After Parkland, LE Must Revisit Response, Training

As I write this morning (March 9), my social media feeds seem to be about school shootings, gun control and politics surrounding the mass shooting that occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School—an event that has garnered a lot of attention for many reasons.

First, the negative (all of this is alleged until proven): The School Resource Officer (SRO) allegedly waited outside the school for four minutes while the shooting was going on; the responding Broward County deputies allegedly waited outside for a sufficient number of minutes before making entry; the sheriff’s office allegedly had been in contact with the shooter almost 40 times in the previous year; and the FBI was warned ahead of time but never took action.

Second, the positive: There were some serious heroes in and around that school that took action to save lives, some of them sacrificing their own to do so.

• Student and JROTC Cadet Peter Wang saved lives by holding a door shut so that his fellow classmates could escape. He was shot repeatedly through that door, sacrificing his life to save others. His service and commitment to duty has been honored by West Point and the State of Florida National Guard.
• Student and JROTC Cadet Colton Haab, with the assistance of other cadets under his command, herded students into the JROTC training area and covered them with Kevlar sheets to protect them from any potential incoming fire.
• Student Anthony Borges was shot five times while closing and locking a door to protect fellow students in his classroom. A fellow student said that Borges, “…took the initiative to just save his other classmates.”
• Teacher Aaron Feis responded to the shooting after hearing about it on the school’s portable radios. It’s reported that he put himself between the shooter and a student, pushing the student out of the line of fire and into a classroom, and getting shot himself as a result. He died due to the injuries.
• Teacher Ashley Kurth is credited with pulling up to 60 students and teachers into her area of operation (a dry storage area, laundry and office) protecting them from being exposed to the shooter.

These are just a few heroes from that day. We at SouthComm Law Enforcement Media extend our sympathies to all survivors, the families of the victims and to the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting and defending others.

Now, to speak directly to the commanders, supervisors and line officers in the U.S.

Commanders, equip your officers and make sure they have the latest training.

Supervisors, encourage, support and train beside your officers. Your squad is your family and you have to take care of one another.

Line Officers, stand strong. We stand in the gap and we cannot let the wolf through. Above all else we have to honor the oath we took and not neglect it for anyone else’s purposes. Honor your oath. Take the necessary actions. Be brave. Remember that sometimes “being brave” means ignoring orders that dishonor the badge.

Stay safe.

Lt. Frank Borelli (ret.)