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M ass shooting incidents can happen just about anywhere. And sadly, they continue to do so—the Washington Navy Yard, Fort Hood, a Jewish Community Center in Kansas... Consider these statistics: there have been about five active shooter incidents every year between 2000 and 2008, according to the Justice Center. And since 2009 that annual average has roughly tripled. Meanwhile, the FBI's Behavioral Threat Assessment Center, which supports state, local and campus safety officials, has responded to a nearly 200 percent increase in requests for assis- tance in the past year. In response, Attorney General Eric Holder recently urged Congress to amp up funding—to the tune of $15 mil- lion—for law enforcement active shoot- ing training. Specifically, the money would go towards tools and programs for both training and on-scene response. Funding or no funding, active shooter drills are now routine for most police agencies and sheriff 's departments. A quick Google search will reveal multiple trainings happening in any given state, just about every single day. In many cases the media is invited to cover events. And sometimes, students and parents are encouraged to participate in these staged (yet terrifying enough) drills. Nowadays it's as much a part of patrol as writing a traffic ticket, and so a number of agencies are looking for newer and more meaningful ways to train. Some options are high-tech, while others are comparatively lower tech, but focus on essential skills like making tough decisions in a split second. In "The business of active shooter prep" on page 24 South Bend (Ind.) Division Chief Stephen Smith recalls, "We started out with just a few pieces of equipment, but (active shooter) resources have grown exponentially since 2007. Force-on-force scenarios are a vital component of training…so it was easy to justify why we needed that equipment." The gear is out there, the training is full-speed ahead and officers are more prepared than ever to confront an active shooter. How many of you are prepared to pen a grant request to receive a piece of this (possibly) substantial pie? What products are you seeking or research- ing, and how will you look to improve the training you already have in place? These questions have answers, unlike asking "Where will the next shooter strike?" And by the sounds of it, you all are already determined to continue training diligently and well. ■ 6 Law Enforcement Technology May 2014 www.officer.com Active shooters still top of mind Cygnus Business Media John French, Chief Executive Officer Paul Bonaiuto, Chief Financial Officer Ed Wood, Vice President of Human Resources Julie Nachtigal, Vice President of Audience Development Eric Kammerzelt, Vice President of Technology Curt Pordes, Vice President of Production Operations Ed Nichols, VP of Events Cygnus Business Media 1233 Janesville Ave. Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 Phone: (800) 547-7377 Editorial e-mail: editor@letonline.com Fax: (920) 563-1702 Web site: www.officer.com Integrated Media Consultants Scott Bieda, Executive Vice President of Public Safety & Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 547-7377 Ext. 2725 Michael George, Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 547-7377 Ext. 1143 Kelly Bisco, Associate Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 547-7377 Ext. 1360 Nick Palasini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 547-7377 Ext. 1676 Lindsey Gajewski. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 547-7377 Ext. 1354 Nikki Becker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 547-7377 Ext. 1317 Classified Ad Sales (800) 547-7377 Ext. 1326 Classified Ad Fax: (920) 328-9003 List Rental Elizabeth Jackson, Merit Direct LLC (847) 492-1350 Ext. 18, Fax: (847) 492-0085 E-mail: ejackson@meritdirect.com Web site: meritdirect.com/cygnus Reprint Services To purchase article reprints please contact Nick Iademarco at Wright's Media at (877) 652-5295 Ext. 102 or e-mail niademarco@wrightsmedia.com. Editorial Director Frank Borelli Editors Sara Schreiber Jonathan Kozlowski Contributing Editors Lindsey Bertomen Carole Moore Senior Art Director — Public Safety & Security Bobbi Burow Media Production Representative Connie Heffron Audience Development Manager Sharon Haberkorn For subscription information or change of address please call (877) 382-9187 or (847) 559-7598, fax (800) 543-5055 or e-mail circ.LETmag@omeda.com. L A W MEDIA CYGNUS EDITOR'S LOG Sara Schreiber Editor For questions, news tips and comments, e-mail editor@letonline.com. LET_06_EditLog0514.indd 6 4/18/14 3:27 PM