Too much active shooter tactical training starts and ends with a few officers making entry and neutralizing the shooter. The reality is that the clock, the wounded, fire, EMS, dispatch, detectives, and command all matter just as much. This episode of the Active Shooter Incident Management Podcast is Part 1 of a four‑part Active Shooter Training Buyer’s Guide. Today, Bill Godfrey, Ron Otterbacher, Jill McElwee, and Billy Perry dig into what proper tactical training should look like, so you can tell whether a course is covering the full problem or only the first few minutes. They discuss: Why training that starts and stops with neutralizing the shooter leaves serious gaps How the clock becomes a second enemy, and why “stage down the street until it’s over” no longer works The shift from older approaches (perimeter and wait for SWAT) to faster, integrated tactics after Columbine A three‑part test for tactics: traceable, vetted in real events or repeated training, and repeatable/teachable What fire and EMS need that isn’t medical: where to stand, where not to stand, how to move, doors, “the X,” and basic movement Why training has to be grounded in what is actually happening now (single shooters, exterior ambushes, approach hazards) How to break the big problem into smaller drills (Rescue Task Force, ambulance exchange points, casualty collection points, detectives) without losing the larger context The value of having dispatch and command involved, even when you’re “just” working the first arriving officers If you’re selecting, funding, or approving active shooter training, this episode gives you a starting checklist for what “good” looks like on the tactical side. View this episode on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/kOQ9m4qNHeQ Like what you hear? Drop a review and subscribe to our Podcast Channel. If you have questions, you can send them to info@c3pathways.com with “Podcast Question” in the subject line. Check out our websites and learn more about C3 Pathways / NCIER by going to: https://www.c3pathways.com or https://www.ncier.org The Active Shooter Incident Management Podcast is owned by C3 Pathways and NCIER. None of the content presented may be copied, repurposed, or used without the owner’s prior consent.
