Response to Active Shooter Events

Response to Active Shooter Events Presented by J. Pete Blair, Ph.D.Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT)Texas State University

Outline Disaster Response Psychology Defining and Identifying Active Shooter Events (ASE) Civilian ASE Response Policy

Disaster ResponseThe background science of how people behave in high stress events

Three Stages of Disaster Response

Denial Deliberation Decisive Moment Ripley, A. (2008). The Unthinkable: Who Survives When

Disaster Strikes And Why. New York: Three Rivers Press.

Denial When in a disaster, many people do not admit that is a

disaster or underestimate the severity It is common for people to delay taking action This delay costs time and lives So why do people do it?

Normalcy Bias Social Proof

Denial Normalcy Bias

We expect things to be like they always are A new situation is not expected The brain will first try to describe the new situation as

a normal one It takes time and data for the brain to recognize that

we are not in a normal situation

Denial Social Proof (also linked to diffusion of responsibility)

In novel or ambiguous situations we look to others for information on how to act

If others are doing nothing, you will tend to do nothing If others are acting, you will tend to act

Denial/Deliberation

Deliberation Once people have moved past the denial phase, they

enter the deliberation phase You must decide what to do This is a problem Your brain is probably not functioning well because of the

stress

Deliberation:Your Brain

C System RefleCtive Thinking brain Flexible Rational Slow

X System RefleXive Reacting Brain Fixed Emotional Fast

Deliberation Stress Response Physiology

Adrenaline is dumped into the bloodstream Heart and breathing rates increase Blood is shunted to the large muscles and essential

organs Cortisol is dumped into the blood – constricts blood

vessels Blood pressure spikes You are stronger, faster, and will bleed less

Deliberation Stress Response Side Effects

Your C brain is seriously impaired Vision narrows Auditory exclusion Time distortion

Deliberation When your C system is shut down, you are left with your

X system The default X system responses are

Fight Flight Freeze

These are pretty good responses – but unfocused

Deliberation

Deliberation

Deliberation So what do we do?

Keep your C system functioning longer Try to calm yourself Combat breathing Shift your emotion

Use your C system to program your X system Think through likely events and responses to them

before a disaster Practice your actions

Decisive Moment Once a decision is made It is time to act So act! – With purpose!

Active Shooter Events

Active Shooter Event Definition An active shooter event involves one or more persons

engaged in killing or attempting to kill multiple people in an area occupied by multiple unrelated individuals.

The Shooter There is no set “Profile” Mindset

Deliberate, Focused, Uncaring - Detached Coward - Bully Many kill themselves when confronted by the police

Characteristics of AS Situations

Event happens quickly Can happen anywhere

Post offices Businesses Schools Military bases Churches Hospitals

Signs of an ASE Hear or see gunshots Bodies on the floor / bloodied victims Lot of yelling, screaming, praying, disbelief, denial People running and hiding

Fort Hood, TX (2009)

• 1 Shooter• 12 Killed • 31 Injured

Reliable Metals, AL (2009)

• 1 Shooter• Started by killing his

family• Went mobile shooting

random people• Ended up at his former

employer• Committed suicide• 10 Dead

Edmond, OK Post Office (1986)

• Postal Employee• Killed 14• Wounded 6• Killed Himself

Columbine Video – 13 Killed – 21 Wounded

Mumbai – at least 172 Killed

Number of Deaths The number of deaths is affected by two factors

How quickly the police respond How quickly the shooter can find victims

ALERRT trains police how to respond quickly We are training you now to slow the rate at which the

shooter can find victims

Response

Denial Need to get past this phase as quickly as possible If you hear gunshots of something that could be

gunshots, act as if it is an active shooter Go straight to deliberation

Deliberation 3 options based upon 2 of the X system basic responses

Flight Avoid Deny

Fight Defend

Freeze – Always the wrong choice

Deliberation The event will happen very quickly You will not have time to develop new plans You must plan in advance If you do not have a plan beforehand the delay in

deciding what to do may cost you and others their lives Failure to plan is planning to fail

Deliberation

The Basic Plan Avoid the confrontation Deny access to your location Defend yourself

Avoid Be vigilant/aware Know escape routes for your location

Exits Windows Stairwells

Decide to leave at the first opportunity and report

Deny

Lock doors Barricade access points

Door stops Furniture Rope doors closed

Cover interior windows Darken the room Go back into Avoid mode

Defend

The Active Shooter is trying to kill you! If you can’t flee, you must fight! Use a “pack” mentality

Swarm the shooter Do not stop

Use whatever weapons you have Attack weak spots (Throat, eyes, groin)

Defend Get as close as you can to the access point before the

shooter enters Try to get a hold of the gun and get it pointed away from

people

Defend Hiding

There are very few things that will stop a bullet in most locations

Defend Have a survivor’s (not a victim’s) mindset Decide right now that your are going to do whatever it

takes to survive Getting shot does not mean that you are dead

The fact that you are still alive after the impact means that there is a good chance you will survive

You can and must keep going!

206, No Action 211, Failed Denial 207, Late Denial 204, Failed Denial, Avoid

205, Denial 0

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KilledShot

Room Number and Action

Perc

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People Shot and Killed at VT

When Police Arrive

Uniformed and plain clothes – multiple agencies Primary Goal – Stop the Killing Priority of work

Find and confront the shooter Will NOT stop to help the wounded Will NOT escort people out

Help the wounded Clear people from the building

When the Police Arrive

Understanding the POLICE point of view The situation will be chaotic They do not know who is a victim or suspect They will treat everyone as a suspect until proven

otherwise Officers will be experiencing high stress, just like you

When the Police Arrive Respond Appropriately

Follow commands (You might be handcuffed) Keep your hands visible at all times and show your

palms Do not move or move slowly if you must

Personnel Issues This will be a traumatic event Expect mental trauma

Shock Nightmares PTSD Survivor’s guilt

You need a critical incident stress management plan

Policy

Model ASE Policy Our organization places the highest priority on the preservation of the

lives of our employees and customers. If an active shooter event should occur, our employees shall use the Avoid, Deny, Defend model.

If it is safe for them to do so, employees should exit the facility immediately to AVOID the shooter(s).

If employees are unable to safely exit the facility, they should lock themselves in their current location and barricade the door to DENY the shooter(s) access.

In the event that employees are unable to utilize the AVOID and DENY strategies successfully, they should DEFEND themselves using whatever means are available.

Regardless of the option(s) utilized, employees shall call emergency services (911) as soon as it is safe to do so.

In the event of an active shooter incident, all employees will be required to undergo mandatory mental health counseling.

Questions?

Pete Blair, Ph.D. [email protected] or [email protected]