**PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL - LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE**
ACTIVE SHOOTER POLICY
THE PATROL BASED RESPONSE
1. DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM
A. A situation exists where citizen’s lives are at immediate risk because of the deadly
actions of one or more actors. This type of situation can occur (and has occurred) in a
large physical area, with movement of a heavily armed actor(s), and the presence of many
innocent citizens who are used as available targets. The actor(s) may or may not target
specific individuals as well. The Active Shooter response strategy in this specialized
incident is the generally agreed on strategy until the actor can be contained. This
response strategy involves immediate action and quick deployment by patrol forces to
stop the deadly actions of the criminal actor. Delaying deployment in this crisis may
result in additional death and serious bodily injury.
B. This response strategy should not be confused with a hostage situation or a
barricaded suspect scenario where more traditional containment and time tested tactics
work. IN A HOSTAGE OR BARRICADED SUSPECT SITUATION DO NOT
ENTER THE TARGET STRUCTURE! SUSPECT LOCATION BECOMES THE
HOT ZONE. STOP AND SECURE AN INNER PERIMETER.
C. The threats presented to citizens and officers by an active shooter can include:
1.) Generally single actors, but multiple actors do occur.
2.) Semi-automatic, or fully automatic weapons, with large quantities of
ammunition.
3.) Explosives, and Improvised Explosive Devices.
4.) Highly mobile actors in large buildings, or large, defined areas.
5.) Actor usually stays to fight until he/she dies or sustains serious injury.
6.) Attacks have included actors armed with edged weapons.
7.) Attacks can involve actors planting, or detonating explosives.
8.) Actors have committed “suicide by cop” in the past.
2. THE INITIAL RESPONSE INCIDENTS IN BUILDINGS
A. Patrol officers are almost always the first officers on the scene of any situation in
Bergen County. Officers must have the training and ability to make a rapid assessment of
the situation, communicate the problem to headquarters and other responding officers,
establish command/control, and form up for the active shooter response, and hastyemergency rescue response if necessary. One officer immediately at the scene MUST
assume command as the Incident Commander until relieved by higher authority.
B. Additional responding officers arriving at the scene must immediately fall under
the control of the Incident Commander (who may be the senior patrol officer until
relieved), start containing the Inner Perimeter, evacuate and carefully observe citizens
leaving the target structure, directing them to a hasty Evacuee Assembly Site (EAS). The
EAS must be set up and supervised immediately by police and school support personnel.
Police personnel in the EAS MUST maintain constant radio contact with officers on the
perimeter and officers who may have formed up and entered the target structure as Active
Shooter Teams or rescue teams. Valuable and timely intelligence information may be
made available through this radio network.
C. The formal support for the crisis will start arriving almost immediately and MUST
assist and complement the response, NOT interfere with it. Standardized emergency
response protocols such as establishing a Command Post, outer perimeter, traffic control
plan, staging area, and requesting resources can now be put in place to stabilize the
incident and start returning the community to normal. At this stage (several minutes into
the crisis) it is essential that police and emergency responders not obstruct ingress/egress
or otherwise become part of the problem.
3. THE SEVEN CRITICAL TASKS OF CRISIS RESPONSE
A. Establish common communications. This can be done by using one radio
system, and sharing radios, until a larger system can be put up for the crisis.
B. Identify the Kill Zone. The kill zone, also known as the “frozen zone” must be
identified before an inner perimeter can be established. Remember in the Active Shooter
scenario the Inner Perimeter may change dimensions, until the actor(s) is contained.
C. Establish an Inner Perimeter. Once the Kill Zone is identified follow on
officers reinforce the Inner Perimeter and assist in the evacuation of citizens to the
Evacuee Assembly Site closest to them.
D. Establish an Outer Perimeter. This will prevent unauthorized persons,
including family members, from intruding into the crisis site. The outer perimeter will
also contain a traffic diversion capability to re-route traffic around the crisis site to
prevent congestion which might slow emergency response.
E. Establish a Command Post (CP). Even if a temporary Command Post is
established this will facilitate the beginning of organized command and control of the
incident. The Command Post can be moved to a more formal place as the situation
begins to stabilize.
F. Establish a Staging Area. This area must be located in an easy to get to place
inside the outer perimeter. It is the place ALL responding resources are sent to as soon as
it is established.
G. Request additional resources. Additional resources should be included in the
emergency plan as a checklist and generally include: Additional patrol officers, B.C.P.D.
SWAT/Hostage Negotiators/Emergency Trauma Team, Rapid Deployment Force
personnel, Prosecutors Office, Fire service support, Local BLS support, etc.
4. THE PATROL BASED RESPONSE OPERATIONS CHECKLIST
A. Timeline checklist from the first notification of the crisis to local police
headquarters.
1.) Headquarters communicates to patrol units, advises of the problem with
preliminary information, or incident is observed by officers near scene and
communicated to headquarters.
2.) First responding patrol officers arrive on scene, make observations.
3.) Patrol Supervisor, or senior patrol officer designated Incident Commander
until relieved.
4.) Incident Commander makes preliminary assessment of the situation, advises
headquarters.
5.) Notifications made up the chain of command by headquarters personnel.
6.) Active Shooter Plan put into effect.
7.) Back up officers arrive, including mutual aid, and plain clothes personnel.
(Plain clothes personnel MUST wear raid jackets or, clearly identifiable outer
garments).
8.) Police personnel establish common communications.
9.) Incident Commander decides to form Active Shooter Teams composed of 3 or
4 officers each. Assigns them to area to search for actors, advises
headquarters.
10.) Additional officers assigned to immediately establish Inner Perimeter, assist
with evacuation.
11.) Incident commander evaluates the need for rescue teams to remove severely
injured from the kill zone to medical aid.
12.) Incident commander calls for a hasty medical aid reception area to be set up
in safe place identified to all on the edge of the Inner Perimeter.
13.) Plain clothes personnel and support personnel move to Evacuee Assembly
Site near crisis to receive evacuees, also maintain radio contact with IC, and
ASTs. Headquarters assigns person to document incident and keep log.
14.) Perimeter supported by additional uniformed officers, traffic controlled and
rerouted, Outer Perimeter formed.
15.) Command level officers establish Command Post, notify all at the scene with
the location.
16.) Incident Command will be designated on scene. On scene Incident
Commander is responsible to direct ALL operations at the crisis site.
17.) The Staging area is established, a staging area manager is assigned. Staging
area may be secured by support personnel if possible.
18.) Traffic re-routing must be accomplished.
19.) The following resources are requested:
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BCPD Traffic, patrol, detectives, SWAT, Bomb Squad,
radio/communications support
Chiefs Association Mutual Aid Chief support, including RDF
Bergen County Prosecutors Office investigators
Continued mutual aid from towns in the immediate vicinity
Assistance from municipal/county/State DPW/DOT
Fire service support and standby
Local BLS/EMS support
Paramedic support
Special Police I-B
20.) Additional support continues to arrive at the staging area, is directed by
staging area manager.
21.) BCPD resources arrive, transition to tactical radio system started.
22.) BCPD SWAT links up with on site commander enters to support ASTs,
BCPD SWAT brings pathfinder local officer(s) with them.
23.) Rescue of injured, movement to medical aid, continued.
24.) RDF arrives and is deployed under RDF command to relieve Inner Perimeter
assist with evacuation, holding secure areas in target structure. Additional
RDF personnel secure headquarters and evacuee sites as needed.
25.) Non-uniformed police personnel and non-essential uniformed personnel at
the crisis site, called to staging area, debriefed and re-assigned as necessary.
26.) Increasing emphasis placed on stabilization of the incident. Constant
attention paid to accountability of people evacuated from the target, missing,
injured, deceased and accounted for and released to competent authority.
27.) Preparations made for length of operation support, relief, etc.
28.) Preparations made for continuity of normal operations.
29.) Preparations made for crime scene processing and preliminary criminal
investigation.
30.) Eventually deadly violence is resolved.
31.) Target structure continually swept by SWAT, until clear.
32.) Canine handlers/canines, and BCPD Bomb Squad sweeps target.
33.) Local authority prepares for complete control of target structure as crimes
scene.
34.) Criminal investigation, crime scene investigation begins, medical examiner
prepared for follow up as necessary.
35.) Continue working on accountability for all citizens, and actors.
36.) Account for all emergency responders and equipment. Relieving them as
necessary. Keep accurate records of responders/support personnel for follow
up purposes.
37.) Continue documentation of the incident.
5. TACTICAL RESPONSE BY PATROL PERSONNEL ACTIVE SHOOTER TEAM
A. With the initial response by patrol forces an assessment is made by the on-scene
Incident Commander and a decision will be made on whether to form-up and enter the
target structure as an Active Shooter Team, a rescue team for the injured, or both. The
tactical situation and the availability of police personnel will dictate when and what type
of response will be initiated. As part of the initial tactical response securing the Inner
Perimeter and continuing the controlled evacuation of citizens are both critical.
B. The Active Shooter Team (AST) is composed of four uniformed patrol officers, or
other officers including plain clothes officer. Plain clothes officers on an AST must be
clearly identified to avoid being shot as actors. In critical situations with a shortage of
officers an AST may be formed with three officers. The 3 officer configuration for the
Active Shooter Team is an asymmetrical wedge formed of three officers, with the senior
officer in the right wing of the wedge.
The configuration for the four officer AST moving wedge is:
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The point officer is at the point of the wedge
The right wing
The left wing
Rear of wedge, (covers outside)
C. The officers on the AST form up in a secure area, and answer directly to the
Incident Commander. These officers should be immediately equipped with the following
equipment (there’s no time to go to headquarters to retrieve it, and sort the equipment
out):
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Patrol uniform or marked raid vest/jacket
Radio in belt carrier with chest microphone
Body armor
Handgun, with at least 3 loaded magazines
D. Additional optional support equipment can be sent to the scene and would consist
of the following:
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Fire extinguishers ABC type
First aid/trauma kits
Ballistic shields
Hasty/Reeves stretchers
Ballistic Helmet
Pistol belt with all accessories
Patrol carbine (handgun caliber) with at least 2 loaded magazines
Basic forcible entry tools (halligan bar, 6 pound sledgehammer) 1 set per
team
E. The AST is directed to enter where necessary based on a careful analysis of the
probable location of the actor(s). After the AST is released by the IC the team moves
into the target structure and makes an attempt to locate the actor(s) based on available
information, eyewitness accounts, noise, physical evidence, etc. The AST MUST stay in
constant radio contact with the IC and keep him advised of their location, and status. The
AST will pass up areas unless they think the actor(s) are present. The AST will direct
evacuees out, but cannot stop, unless an actor is located. If an AST finds a non mobile
severely injured person they will call for a rescue team. Rescue team will assist and
evacuate the injured person to medical aid, giving the location of the injured person, and
his/her condition. AST will continue to move.
F. As the AST moves through the target structure they should make an attempt to
coordinate their actions with other ASTs, if other ASTs are operating in the building.
The AST must be constantly attempting to “collapse” the area used by the actor(s) thus
containing them to a smaller area, limiting the actor’s freedom of action, and access to
innocent people. Once the AST contains the actor(s) to the smallest area possible the
team will make a reasonable analysis of what options they have in dealing with the
actor(s). The final decision to assault the actor’s position will be made by the senior
officer on the AST. The AST will prepare for entry, enter according to Standard
Operating Procedures, and use what force is necessary in handling the actor(s) while
minimizing danger to any innocents present. The AST will render the situation safe and
advise the IC by radio of the “contact’ and of their status. The actor(s) will be
handcuffed, searched, and secured, evacuees removed, de-briefed, and the actor taken
into custody by other supporting officers. The AST must then be prepared to continue
searching the target structure.
6. LINK UP WITH SWAT OR SUPPORT
A. The Active Shooter Team must be prepared for a link up with supporting police
units soon after the incident begins. Link up will normally occur with the BCPD SWAT
Team, other Active Shooter Teams, Rescue or other forms of support. The supporting
teams must be apprised of the presence of ASTs or Rescue teams in the Area of
Operations and their approximate location. The Incident Commander must notify all
units operating inside the Kill Zone of the entry of supporting SWAT or support services.
Supporting units must have radio communication capability with the units inside the
target, and normally would make communication, then a physical link up with those
units. When the BCPD SWAT team makes entry the Active Shooter Team will work
closely with the SWAT Team to resolve the incident. The situation will dictate what
tactics will be required for resolution, however the SWAT Team commander will take
charge of operations inside the target structure.
B. In the case of non-SWAT supporting units the Incident Commander will be in
charge of all decisions relating to their entry into the target structure. Any supporting
units entering the structure MUST make radio contact with ASTs forward of their
positions to prevent a crossfire situation. Non-radio/verbal means of communication may
be used as necessary dependent on the tactical situation.
7. RESPONSE BY PATROL PERSONNEL IN THE RESCUE TEAM
Patrol personnel may be tasked with the responsibility of entering the target structure as a
rescue team, locate and evacuate injured people. The standard configuration for a rescue
team shall be four (4) officers. The rescue team answers to the Incident Commander.
The team will move as a wedge into the target structure prepared to defend themselves
and others. The team will direct evacuees out, and verify the position of injured people.
When the team locates the injured person the cover officer places him/herself between
the injured person and the hostile area. The two rescue officers carefully load the victim
on the stretcher and when loaded the senior officer commands “move out”. The team
moves to the exit control point and brings the victim to medical aid, and then prepares to
re-enter the target structure, if necessary on another rescue mission.
If a rescue is undertaken without a suitable stretcher the two rescue officers, in the four
officer rescue team, will move the victim using a two person carry procedure. This
method of transporting injured people should only be undertaken if no other alternative
exists for safe evacuation of victims.
8. PATROL BASED RESPONSE TO AN ACTIVE SHOOTER-OPEN AIR
ENVIRONMENT
Introduction
In the past there have been active shooter situations involving actors who attacked
specific and general targets (people) out in the open, outside of buildings. These
incidents have included attacks on day care centers, attacks on schoolyards, workplace
violence, domestic violence and aggressive actors firing on people as they fled from the
scene of a crime, or continued in a pattern of deadly violence. These actors have been
armed with a variety of firearms including semi-automatic long guns capable of accurate
fire over fairly long range. These actors tended to be highly mobile if they chose to
move, with police officers using tactics in an attempt to contain and hold the actors in a
limited area. In some instances the actor assaulted people in the open-air environment
and then committed suicide.
A. The tactics used in open-air environments are different than tactics used in
buildings, due to the large areas involved, lack of physical barriers, and lack of
channeling structures. On the positive side it is difficult for an actor to hold people in one
place because the open environment encourages rapid flight from the kill zone.
B. The key component in any response to an active shooter in the open-air
environment is to contain the active shooter in the smallest space possible, and deny the
active shooter freedom of action. This will both limit the actors’ movement and deny the
actor targets of opportunity.
9. TACTICS FOR PATROL RESPONSE TO ACTIVE SHOOTER OUTDOORS
A. The initial patrol based response to an active shooter in an open air environment is
different to a response in structure due to the many movement options available to the
actors, victims, and others present. The patrol based response to an open air active
shooter involve collapsing the perimeter around the shooter(s) while evacuating/or
protecting innocent. An Incident Commander must take charge at the scene immediately
and maintain good radio communications with headquarters and responding units. A
well coordinated effort will be necessary for patrol forces to contain an actor, and prevent
continued violence or possible high speed escape in a vehicle. This type of incident may
not allow for a more formal organization of officers responding to the crisis, they may
have to be deployed immediately, and they must work closely together. NOTE: in this
type of incident it is absolutely essential that all plain clothes police personnel be
CLEARLY identified to prevent misidentification.
B. At the scene the Incident Commander must make an immediate assessment of the
situation including (many of the actions below will occur simultaneously):
* What is occurring, who are the actors, victims, what type of weapons
involved
* Can the IC communicate with all police officers at the scene?
* Where is the incident occurring, how large is the kill zone.
* Where will the IC direct responding officers to start and collapse an
Inner Perimeter.
* Can victims be safely evacuated or sheltered in place.
* Can a moving scenario be prevented and contained.
C. The open air environment will be a most difficult crisis to handle, however patrol
forces have successfully resolved these incidents in the past and with good coordination,
could be expected to react quickly and initially contain and limit freedom of movement of
an actor. Once the actor is contained to the smallest physical space possible a more
formal command and control process can be put in place similar to the more static Active
Shooter Response. The organized process of Incident Command with support for the
operation and services to victims would follow the standard procedures identified in the
Active Shooter Response in buildings.