Law enforcement agencies seeking resources to prepare their officers to handle an active shooter incident can access the FBI’s Active Shooter Resource Page on the Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal (LEEP) to find studies, videos, guidebooks, and other information on the subject. The page serves as a clearinghouse for relevant information from the FBI, as well as from law enforcement agencies and academics across the nation. The resources available on LEEP cover multiple angles of the issue, including training opportunities, crisis management, victim assistance, and media relations.

It is with good reason that the White House and many local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies have emphasized preventing and preparing for active shooter events. A study conducted by the FBI and Texas State University concerning active shooter incidents that occurred from 2000−2013 found that, on average, the frequency of such incidents more than doubled when comparing the first seven years studied with the final seven years. The study reports that incidents were often over quickly and highlights the need for prevention efforts, as well as training community members how to respond. The Active Shooter Resource Page includes materials discussing strategies to mitigate threats and to prepare civilians to react to an active shooter in public places like shopping malls and schools.

One of the training programs highlighted on the Active Shooter Resource Page is ALERRT, or the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training. This program is becoming a national standard for active shooting response and incorporates tactical best practices and lessons learned from previous active shooter incidents. More than 40,000 law enforcement officers have already participated in ALERRT, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance.

The link to the Active Shooter Resource Page can be found on the LEEP home page under the scrolling list of services. Please note: some of the materials on the page are law enforcement sensitive and should not be distributed to the general public. The FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group offers active shooter resources available publicly on the FBI’s website. (Some resources are on both www.fbi.gov and LEEP.)