Date of Award

Fall 12-2018

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity

Advisor/Committee Chair

Michael D. Young

Committee Member

Dr. Brandon P. Behlendorf

Committee Member

Dr. Victor Asal

Abstract

This study examines 186 mass shooting events for the protocol police followed upon arrival atthe scene. In 124 of these cases, the police arrived on scene after the shooter had stoppedshooting, either because the shooter committed suicide, fled the scene or was detained by peoplein the area who were not currently police officers. Of the 186, only 62 cases included policearriving on scene and following a response protocol, either engagement or perimeter. Thenumber of casualties varied for each incident and type of police response. These cases wereanalyzed to determine if one type of response protocol was more effective in decreasing thenumber of casualties resulting from a shooting. Analysis of the data showed signs that suggestedthere are more casualties when the perimeter protocol is followed, but these results remain statistically insignificant. However, indirect support for the effectiveness of the engagement protocol reducing the number of casualties included a significant correlation between the shooting duration and the total number of casualties.

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