NCJ Number
179747
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 47 Issue: 10 Dated: October 1999 Pages: 71-74
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Every police officer should prepare mentally and tactically for the rare, dangerous, and dynamic event of being confronted by one or more active shooters who are armed, have been shooting, and continue to shoot even in the presence of responding police.
Abstract
Well-equipped but poorly prepared criminals can wreak havoc on officers who are not similarly equipped. Officers must use their tactical advantages of radio and voice communication, mobility, numbers, and accurate fire to deal safely with active shooters. Active shooters differ from barricaded shooters or snipers in many respects. The components of a proper response to an active shooter include safely finding the suspects, a coordinated response, a tactical approach, the use of cover, communication of the suspect's position and direction of travel, the use of accurate fire by maneuvering to a point where police can reasonably target the suspect, using a regional response, and grouping officers into ad hoc teams rather than having officers respond as individuals. Following these guidelines will help to conclude these incidents safely. Photograph