My rant:
There’s a thing called “tombstone courage”. There’s also “you can’t save others until you save yourself”. The media visual and printed perception is deceiving.
Look to bad management that comes from mandates? SHTF and the bad managing of assets interferes. Book smarts is often practiced and almost never applied in real time. Book smart theorists are the basic armchair quarterbacks and often the ones in charge. Too sharp to ever be out applying the science but can sure pass an exam.
There are many reasons why tactical decisions are not publicized and shouldn’t be.
The optics are never good, it’s why MSM exists.
But I do agree however, that likely someone high up, politically and/or departmentally is more responsible for the incident fiasco than the very first responders.
There is a national school violence protocol that was DOJ developed and implemented decades ago, refined here and there over the years. Of course Not every situation or venue is the same, it seems the basic fundamental protocol was followed until overruled by indecision, and the passing or handing off of the responsibility that took longer than in what should have been immediate rather than a practical by-the-book response. Too many chiefs, memos, advisories, and of course disparaging Media comes to mind.
Ultimately the incident is under command of the on-scene responder until relieved by a higher up. That principle goes in all forms of trades/professions too. This incident unfolded faster than the commands arrival in my opinion. There’s absolutely NO way of telling if matters could have be better or worse, whether it called for an exigent deviation to protocols or calculated stand down.
Avoid protocol and enter with ’tombstone courage’ and maybe you win, maybe you won’t but somebody will be ultimately responsible and the reward will either be just summary discipline or grave.
As observers we should not decide and judge the response based on hearsay.
Its not known what the full details entailed, as to number of assailants, any indoor/outdoors ambush threats, explosives or booby traps, etc., did the local PD train for such and to what level and with what resources, if not why and if there were any tactical manpower shortages for any sort of emergency action planning.
One thing comes to mind is name the individual that initially left the door open and where they cowered in wait - after the familiar former student nut was allowed to initially enter. An absolute unknown and not subject to the same level defamation?
Blame or even castigation should not be solely on the men and women awaiting their orders. Be assured nobody went home feeling fine after this tragedy and some will always be haunted and reminded for the rest of their lives, second guessing on their own. May God bless and watch over them.
We were not there….the optics and banter are deceiving.