Utah Chief Says Preparation Key to Success
March 14, 2007 – 5:36 am
On February 12, 2007, an 18 year old Salt Lake City resident entered the historic Trolley Square Mall in Salt Lake City around 6:44 P.M., armed with a handgun, a shotgun and several rounds of ammunition. He began shooting randomly at customers, ultimately killing five people and wounding four others before being killed by police.
Chief Ken Wallentine, who is associated with the Utah Police Academy has provided a preliminary after-action report to the law enforcement community. Since the report is law enforcement sensitive, I am not including the report. However, I think the lessons that Chief Wallentine included at the end of the report are valuable common sense considerations for all law enforcement personnel so I have listed them below:
- Be ready at all times, at all places and in all conditions.
- Do not drive a cruiser without a spare tire. Do not carry a gun without additional
ammunition. - Active shooters require active response. Train now.
- Communication system’s interoperability works!
- Train with your spouse on how you will respond. Help save your own life by rehearsing off-duty response.
- Carry a go-bag in the car. Read his article on preparation entitled “Mission Readiness†located at http://www.kenwallentine.com/Publications.html.
- Additionally, read the articles of a fellow chief, Jeff Chudwin that regularly appear at PoliceOne.com.
- When crisis comes, it will be the first cops on the scene who can make a difference. The officers in this case proved it once again.