation

• Coordinate and relinquish responsibility as soon
  as possible.
• Assist with containment responsibilities if
  necessary.
• Assist with rescue teams if necessary.
• Act as a pathfinder for responding SWAT
  personnel
• Direct to last known location of suspect(s)
• Report location of explosives
• Provide any additional pertinent information
• Weaponry, suspect description, etc.

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School and Police Response to Barricade Hostage
Situations

• Handling The Transition of an Active Shooter
  Situation to a Barricade Situation

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Incident Transition Issues

• Suspect driven
• Is the suspects actions causing immediate death
  or serious bodily injury?
• Is he barricaded alone or does he have hostages?
• Should there be First Responder negotiations with
  the suspect?

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School Response to Barricade Static Events

• Isolate Suspect
• Communicate to Police
• Start Evacuation

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Police Response To Barricade Event

• Contain
• Control
• Communicate
• Call SWAT
• (4 Cs)

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Police PrioritiesBarricade Incident

• Lives of the Hostage (s)
• Lives of innocent bystanders
• Lives of police officers
• Lives of the suspect (s)

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Contemporary Tactics Using Negotiations and SWAT
Have Successfully Resolved Over 95 of Incidents
Without Shots Being Fired
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Negotiations and SWATResponse

• Negotiators will establish contact with the
  suspect as soon as possible.
• SWAT will begin to develop a tactical plan to
  resolve the situation if negotiations fail.

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SWAT Response To Barricade Incident

• Setup perimeters. Relieve patrol from the inner
  perimeter.
• Facilitate evacuations and isolate suspect to
  smallest area.
• Develop tactical options.
• Tactical resolution a final option only if
  negotiations fail.

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Ongoing Issues

• Police must have access to schools and school
  plans.
• Team approach, police and schools, developing
  school policy and procedures.
• Training all parties using realistic scenario
  based training.

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Post Course Activities

• Written Test
• Course Critiques
• Course Closeout

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Always be prepared and never, never, give up!