Bullseye: Active Shooter Response
n light of all of the attention being brought up about armed police offi cers in schools (and just about every place else), we need to look closely at our fi rearms training. Perhaps we need to revisit some basics and a few moderately advanced tactics and techniques for the patrol offi cer. I refer to the patrol offi cer because let’s not forget that the active shooter is a patrol problem, not a SWAT problem. Let me preface the remainder of this article by stating up front that I am a proponent of patrol offi cers responding to active shooters and going directly to the threat. Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury of time when respond- ing to these calls. Wasted time means a higher body count. We know that backup is on the way, but it may be a few minutes away and that’s too long. In many American cities, there are only one or two offi cers on duty at a time.
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How Prepared Are You? Let’s fi rst look at the long gun you have available to you on patrol (and you should have at least one). Shotgun or patrol rifl e, both are well suited for their respective roles. Some of you may have a shotgun, some a rifl e, and ideally a lot of you will have both. Which will you take with you to an ac- tive shooter call? Why? Prior to answering that question, you need to ask yourself: How familiar am I with this weapon? How profi cient am I with this weapon? Do I know the capabilities and limita- tions of this weapon?
Obviously, if you only have one long gun in the patrol unit, then your options are lim- ited and you’ll have to take what is available. T at being the case, it’s up to you to be fa- miliar with the weapon, be profi cient with the weapon, and know its capabilities.
Use a Long Gun
for an Active Shooter We take a long gun with us to an active shooter call fi rst and foremost for its additional and (hopefully) overwhelming fi repower to stop the incident from progressing further. Second, for offi cer safety, confronting a person with a long gun when you only have a handgun means that you have to be well within range of his long
15 The Police Marksman Sep-Oct 2014
gun. T is puts you more on the defensive than the off ensive. I am a big fan of my pistol, yet all of our patrol cars are equipped with both a shotgun and a patrol rifl e. I am capable with both long guns, but admittedly, I prefer my pis- tol. Would I go into an active shooter incident with my pistol only? Absolutely not!
Target Identifi cation Once inside the area the active shooter controls, how well honed are your target identifi cation and target acquisition skills? How about mul- tiple targets? Don’t become fi xated on just one target, remember to keep your eyes moving. Target identifi cation may be especially dif-
fi cult if you’re in a place such as a mall where attempting to get to the threat is similar to a salmon swimming upstream. You’re trying to get in while hordes of people are trying to get out. Are you going to take the time and at- tempt to get a description of the shooter from the wave of humanity that you’re facing or are you just going to try to move directly to the threat? How good is the description you are likely to receive from a hysterical person who wants nothing more than to get to safety?
Engaging the Threat
You reach what you perceive to be the threat, but could he/she be an off -duty offi cer from another jurisdiction taking action, or perhaps a citizen with a CCW permit? T is is where verbal commands come in; they must be issued rapidly to determine the status of what you see before you. Obviously, there may be factors that indicate to you that this is the threat–things like the use of a long gun. Most off -duty offi cers and CCW permit holders don’t go to the mall with a shotgun or rifl e! Speed is of the upmost urgency to prevent further casualties. Don’t for- get the possibility of multiple threats. It’s not always the “lone gunman” or “lone wolf” act- ing alone; sometimes there are others working together. Don’t become so fi xated on a single threat that you stopped that you fail to scan the area for additional threats. T at being said, conversely, don’t become so preoccupied with scanning for additional threats that you fail to recognize that the person you just stopped is down, but not out, and is still a potential threat. When responding to an active shooter in a building, such as a school, how are your hallway tactics? Don’t let your long gun’s
muzzle “fl ag” your presence by announcing your arrival too early. T is is where you must combine both speed and stealth. Get to the threat as quickly as possible, but do it in such a manner that you don’t telegraph your ap- proach. Keep in mind the basics of building searches and cover versus concealment. Don’t forget or neglect your duty pistol. Remember that your long gun is a machine, and machines can break when we need them the most. T erefore, you also need to prac- tice transition drills, switching from your long gun to your pistol in a rapid manner. Give some thought to self-rescue. Offi cers have gone down in an area active shooters con- trol and have been forced to secure themselves in place. If you’ve been wounded and help can’t get to you, you need to be able to help yourself. You can render aid to yourself as long as you have the tools on your person. A very small “go bag” clipped to the sling of your patrol rifl e can contain two spare rifl e magazines and self-res- cue items. A C.A.T.® tourniquet, several large gauze pads, some Kling® to hold them in place, a packet of Quick-Clot®, and a Bloodstopper® bandage are excellent items to have with you, for your own use or for others. Don’t make your active shooter response bag too big or you may decide not to take it when you may need it the most. If the bag is too big, it may limit your movement and mobility as well.
Lastly, give some thought to preplanning.
T ink like an active shooter would. Walk through your schools, houses of worship, busi- nesses and large factories—any targets you can think of. Get to know the interiors and look for places of cover and concealment. T is kind of preparation can provide you with an advantage in the event you need to respond there. We have to change to meet the threats
of the times and go home safely at the end of the day. T is return to the basics of ac- tive shooter response is a lot to think about and train on, but it will help to keep us and those we serve alive. PM
Mike Burg is a 37-year veteran of the Rittman, Ohio Police Department; a graduate of the FBI National Academy; former SWAT team leader; and an author.
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