http://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/28/us/terror-littleton-police-response-school-attack-may-bring-changes-police-tactics.html
This New York Times article discusses more in-depth the changes in tactics since the Columbine Massacre. It discusses the noticeable changes in policy, procedure, and tactics of police departments responding to active shooter scenarios. Having trained in these scenarios, it is a drastic departure from the "contain and wait" that has dictated policy since the formation of SWAT teams. Basically, since the formation of SWAT teams 30 years ago, officers have been trained to arrive quickly to an emergency, secure the scene by setting up a perimeter, and containing the situation until SWAT arrives to handle the situation. Now, officers are trained to wait only for more officers to arrive, and then make entry to locate, close with, and engage the suspect/s. This can include the hard truth that in order to protect life, those entry officers may have to ignore any injured people they come across to engage the threat, and bring the incident to a close as quickly as possible. By doing this hard line approach would allow a faster response by medical personnel, and SWAT teams for sweeping the building after-wards, because the threat has been engaged.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Out Gunned
http://www.tactical-life.com/online/guns-and-weapons/the-police-rifle-ready-for-patrol/
Tactical life is another set of publications geared toward law enforcement. They offer articles on tactics, gear selection & testing, and news events that are changing law enforcement daily. In this particular article Berger discusses the selection of a patrol carbine in the wake of the North Hollywood Shootout from 1997. Because of the nature of heavy assault on the Bank of America, the need for patrol carbines became a topic of debate for quite some time nation wide. The debate stemmed around the concern of how "Just how armed do we want patrol officers to be?" The concern of the appearance of an officer with an M-16, or similar rifle, would create the appearance of a militant state. However, given the rise of take over style robberies, the increased firepower, and the use of body armor by these felons has necessitated the use of patrol rifles/carbines as pistols alone, and even shotguns, won't always get the job done.
Tactical life is another set of publications geared toward law enforcement. They offer articles on tactics, gear selection & testing, and news events that are changing law enforcement daily. In this particular article Berger discusses the selection of a patrol carbine in the wake of the North Hollywood Shootout from 1997. Because of the nature of heavy assault on the Bank of America, the need for patrol carbines became a topic of debate for quite some time nation wide. The debate stemmed around the concern of how "Just how armed do we want patrol officers to be?" The concern of the appearance of an officer with an M-16, or similar rifle, would create the appearance of a militant state. However, given the rise of take over style robberies, the increased firepower, and the use of body armor by these felons has necessitated the use of patrol rifles/carbines as pistols alone, and even shotguns, won't always get the job done.
Columbine Massacre
http://history1900s.about.com/od/famouscrimesscandals/a/columbine.htm
In the history of 1900's website, there is a very well written article concerning the Columbine Massacre. It includes a good back ground on Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris who were the boys that assaulted the school. The article addresses the preparations the boys took, including their reconnaissance, weapon selection, and the preparation of about 100 explosive devices. Then the article give a very well written time line of what happened, including the police response.
In the history of 1900's website, there is a very well written article concerning the Columbine Massacre. It includes a good back ground on Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris who were the boys that assaulted the school. The article addresses the preparations the boys took, including their reconnaissance, weapon selection, and the preparation of about 100 explosive devices. Then the article give a very well written time line of what happened, including the police response.
Police One Post
http://www.policeone.com/active-shooter/articles/1812419-Shoot-first-Columbine-transformed-police-tactics/
The Police One website is a for professionals website with news, articles, and reviews of a law enforcement nature. In this particular article Banda addresses the Columbine High School Massacre of 1999 and effects of this tragedy on law enforcement tactics. The key problem that occurred in Columbine is that arriving officers briefly engaged the two shooters, but as soon as those shooters entered the building, the officers stopped engaging the suspects. The officers then set up a perimeter waiting for the SWAT team to arrive as this was 30 years of policy pretty much nation wide. Meanwhile both suspects continued their rampage until they killed themselves. The key change that took place after Columbine is that officers are now trained to wait for back up (regardless of responding agency), to make entry with those officers, locate the "active shooter," and engage them to prevent further loss of life and neutralize the shooter.
The Police One website is a for professionals website with news, articles, and reviews of a law enforcement nature. In this particular article Banda addresses the Columbine High School Massacre of 1999 and effects of this tragedy on law enforcement tactics. The key problem that occurred in Columbine is that arriving officers briefly engaged the two shooters, but as soon as those shooters entered the building, the officers stopped engaging the suspects. The officers then set up a perimeter waiting for the SWAT team to arrive as this was 30 years of policy pretty much nation wide. Meanwhile both suspects continued their rampage until they killed themselves. The key change that took place after Columbine is that officers are now trained to wait for back up (regardless of responding agency), to make entry with those officers, locate the "active shooter," and engage them to prevent further loss of life and neutralize the shooter.
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