1. Mitigating the Loss of Life: The Rescue Task Force Approach
Assistant Fire Chief Val Gale
Assistant Police Chief Jason Zdilla

2. Active Shooter Defined
One or more subjects who participate in a random or systematic shooting spree, demonstrating their intent to continuously harm others. The overriding objective of an active killer appears to be that of mass murder, rather than other criminal conduct such as robbery, hostage taking, etc. It also includes anyone who uses any other deadly weapon to systematically or randomly inflict death or serious bodily harm on others over a continuous or extended period of time.
- National Tactical Officer’s Association
Discuss what is not an active shooter situation – commercial or residential hostage situation, criminal barricaded subject, criminal event shooting – suspect shooting only intended victim and either fleeing or committing suicide,

3. Not a new phenomenon 1966 University of Texas, Austin
1984 McDonalds, San Ysirdo CA
1986 Edmond OK, USPS Shooting
1991 Luby’s Cafeteria, Kileen, TX
1999 Columbine
2006 Platte County High School
2006 Amish School Shooting
2007 Trolley Square Mall UT
2007 Virginia Tech
2007 Ward Parkway Mall, KS City
2011 Gabriel Gifford, Tucson AZ
2012 Newtown, CT
2014 Berrendo Middle School
2014 Fort Hood Army Base, TX
2015 Pulse Nightclub
2016 Dallas Protest, TX
2017 Las Vegas Concert, NV
First documented deliberate killing of school kids – Brown massacre – Greencastle PA – Ottawa Tribe
1966 University of Texas at Austin, Charles Whitman
1984 McDonalds shooting, San Ysirdo CA, James Huberty
1986 Edmond OK, USPS Shooting, Patrick Henry Sherrill
1991 Kileen, TX Lubys Cafertia
1999 Columbine, Kebold, Harris
2006 Platte County High School, Duane Morrison
2006 Amish School Shooting, Charles Carl Roberts
2007 Trolley Square Mall, Salt Lake UT, Sulejam Talvoic
2007 Virginia Tech – Cho Sueng Hui
2007 Ward Parkway Mall, Kansas City, Missouri, David Logsdon
Has social media caused an increased feeling of being invovled with the incident?
Incidents occurred between

4. Active Shooters: An Increasing Trend
FBI Findings
250 active shooter incidents from 2000 to 2017
70% occurred in educational or commerce environments
Across more than 40 states
Estimated that a total of 2,107 casualties during this period
799 killed and 1,308 wounded
Sources : : :

5. Our Obligation, their Expectation
Officer response – direct to threat
Fallacy of PD being able to extract victims effectively and timely

6. Chandler Mall Shooting

7. Rescue Task Force
A team deployed to provide point of wound care to victims where there is an on going ballistic or explosive threat.
Teams treat, stabilize, and remove the injured while under the dedicated protection of law enforcement officers.

9. City of Chandler: Response to a Mass Shooting Incident

10. Chandler Response Model
Average Mass shooting resulted in a median of four casualties
EMS personnel provide vital prehospital care
Managing a massive hemorrhage
Airway control
Ensuring circulation
However, EMS personnel must wait until the scene is secured before entering
Can be hours for large locations (e.g., mall)
This practice maximizes the loss of life.
Source:
Shooter enters building
00:00:00
Victim shot and compensated shock begins
PD Responds
Rescue Task Force enters building

11. Chandler Response Model
Average Mass shooting resulted in a median of four casualties
EMS personnel provide vital prehospital care
Managing a massive hemorrhage
Airway control
Ensuring circulation
However, EMS personnel must wait until the scene is secured before entering
Can be hours for large locations (e.g., mall)
This practice maximizes the loss of life.
Source:
Victim shot and compensated shock begins
00:00:15
Victim may have as little as 3-4 minutes before the body’s compensation mechanisms begin to fail.
Shooter enters building

12. Chandler Response Model
Average Mass shooting resulted in a median of four casualties
EMS personnel provide vital prehospital care
Managing a massive hemorrhage
Airway control
Ensuring circulation
However, EMS personnel must wait until the scene is secured before entering
Can be hours for large locations (e.g., mall)
This practice maximizes the loss of life.
Source:
PD Responds
“Direct to Threat”
00:04:00
Victim shot and compensated shock begins
Shooter enters building
PD briefs FD

13. Chandler Response Model
Average Mass shooting resulted in a median of four casualties
EMS personnel provide vital prehospital care
Managing a massive hemorrhage
Airway control
Ensuring circulation
However, EMS personnel must wait until the scene is secured before entering
Can be hours for large locations (e.g., mall)
This practice maximizes the loss of life.
Source:
PD briefs FD 00:06:00
Victim shot and compensated shock begins
PD Responds
“Direct to Threat”
Rescue Task Force enters building

14. Chandler Response Model
Average Mass shooting resulted in a median of four casualties
EMS personnel provide vital prehospital care
Managing a massive hemorrhage
Airway control
Ensuring circulation
However, EMS personnel must wait until the scene is secured before entering
Can be hours for large locations (e.g., mall)
This practice maximizes the loss of life.
Source:
PD briefs FD 00:06:00
Victim shot and compensated shock begins
PD Responds
“Direct to Threat”
Rescue Task Force enters building

15. Chandler Response Model
Chief Dwiggins: “Direct to threat”
Rescue Task Force enters building
00:08:00
Victim shot and compensated shock begins
Shooter enters building
PD briefs FD

16. Chandler Response Model
FD stops victim’s bleeding
00:10:00
Rescue Task Force enters the building
Victim Evacuated
Victim treated in secure location

17. Chandler Response Model
Victim evacuated
00:12:00
Rescue Task Force enters the building
00:08:00
FD stops victim’s bleeding
00:10:00
Victim triaged in secure location
00:00:00

18. Chandler Response Model
Victim treated in secure location
00:14:00
Rescue Task Force enters the building
FD stops victim’s bleeding
Victim evacuated

19. Critical Factors in Developing a Successful Rescue Task Force Response
Policy Development
Organizational Buy-in
Unified command
Interop - shared radio / frequency of use
City management – budget needs
Continuous refinement of processes

20. Critical Factors in Developing a Successful Rescue Task Force Response
Joint Training and Interoperability
Evaluate, adjust, re-train as necessary
Unified command
Interop - shared radio / frequency of use
City management – budget needs
Continuous refinement of processes

21. Walmart OIS

22. Contact Us
Assistant Police Chief Jason Zdilla Chandler Police Department (480) Assistant Fire Chief Val Gale Chandler Fire Department (480)