In this video tactical tip, Don Alwes talks about the necessity to be prepared for an active shooter incident, calling it a “come as you are, and come right now” type of event. The aggression with which you respond will have a significant impact on an officer’s success in ending such an event with a minimal loss of innocent lives. Alwes reminds us that more important than any equipment you bring to the fight is what you have in your head and in your heart — the equipment is just what fits in your hand.
Equipment to take to an active-shooter event
Don Alwes
Don Alwes is a trainer and consultant with 24 years of law enforcement experience. He is a lead instructor for the National Tactical Officers Association in the areas of school and workplace violence and active shooter response. For 15 years, Don has served as an adjunct instructor for Kentucky’s Department of Criminal Justice Training. He has instructed law enforcement personnel in active shooter response/rapid deployment, terrorism, homeland security, school and workplace violence, firearms, tactics, vulnerability assessment, and executive development. As a team leader, Don supervised and performed anti-terrorism assessments. He has served as a subject matter expert for projects sponsored by the National Institute of Justice and other agencies.