Identifying and Closing the Active Shooter 120 Second Fatal Gap
In order to effectively reduce the consequences and casualties from Active Shooter/Active Assailant events, we must understand the critical phases of the event. As identified by a number of US Government agencies the 7 phases of these types of crimes are (USSS 2018, FBI 2013);
· Fantasy phase
· Weapon acquisition
· Planning phase
· Attack initiation
· Victim reaction
· Responder interaction
· Grieving
· Recovery
The most effective means of addressing prevention is to intervene in the planning and weapon acquisition phase. Those efforts by both citizens and Law Enforcement have not been overly effective to date. As evident in some of the more recent attacks, many ‘warning’ signs that were known went unaddressed for a host of reasons. That leaves us with a very small window to save lives.
The 120 Second Gap
There is an identifiable gap between just before (in seconds) the attack is initiated and the capability of human mitigation or interdiction. That gap is the period of time the killer has the free unfettered access to kill or wound the most victims. The “Fatal” gap last about 2–5 minutes with the majority of causalities occurring in the first 120 seconds. Those 120 seconds of free access to victims occurs in every Active Shooter or Active Assailant event worldwide. The gap occurs for the following reasons;
· Human detection of the event onset takes 30 to 60 seconds
· Human reaction to the event takes 30 additional seconds
· Responder (911) notification takes an additional 30 seconds
· 911 call processing an additional 30 to 60 seconds
· Law Enforcement response times are 3–11 minutes on average
· Entry or Contact Team an additional 1–5 minutes
Even when armed intervention is on-site, the time to recognize and react by trained personnel in order to engage the threat is still 90 to 120 seconds. In the best of circumstances Law Enforcement response and engagement is not effective enough to save the lives in the first 2 minutes of the attack. During this timeframe, the overwhelming number of casualties occur. We must obtain the time needed for responders to engage and eliminate the threat.
Closing the Gap
After studying every event since Columbine and reading each released After Action Report as well as the reports issued by various agencies and companies it has become clear to me that the only means we have to close the human gaps in detection and reaction involve the use of technology. The availability of technology to detect, notify, deter, and delay the attacker(s) offer the most effective means at providing a level of protection to potential victims while Law Enforcement or other reactive components can mitigate the threat. If we can instantly detect the event and in less than 10 seconds provide reactive systems that deter and delay the attacker(s) ability to access potential victims, we can save the most lives and reduce the consequences of these attacks. The technology exists to accomplish this lifesaving capability.
Detection
By utilizing a combination of video surveillance and acoustical (gunshot/aggressive speech) detection devices we have reduced the “gap” on detection to zero. Integration with direct 911 notification now further reduces the gap to 1 second or less. The immediate notification must also include facility and occupant wide notification of an attack.
Deter & Delay
Tying that detection capability to an action platform that automatically secures a facility and blocks the attacker from easy access to victims is the only protective measure that offers some hope for survival of an unarmed occupant. This capability, is the cornerstone to deterring and delaying the attacker from having free access to victims during that critical response time for armed intervention. It is imperative that the “lockdown” aspects be automated and integrated with the detection components. During testing, we have been able to identify that securing rooms that are occupied takes at the most 4 seconds when the platform is fully automated. Relying on human reaction to secure a room or door while under attack conditions takes up to 60 seconds.
Conclusions
In order to reduce the casualties and consequences of these heinous attacks, we must reduce the event timeline to as close to zero as possible. We must buy time for the armed interdiction to arrive and engage the attacker. The only effective and efficient means of accomplishing this objective is to automate the process to the technological extent possible. Utilization of automated detection, notification, deter and delay mechanisms integrated with existing video, access control and other currently installed components is critical to the survival of potential victims. There is NO one solution. Each facility is unique, each circumstance is distinctive. Life safety professional must work together and coordinate their efforts at prevention, detection, notification, deterrence, delay and response. Collectively we can make a difference because “every second saves lives”™
Published by: Michael Rehfeld
Author Infor
Michael is a founder and the current President/CEO of Intrusion Technologies. He has over 32 years in Public Safety to include Law Enforcement, Fire Service, Incident Command and Adminstration. He has taught the DHS Active Shooter workshop and spoken nationally about Violent Event Mitigation. Michael also is a co-patent holder on an Active Assailant Mitigation Technology. Additionally, he is a member of the ASIS Fire & Life Safety Council. You may reach him via email; mrehfeld@intrusiontech.com
