Who is considered the highest priority for safety at the scene of an active shooter?

The highest priority for safety at the scene of an active shooter incident is the civilians present. In this context, civilians are individuals who are not directly involved in law enforcement or emergency response but may find themselves in immediate danger due to the active threat. The primary concern for first responders, including law enforcement, is to secure the area and ensure the safety of innocent people. This means taking swift action to neutralize the threat and evacuate or protect civilians to minimize harm.

While first responders play a critical role in responding to the situation, their safety is often secondary to the need to protect and save civilian lives. First responders are trained to secure the scene and address the threat, but their primary mission is ultimately to ensure that civilians are safe from harm. Therefore, identifying and prioritizing the safety of civilians is crucial in active shooter incidents, making them the highest priority at the scene. Other personnel, such as media, may be present but have no role in responding to the threat, and their safety does not take precedence over that of the civilians in the area.