What should an officer prioritize when approaching an active shooter situation?

In an active shooter situation, the primary priority for an officer is to stop the threat or the killing. This is essential because the primary goal is to prevent further loss of life and to neutralize the situation as quickly as possible. Responding officers must focus on quickly locating and engaging the shooter to minimize the risk to innocent victims.

The reason this option stands out is due to the immediate danger posed by an active shooter, where every second counts. Engaging the shooter directly can save lives and reduce the overall chaos of the situation. Officers are trained to respond decisively in these scenarios, prioritizing action over communication or containment strategies until the threat is neutralized.

While other actions, such as evacuating civilians or establishing a perimeter, are important components of a comprehensive response plan, these actions come after addressing the primary threat. Effective negotiations might be considered once the situation has been stabilized, but in the face of an active shooting, the focus remains on stopping the shooter to ensure the safety of all potential victims.