Hunley: 'Active shooter' tactic saves lives

After a shooter started firing in a building at Northern Virginia Community College's Woodbridge campus last week, police rushed in to try to stop the violence.

That, in and of itself, doesn't seem like news. Seems like what they're supposed to do.

Thing is, though, years ago, the response would have been somewhat different.

Officers used to initially respond to a situation like this by containing the scene and waiting for reinforcements and specially trained forces, such as the SWAT team.

But after Columbine and similar school shootings, Prince William County Police Chief Charlie T. Deane changed his department's tactic in such scenarios.

In November 1999, Deane decreed that everyone in the department -- from him to the newest officer -- would be trained in how to respond to an "active shooter" situation.

The idea is that sworn officers can't stand by and wait for specialists while innocent people are being killed.

Deane worked with retired FBI agent and Manassas resident Joe Harpold to develop training that initially was designed to address violence at schools. At the time, Harpold, who has studied school shootings, was at the Behavioral Science Unit at the FBI Academy at Quantico.

The chief realized, though, that the "active shooter" training would be beneficial in other situations, such as workplace shootings, or really anywhere where someone is determined to commit a crime.

The old "contain and negotiate" strategy is still widely used in other situations, Deane told me last week. For example: a hostage situation in which it's likely that authorities can handle a suspect without any bloodshed.

But, especially when lives have already been lost, he said, "We've got to go in and deal with the threat as soon as possible."

The NVCC shooting, which ended with no injuries, was the second time Prince William police have used the "active shooter" tactic.

The first was in June 2004 when a 12-year-old brought a shotgun and two rifles to Bull Run Middle School.

No one was injured in that situation, as police arrived promptly.

But Deane said he still has a photo of adults on the floor in the school office at the direction of the would-be seventh-grade shooter.

The chief noted, too, that using "active shooter" means taking on certain risks. An officer could get hurt, or a hostage or other innocents could be caught in crossfire.

But those are the dangers first-responders must face to save the most lives. There is no way Deane or his forces can eliminate all the intangibles.

"We weigh the risk," he said, "and I'm confident that this is the best approach in certain circumstances."

The numbers agree. Bull Run was resolved within 15 minutes, and police got to NVCC within a minute and a half.

But lest anyone think that this is a perfect plan, Deane brought up a crucial but chilling fact:

"Any of these types of incidents can have a different outcome."

That's an important reality check, and we're likely to learn more frightening details as the community college case unfolds.

But, at least for now, we can take comfort in the fact that county police are doing everything they can to save every life.

I don't know about you, but that's good enough for me.

Jonathan Hunley is a staff writer at the News & Messenger. Contact him at 703-369-5738 or at jhunley@insidenova.com.<p>