Photo: POLICE file.
In an earlier blog post, we presented five training scenarios to help your team better prepare to meet the threat of the active shooter, or active killer if you prefer.
If you haven't read "5 Active Shooter Training Scenarios," please head there now (we'll be here when you get back). You'll want to read the introductory instructions in the earlier post to safely conduct the training.
Here are five additional training scenarios. Stay safe!
Scenario #6, Two Shooters: The shooters can be together or separate. You'll want to deploy one or two contact teams. If one team is used, start on of the shooters in a room or hallway. The team must put the first shooter down and then move in the direction of the controller to encounter the second shooter. If you're using two teams, let the first team put down a shooter and take rounds from the second shooter. The team must radio for the second team to deal with him. If both shooters are in the same room, one is visible from the doorway and is dealt with. The second shooter is in the hard corner.
The goal for the team is to not rush in after putting down the first shooter. Instead, put together an entry plan, if it's necessary to make entry. They shouldn't go in only to retrieve a wounded or dead suspect. Role players, as before, will change the dynamic.
Scenario #7, Badly Wounded Student: The contact team moves toward the sound of gunfire and screams. They encounter a badly wounded student (with arterial bleeding) and have three minutes before the student goes into irreversible shock. No other rescue team or contact team will come to help. The team leader must decide what to do. One option would be to leave a team member with the wounded victim—to apply direct pressure and a tourniquet—and move on with the remaining team members. Another option would be to move on with all team members. Remember, we're there to save lives.
The goal is to save as many lives as possible.
Scenario #8, Off-Duty Officer: The off-duty officer is at the school enrolling his child. The active shooter attacks and the officer, who is armed with his pistol, intervenes. He shoots and kills the shooter. The contact team is coming down the hallway when shots are fired. The officer steps out of the room to meet the team. He has a badge hanging around his neck, and it should be clearly visible to the team in good lighting. He has a pistol in his hand that's pointed into the room where the suspect is down. He shouts out that he's a cop and he just shot the shooter.
The goal is to avoid shooting the off-duty cop. Target identification and acquisition are tested. The team approaches the off-duty cop with caution and orders the officer to put down the weapon. The team may need to secure him until things are sorted out. All the time, the team members are paying attention to secondary danger areas. Plus one.
Scenario #9, Rescue Team Transition: The rescue team—with wounded party in tow (walk them by the arms or put them in a chair with rollers to avoid dropping someone) makes its way back to a triage station. The team begins taking fire from a shooter who enters a room up ahead where innocents begin screaming and shots are fired.
Here's the goal. The rescue team must transition to contact-team mode and put down the shooter because the threat in the classroom is immediate. No time to summon another team. After the threat is dealt with, the team must tend to the wounded party.
Scenario #10, Active Shooter with IED: The contact team works down a hallway to a room with one or more shooters and innocents. When the suspect sees the contact team, he will attempt to light (with cigarette lighter) an IED.
Deal with the threat. The team will most likely shoot the suspect before he can light the device. Immediately evacuate the innocents and themselves from the proximity of a possible blast.
You can name whatever energetic material you like as the IED component. You can insert a second suspect with a firearm and have to deal with him also. Some contact teams will down the suspect with the IED and stop to admire their handy work. Don't forget to get the innocents up and run like hell.
With most of these scenarios, you can go vertical and incorporate stairs into them, such as a suicidal shooter at the top of stairs. Have the team ascend the stairs, so the shooter comes from behind and engages their rear guard.
You'll have to modify and set ground rules at times because your training sites will always be different and have shortcomings in one way or another.
