Security Topics

Active Shooter

White Paper, 2016
School Safety and Security Council 

According to the FBI, the frequency and lethality of active shooter incidents in America is increasing. More than one in four (29%) of these tragedies has occurred at educational institutions. Schools and universities must be prepared to not only respond to these incidents, but to also prevent them.

This 59-page paper consists of thirteen articles by twelve authors, all members of this active council, and addresses different approaches to Active Shooter situations. It concludes with five appendices that reference a tabletop exercise, two Security Management articles, a guide from the U. S. Department of Education, and an ASIS International guideline. 

Five articles deal with active shooters, phases of an attack, and K-12 schools as soft targets. Another four describe ways to gather proactive intelligence by using situational awareness to observe pre-attack indicators, behavioral threat assessment teams, behavioral cues, and target hardening of classroom doors through physical security enhancements. Others look into responses, including training for and the actions of emergency responders and the pros and cons of arming teachers.