Active Shooter Definitions and Key Terms

Active Shooter Definitions

• An Active Shooter is one or more individuals who participate in a random or systematic shooting spree, demonstrating intent to continuously inflict death or great bodily harm onto others.
• This includes anyone who uses a firearm or other type of deadly weapon (e.g. knife, explosives).

Key Terms

• Real Time Intelligence: Deputy's personal and sensory observations providing awareness of an ongoing active shooter situation.
• Deputy Contact Element: A singular deputy or team of deputies who enter the area/structure with the goal of stopping the threat.
• Extraction Element: A team of deputies who enter the area/structure to provide first aid or remove victims to a casualty collection point (CCP).
• Rescue Task Force: A team consisting of deputies and fire rescue paramedics who provide advanced emergency first aid to victims as quickly as possible.
• Hot Zone: The current location of the subject in the area/structure.
• Warm Zone: Where the subject was previously in the area/structure.
• Cold Zone: A location away from the area/structure, including staging areas, CCP, and Incident Command Post (ICP).

Response and Responsibilities

• Deputies responding to active threats shall prioritize protecting innocent persons through immediate tactical intervention to eliminate the threat.
• Prioritization of activities:
  1. Stop the active assailant(s)
  2. Rescue the victims
  3. Provide medical assistance
  4. Arrest suspects and preserve the crime scene

Deputy Contact Element

• Upon recognizing an active shooter situation, the deputy on scene will immediately notify Communications.
• The Deputy Contact Element with Real Time Intelligence will continue with proactive tactical intervention until:
  1. The subject/s has been forced into a surrender
  2. The subject/s has been forced into a barricade
  3. The subject/s hostilities have been stopped
  4. The Deputy Contact Element is relieved by SWAT personnel

Extraction and Rescue Teams

• Extraction Team:
  • Locate victims
  • Provide first aid/combat casualty care
  • Remove victims to a casualty collection point (CCP)
  • Operate in hot, warm, and cold zones
• Rescue Task Force:
  • Locate victims
  • Provide advanced emergency first aid/victim triage and management
  • May remove victims from the area/structure or request an extraction team
  • Operate in warm and cold zones

Active Shooter Definitions

• An Active Shooter is one or more individuals who participate in a random or systematic shooting spree, demonstrating intent to continuously inflict death or great bodily harm onto others.
• This includes anyone who uses a firearm or other type of deadly weapon (e.g. knife, explosives).

Key Terms

• Real Time Intelligence: Deputy's personal and sensory observations providing awareness of an ongoing active shooter situation.
• Deputy Contact Element: A singular deputy or team of deputies who enter the area/structure with the goal of stopping the threat.
• Extraction Element: A team of deputies who enter the area/structure to provide first aid or remove victims to a casualty collection point (CCP).
• Rescue Task Force: A team consisting of deputies and fire rescue paramedics who provide advanced emergency first aid to victims as quickly as possible.
• Hot Zone: The current location of the subject in the area/structure.
• Warm Zone: Where the subject was previously in the area/structure.
• Cold Zone: A location away from the area/structure, including staging areas, CCP, and Incident Command Post (ICP).

Response and Responsibilities

• Deputies responding to active threats shall prioritize protecting innocent persons through immediate tactical intervention to eliminate the threat.
• Prioritization of activities:
  1. Stop the active assailant(s)
  2. Rescue the victims
  3. Provide medical assistance
  4. Arrest suspects and preserve the crime scene

Deputy Contact Element

• Upon recognizing an active shooter situation, the deputy on scene will immediately notify Communications.
• The Deputy Contact Element with Real Time Intelligence will continue with proactive tactical intervention until:
  1. The subject/s has been forced into a surrender
  2. The subject/s has been forced into a barricade
  3. The subject/s hostilities have been stopped
  4. The Deputy Contact Element is relieved by SWAT personnel

Extraction and Rescue Teams

• Extraction Team:
  • Locate victims
  • Provide first aid/combat casualty care
  • Remove victims to a casualty collection point (CCP)
  • Operate in hot, warm, and cold zones
• Rescue Task Force:
  • Locate victims
  • Provide advanced emergency first aid/victim triage and management
  • May remove victims from the area/structure or request an extraction team
  • Operate in warm and cold zones

Learn about the definitions and key terms related to active shooter situations, including real-time intelligence and deputy contact elements. Understand the roles and responsibilities of individuals in such situations.