response to active shooter events presented by j. pete blair, ph.d. advanced law enforcement rapid...
TRANSCRIPT
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
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
77
67
38
14
0
92
100
85
36
0
KilledShot
Room Number and Action
Perc
ent
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.
