Evaluating the Military Police Corps' Active Shooter Preparedness Plan

Evaluating the Military Police Corps’ Active Shooter Preparedness Plan by Robert Lee Harris Jr. MA, American Military University, 2011 BS, American Military University, 2009 AS, Ashworth College, 2007 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University August 2019 Abstract The Military Police Corps’ active shooter preparedness plan is inadequate because several updated tactics, techniques, and procedures that have been developed over the past 20 years and implemented by civilian law enforcement agencies have not been incorporated, leaving the Corps less prepared during active shooter events. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine how Military Police Corps leaders trained their law enforcement and support personnel to respond to an active shooter event. The institutional analysis and development framework was used to analyze the day-to-day operational decisions within the Military Police Corps. Data for the qualitative case study were collected through semi structured interviews with 15 Military Police Corps leaders and soldiers across 5 military police battalions in the United States and Europe and military police training records. These data were subjected to axial and open coding, followed by a thematic analysis procedure. Participants perceived that the Corps’ active shooter preparedness training hours and methodology are insufficient to maintain proficiency in active shooter preparedness, that dispatchers are not properly trained on receiving active shooter calls, and that live exercise training for first responders is inadequate. Recommendations for Military Police Corps leadership include updating the training methodology for first responders and dispatchers, providing betterThe Military Police Corps’ active shooter preparedness plan is inadequate because several updated tactics, techniques, and procedures that have been developed over the past 20 years and implemented by civilian law enforcement agencies have not been incorporated, leaving the Corps less prepared during active shooter events. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine how Military Police Corps leaders trained their law enforcement and support personnel to respond to an active shooter event. The institutional analysis and development framework was used to analyze the day-to-day operational decisions within the Military Police Corps. Data for the qualitative case study were collected through semi structured interviews with 15 Military Police Corps leaders and soldiers across 5 military police battalions in the United States and Europe and military police training records. These data were subjected to axial and open coding, followed by a thematic analysis procedure. Participants perceived that the Corps’ active shooter preparedness training hours and methodology are insufficient to maintain proficiency in active shooter preparedness, that dispatchers are not properly trained on receiving active shooter calls, and that live exercise training for first responders is inadequate. Recommendations for Military Police Corps leadership include updating the training methodology for first responders and dispatchers, providing better tactical equipment for first responders, and revising policies in order to improve the Military Police Corps’ active shooter preparedness program. Implementation of these recommendations may promote public safety. Evaluating the Military Police Corps’ Active Shooter Preparedness Plan by Robert Lee Harris Jr. MA, American Military University, 2011 BS, American Military University, 2009 AS, Ashford College, 2007 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University August 2019 Dedication I dedicate this academic achievement to my two amazing sons, Aaron and Averie. Both of you are extremely intelligent and gifted and can achieve anything once you put your mind and heart into it! Never give up on your dreams and goals. To Michelle, my lovely wife, I could not have done this without your support, encouragement, and belief in me. Thank you, “babe”; I love you with all my heart, and I thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for you on a daily basis! To my parents, Robert and Annie Harris, thanks for instilling the value of hard work in me at a very early age; the things I learned from both of you have served me well! To my aunt “Bae” (Ida Harris) and aunt “Pooh” (Willie Mae Garner), thanks for the tough love (Aunt Pooh) and unwavering support (Aunt Bae) throughout my formative years. Finally, I dedicate this research to law enforcement personnel (civilian and military) who place their lives on the line on a daily basis by protecting and serving their communities! Acknowledgments First and foremost, I wish to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for making this possible. I offer my profound thanks to Dr. Ian Cole for agreeing to be my committee chair and for the insightful comments to my drafts and Dr. Greg Koehle for also agreeing to serve on my committee. Their contribution enhanced this research immensely! I am particularly grateful to the participant pool for taking the time to freely share their experiences with active shooter preparedness planning. To my wife, I greatly appreciated your prayers, understanding, and patience during this journey; you were my inspiration!