Training Design

Training Design

Although this model is simple in design and execution, a sound layered approach to training is still necessary for police and fire to thoroughly understand each other’s role and responsibilities in response to a criminal mass casualty or active shooter event. Although the amount of cross training, (leaning a new task) is minimal, there are some time dependent tactics and response strategies that need to be understood to ensure continuity of response in joint operations.

As with any time compressed activity when humans are tasked with making multiple decisions under stress, the amount of new “skill set acquisitions” needs to be minimal because of the debilitating effects of friction. Carl von Clausewitz, noted military theorist and father of the principles of war stated, “Everything in war is simple, but the simplest thing is difficult. The difficulties accumulate and end by producing a kind of friction that is inconceivable unless one has experienced war.” Two tenants that Clausewitz’s speak to, simplicity and friction, need to be understood and appreciated for their effects, especially when creating training doctrine that will be relied upon as a foundation for joint response operations. Aside from the physiological and psychological influences these tenants have, agency cultural, community expectations, resource, capabilities and time all have influence on the design and successful implementation of any joint response protocol. Lastly, it is important to understand how humans learn and how these individual and team centric actives, to be later applied under stress, should be constructed for maximum retention and retrieval when thrust upon the individual, small unit, agency or agencies or collectively at a later time when thrust upon us and not by our choosing.

One of the key principles of this response model is to capitalize on the already existing well acquired skill sets within police and fire, not dismantling these and rebuilding new specific tactics and procedures for a specific, extremely infrequent, tactical problem, (i.e. active shooter) which then requires skill sets reacquisition to be leaned and extensively trained upon to achieve cohesion and continuity of attack (mass) to achieve the desired results. There are however some key aspects that need to be trained on with this response, more closely associated with strategic reprioritization of response goals with only a limited number of new task acquisition exist with police, (use of tourniquets, victim carry methods, fire security and establishment of the CasualtyCollection Point). Although these tasks may be new within the context of the active shooter, parallels and existing acquisitions of these skills may already exist in other forms of police training, officer/citizen rescue and containment practices.

It is important to remember the implementation of these or any other skill set that is to be relied upon under stress needs to be learned in a layered approach incorporating three distinct areas. These are:

• Information phase / i.e. lecture based aptitude uptake
• Skill acquisition / i.e. drill based exercises.
• Application and practice under conditions that gradually approximate the stress environment / i.e. scenario training

Because time and resources can be limiting factor in achieving all three of these aspects – we strongly encourage you follow these recommendations to limit confusion and to properly build interoperability between agencies to include cultural indoctrination which will enable both agencies to work towards a common objective. All too often trainers will thrust upon trainees new concepts at the final stage, (scenario training) under the theory that reality based training is good – this is true if the principles, (tactics/skills) are thoroughly understood and practiced prior to engaging in a scenario. If the later is done without these preemptive training modules – frustration, personal and task confusion and hesitation can be encumbering bi-products.

With respects to agency culture, typically active shooter is viewed as a LE centric response, with Fire being invited along as an eventuality. It is not uncommon for police to dictate tactics to fire, albeit potentially correct, however if we (police) discount the Fire Services long history and tradition, (longer than police) we potentially erect barriers that need not be. Both police and fire have numerous well trained, valorous, capable personnel within their ranks. Similarly both police and fire have long held response doctrines from which they operate under. It is important we get “know” each other on a deeper level – not so much personally, (although that helps) but operationally understanding what assets, (both capabilities and resources) each can bring to bear in this type of event. It is through this initial joint training (lecture and practical hands on application) that we begin to form a collective understanding and appreciation for the problem and our response.

It is misrepresentation of context to say to Fire, “Firefighters are used to taking risks, they go into burning building.” Yes both are true; however firefighters receive extensive training, don specific PPE and carry with them tools to mitigate this risk associated with this. The discussion need not be a comparison of valor – but rather what capabilities and resources can we collectively employ and/or exploit those we already possess.

Below is an example of a lecture / drill based exercise laying the foundation for a joint police/fire response to AS / CMCI we did in 2010. The initial phase is centered on aptitude learning, progressing to separate learning tracks for police and fire, then reconvening for an additional joint exercise, (walk through per-se). At the conclusion of the lecture and practical application exercises, a combined “modified” police/fire scenario will bring these aspects together. We suggest waiting a couple of weeks/days before commencing the full scenario to let the concepts mature and resonate clarifying any confusion before a full scale exercise is implemented. The importance of a well thought out, deliberate and tactile training evolution cannot be overemphasized. This will alleviate confusion and frustration and aid tremendously in the interoperability of both agencies. Also inviting 911 to this training, or at least the dry drills at the conclusion, will help dispatch bring context to your joint operation protocol. The time devoted to achieve this training will be invaluable when you undertake a scenario.

TRAINING PLAN

Welcome,

Emphasize the importance of working together and appreciation for the inherent talents both police and fire possess

LECTURE BASED

Active Shooter Overview (Police present) / discussion and PowerPoint on various active shooters incidents – to include:

Definitions

Historical and evolving tactics of response

Locations

Type / intensity

# of suspects

Weapons

Suspect cause of death

killed wounded

Relative timeline of incident / trends

Trauma / Rapid Assessment(Fire present)

What is an MCI

MCI protocols

TEMS

TECC Guidelines

Triage protocols

Roles in Treatment / Triage / Transport

EMS / Hospital coordination

ABC vs CBA

Understanding Terminology / Roles and responsibilities of Police and Fire(Joint Discussion)

Hot, Warm, Cold Zones

Unified Command – what does this entail

Radio communication / frequencies

Structure identification

Police Response / Threat Mitigation and “shots fired”

Achieving police/fire link-up

Corridor Protection / lock down

Forward Operating Base / Purpose – Design

Causality Collection Point / identification / establishment / operations

Police security ingress/egress routes, and interior CCP security

Staging location vs. CP vs. UC, (What is Unified Command?)

Who / how carry’s wounded to CCP

Bubbling concepts of the CCP

Additional security elements (fire security) introduced.

Clearance and Evacuation Protocol

ICS / Groups, Divisions, Command and Unified Command

Use large scale maps, PowerPoint overlays and handouts to illustrate all the above.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Police / Fire Learning Tracks

SEPARATE

*Police Staff will conduct training for firefighters

*Fire Staff will conduct training for police officers

*For Police / *For Fire
Tourniquet Application
Carry Methods straps/drags/envirooptions
Fire Apparatus Familiarization / Weapon Familiarization
Active Shooter Response Exercise (optional)
Establishing Security

JOINT

Joint Police / Fire Learning Track
(Round Robin)
Supervisor Police / Fire Learning Track
Understanding UC / establishment
ICS implications
Span of Control and Responsibilities
UC role in introduction of Fire into Casualty Collection Point / Exterior Fire Security (Demo and practice)
Apparatus Security
Overwatch Security
CCP Security

AGENCY SPECIFIC REVIEW

Agency Specific Review
(Round Robin)
Police will review:
Arrival protocols
Parking & entrance to structure
BC / Sgt Link up
Interior responsibilities
Corridor Lockdown procedures
Incident Transition Points / immediate threat indicators to victim retrieval
Establishment of FOB and CCP
Dual Operations / Fire will review:
Entrance into CCP
Setting up the CCP
Roles within CCP
LE /Fire linkup in CCP
Mass causality protocols pertinent to active shooter
Transportation of wounded out of CCP
Interface with Medical Transport

JOINT EXERCISE

Dry Run X2

Police and Fire will conduct two dry drills practicing:

Police response

Mitigation of threat

UC Link up

Corridor lockdown

Indentify CCP,

Establish Overwatch Security

Fire arrival at casualty collection point

MCI Operations.

On the first drill it is important to call a “freeze” at incident transition points ensuring all personnel understand key sub-objectives. These would be:

Mitigation of threat

FOB if enacted

CCP identified and secured

Corridor Lockdown and victim carries to CCP

Exterior security for Fire / Overwatch & Apparatus Security enacted