The Police Response to Critical Incidents in Academic Institutions

Abstract

The threat of an assailant entering an academic institution has compelled law enforcement agencies to revise their tactical response during a critical incident. Police officials believe that today's predominant threat to academic institutions is an armed assailant. This article will examine the new procedures that both academic and law enforcement officials have implemented in safeguarding our nation's schools. School officials have initiated new emergency plans to address this potential academic crisis, and police agencies across the nation have begun to implement training programs to address this volatile threat that has placed both law enforcement agencies and academic institutions on alert. Police officials have determined that officers’ response time is detrimental to the safety of our nation's schools, and with this new officer training program, their officers will minimize the number of casualties during a critical incident in academic institutions.