During an active shooter event, what is the first priority of police officers?

The primary goal of police officers during an active shooter event is to stop the killing. This focus is critical because the immediate threat to life is highest in these scenarios. Officers are trained to engage the shooter as swiftly as possible to minimize casualties. This proactive approach aims to neutralize the threat, thereby preventing further harm to victims and potential new targets.

While securing the area, stopping the dying, and assessing the situation are all important tasks, they are secondary to the urgent need to address the active threat presented by the shooter. Officers must prioritize direct action to end the attack, as every moment spent delays the possibility of decreasing the risk to innocent lives. Recognizing that mitigating the immediate danger directly impacts the outcome of the situation underlines why stopping the killing is the top priority for law enforcement in these critical instances.