What is the number one goal when responding to an active shooter or homicide in progress?

The foremost goal when responding to an active shooter or homicide in progress is to stop the killing. This priority emphasizes the necessity of quickly neutralizing the threat to prevent further loss of life. In instances where individuals are actively being harmed, responding officers are trained to prioritize directly addressing the active attacker to minimize harm and protect potential victims.

While treating the injured, containing the incident, and establishing a command post are all crucial components of the overall response, they are secondary to the imperative of eliminating the immediate threat. Only by swiftly stopping the violence can officers effectively safeguard innocent lives. This principle is deeply rooted in active shooter response protocols and is fundamental to law enforcement training in crisis situations.