Discussion Thread: Active Shooter The Columbine (Colorado) High School shooting

Discussion Thread: Active Shooter
The Columbine (Colorado) High School shooting in 1999
changed the active school shooter response forever. Fifteen people, including
the perpetrators died in that event. The shooters, students at the school,
committed suicide after killing 12 students and a teacher. Previous to that
incident law enforcement typically assembled the available personnel and
made a tactical entry of some sort. As we have studied school shootings since
then, it has become apparent that shooters often attack until stopped with the
intent of killing and terrorizing as many people as possible. Our tactical response
must consider these realities and adjust the law enforcement response
accordingly.
What is the future of school safety? Many have
suggested “hardening the target” by installing shatterproof glass, metal
detectors, arming teachers, and banning backpacks. Still others want the focus
on gun control measures and mental health considerations. School safety has
morphed into a $2.7 billion industry in 2019. While school officials admit that
simple measures such as lockdown drills, evacuation strategies, and easily
secured doors are the most effective measures, fear often drives the school
safety process. Without a doubt, we need to provide a safe environment for our
children to learn and prepare for their lives, but there is little agreement on
how that will be accomplished. Ultimately, the law enforcement response must
support the goals of school administrators and promote safety for responders as
well as students.
In a 2014 report, the Police Response to Active Shooter
Incidents, the authors examined 84 active shooter incidents between 2000-2014.
In roughly half of the incidents, the police response ended the crisis. The
attacker committed suicide in just under half of all other events. In the wake
of recent school shootings, notably in Parkland, Florida, the law enforcement
response is often scrutinized closely. Discuss the idea that solo entries
should be initiated in all school shootings. Over 50% of the time when an
officer makes a solo entry, the scene is still active. Further, nearly
one-third of the officers who made solo entries during an incident were shot.
Consider whether this is a viable option to mitigate injury and loss of life or
if it is madness and needs to be avoided at all costs.
What
are the critical issues related to the law enforcement and EMS response to
active shooters?
Should
officers be trained in triage and immediate lifesaving techniques to avoid
the necessity to clear a scene prior to permitting EMS to respond?
Should
academy training be revamped to include more specific actions related to
active shooter situations in schools, including solo entries?
Justify
and support your positions and arguments from the literature.
References
Critical Issues in Policing Series: The police response to
active shooters (2014). Police Executive
Research Forum, 1-60.
Heisler, A. (2018). Billions have been spent on school
safety, but is it working? Risk and
Insurance. https://riskand insurance.com
400 WORDS
3 scholarly citations
in APA format. Each reply must incorporate at least 1 scholarly citation in APA
format. Any
sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable
sources include the
textbook, the Bible, and peer reviewed journals published within the past five
years.

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The Columbine (Colorado) High School shooting appeared first on Solved Students Assignments.