Citizens Police Academy Week 9 – Training for an active shooter

By Annette Reynolds

Active shooter response and patrol procedures took center stage at the Waltham Citizen Police Academy last week, as local residents joined law enforcement officials for a hands-on training session designed to highlight the evolving tactics used in crisis situations.

Lt. Frank Lombardo Jr. opened the evening with a history lesson on mass shootings in the United States, citing the University of Texas tower shooting of August 1966 as a turning point. That tragedy, which at the time was the deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman in U.S. history, spurred the development of new law enforcement policies. The Columbine High School shooting in 1999 further underscored the need for all responding officers — not just SWAT teams — to be prepared for active shooter scenarios.

Today police departments rely on Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training to prepare officers to confront shooters and protect civilians. The training emphasizes the importance — and difficulty — of teaching officers to run toward danger instead of retreating. Waltham officers, alongside local firefighters and law enforcement from Brandeis and Bentley universities, participate in biennial exercises using a Bentley dormitory and special non-lethal weapons that fire detergent-filled markers to simulate real-life incidents.

The training drills focus on two operational goals: stopping the killing by neutralizing the shooter and stopping the dying by stabilizing and evacuating victims.

Patrol procedures were the focus of the session’s second half, led by Officer Paul Hanley. Hanley explained that patrol officers often address non-criminal matters such as restoring order, resolving quality-of-life complaints and building positive relationships with neighborhoods. Officers are trained in three forms of patrol: basic, directed (assigned to specific hotspots or tasks) and specialized units such as motorcycle or drone patrol.

Waltham officers also receive instruction in weapons handling, cultural competence and strategies to avoid “Top 10 Deadly Errors” encountered in law enforcement.

Hanley noted that the Waltham Police Department is accredited by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, a voluntary process that involves strict adherence to professional standards and ongoing policy reviews. Maintaining accreditation allows the department to apply for federal grants and supports a commitment to high standards. The department has a full-time accreditation officer to keep up with these requirements.