Updated: What to do if there is an active shooter

This past weekend the City of West Hollywood hosted a 2nd ‘Active Shooter’ Workshop.   The presentation was held at the City Council Chambers and attended by approximately 25 business owners, residents and other guests.  

West Hollywood is a magnet for guests and crowds can often hide a potentially dangerous situation.   One of my biggest fears as a business owner is the safety of my staff.   This workshop and printed materials should be included in every new business license packet issued.   Awareness requires reminders.   

It is also important that disabled residents and seniors plan ahead to what they should do in an active shooter situation.    Note the exit doors upon entry into a building.  

It’s important to note that when law enforcement arrives on the scene the first goal is to ‘stop the threat’, and the second goal is to ‘treat the injured’.  It’s important for all of us to understand what each of us needs to do in any emergency situation and to develop ‘situational awareness’.  

Original Story: March 24, 2023

Two weeks ago the City of West Hollywood held an Active Shooter Workshop. The event was hosted by Erik Franco, the CEO of High-Speed Tac Med and a trained Search and Rescue Technician/Emergency Medical Technician who has years of experience as a Department of Homeland Security and Law Enforcement Instructor..

The event was held on a Saturday morning, in the rain, and was well attended by members of the Public, the Public Safety Commissioners as well as Council member Lauren Meister and Mayor Pro Tem John Erickson.

An ‘active shooter’ is an individual who is engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area: in most cases, active shooters use firearm(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. These victims are usually selected at random and the situation is evolves quickly and is unpredictable.

Below is a paraphrase of the quick reference guide to an Active Shooter Event. This training must continue to be employed in West Hollywood by the business owners, residents, and with advanced training within our community.

You have 3 choices as an active shooter event develops:

1. RUN.
2. HIDE.
3. FIGHT.

You must prepare your mindset with these choices.

Run: If you see that escape route take it. Leave your belongings behind. Evacuate whether or not other agree to follow. Help others escape if possible. Don’t attempt to move the wounded. Prevent others from entering the area where an active shooter may be. Keep your hands visible. Call 911 when you are safe.

HIDE: Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view. Lock door or block entry to your hiding place. SILENCE your cell phone and remain quiet. (put on vibrate)

FIGHT: If you’re on an airplane, in a confined space, there are those that spring into action. Fight as a last resort and only if your life is in imminent danger. Attempt to incapacitate the shooter. Act with as much physical aggression as possible. Improvise weapons. Commit to your actions, your life depends on it. Basically, if your life is in jeopardy and you choose to fight, then you need to go ape shit and commit to these actions.

The first officers to arrive on the scene will not stop to help injured. You should expect rescue teams to follow those first officers who are there to secure the area.

If you are in a crowded or confined area know your exits.

If you are in a business and hear of the active shooter in area the business should lock its doors.

If you are behind a door or wall seek concrete walls, which stop bullets. Bullets can go through sheetrock or wood doors.

Remain calm.