What should prior preparation include for officers before an active shooter incident?

Prior preparation for officers before an active shooter incident is crucial to enhancing their readiness to respond effectively. Conducting thorough patrols of potential locations is an essential measure because it allows officers to familiarize themselves with the layout, potential entry and exit points, and other critical factors specific to each site. This proactive approach helps officers identify vulnerabilities and develop strategies for rapid response during an incident.

Understanding the environment enables officers to execute their responsibilities more effectively, coordinate with other emergency responders, and ensure the safety of civilians. Knowledge of the location can also aid in pinpointing the quickest routes for intervention and evacuation, which is vital when time is of the essence in an active shooter situation.

Building relationships with media, limiting access to sensitive information, and reducing training sessions do not contribute effectively to preparation for an active shooter scenario. These areas generally focus on communication and information management, which, while important in the broader context of law enforcement operations, do not directly improve an officer's operational readiness or situational awareness in an emergency.