Active Shooter Podcast: How Columbine Redefined Tactics

Sept. 29, 2023
The first episode of a new six-episode podcast series sponsored by FirstNet looks at the 1999 mass shooting and how it changed active shooter responses in the 21st century.

Like bank robberies in the 1920s and violent crimes fueled by the illegal drug trade in the 1980s and early 1990s, active shooter incidents have become one of the biggest challenges for 21st-century law enforcement. These incidents have become a point of emphasis for agencies over the past two decades, and new tactics, strategies and training have continued to be developed in order to best prepare officers and save lives.

Across the next two months, OFFICER Magazine's Officer Roll Call podcast will release a six-part series—sponsored by FirstNet—that examines the topic. The "Active Shooter Events & Response Evolution" podcast series will look at not how active shooter incidents have changed over the years and how law enforcement has been using accumulated knowledge and new technology to adapt.

RELATED:

Subscribe to the podcast and check out the series' home page for new episodes. Scroll to the bottom to find out where to find this series, as well as OFFICER Magazine's other podcasts

In the debut episode, retired Lt. Frank Borelli and Assistant Editor Joe Vince talk about the event that launched the contemporary active shooter response protocols: the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. This episode looks at why the attack—considered the Pearl Harbor of active shooter incidents—was perceived so differently than others before it and how the basic response by officers to such events has changed since then.

Check out the "Active Shooter Events & Response Evolution" podcast series page for individual episode descriptions and a release schedule. 

How to Listen

OFFICER Magazine's podcasts are available through the following outlets:

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.

Sponsored Recommendations

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Officer, create an account today!