In an active shooter situation, what is essential for ensuring officer safety?

In an active shooter situation, maintaining regular communication with dispatch is crucial for ensuring officer safety. This communication allows officers to receive real-time updates on the situation, including the location of the shooter, the number of victims, and any changes in the environment. It helps coordinate resources, ensuring that backup can be called in if needed, and allows for a unified response among all responding units. This situational awareness not only keeps the officers informed but also enables them to make better tactical decisions based on the most current information available.

Staying calm under pressure is also important, but without communication, even a calm officer may not be able to act effectively when faced with rapidly changing circumstances. Preparing meals in advance and relying solely on intuition do not contribute to the safety and effectiveness of officers in a high-stress scenario, where structured, clear communication is essential.