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Those Terrible First Few Minutes: Revisiting Active-Shooter Protocols for Schools

NCJ Number
232356
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 79 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2010 Pages: 1-10
Author(s)
Michael E. Buerger Ph.D.; Geoffrey E. Buerger Ph.D.
Date Published
September 2010
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article examines active-shooter protocols for schools and the implications of these protocols.
Abstract
The development of protocols for armed conflict in schools promotes the development of better tactical and training options for the civilians whose reactions will define the incident until police arrive. The authors of this article assert that enough contingencies have occurred to justify developing flexible response plans that can account for and adjust to several broad categories of incidents. In the development of active-shooter protocols in schools, this article considers both nonstandard circumstances and situational considerations. The implications associated with the development of these protocols are also addressed in the areas of information transmission, secondary protocols, and intervention training. An effective response requires school-specific planning and coordination grounded in local conditions. 3 endnotes