NY Times Reporter Posts Jaw-Dropping Details of Uvalde Police Active Shooter Training
New York Times National Correspondent Mike Baker posted jaw-dropping excerpts of Uvalde police active shooter training materials that clearly contradict what actually occurred during this week’s massacre.
Outrage is snowballing over the police response to the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas that claimed the lives of 19 children and two adults, as damaging revelations raise more questions than they answer.
And on Friday, Baker added to those questions by posting actual training materials he’s been examining, and contrasting them with the conduct of police during Tuesday’s horrific tragedy.
“I have spent the past few days researching the training of Uvalde officers, including the tactics they were expected to use to halt school shooters,” Baker wrote. “The documents are jarring. Here’s a thread of our findings so far.”
What followed was a trove of materials that directly conflict with the actions that police took on Tuesday:
In the past two years, the Uvalde school district has hosted at least two active-shooter training days. One of them was just two months ago.
The trainings included both classroom teachings and role-playing scenarios inside school hallways (below).https://t.co/vE11bemXYg
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— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) May 28, 2022
But how should officers confront the gunman? With a tactical team? The training says that’s probably not feasible, because the urgency is so high.
A SINGLE OFFICER, the training says, may need to confront the suspect on their own.
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— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) May 28, 2022
The training expectations are obviously in stark contrast to what we are seeing in Uvalde. Police officials have said that officers were reluctant to engage the gunman because “they could’ve been shot.”https://t.co/wL8eqpqkiw
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— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) May 28, 2022
It’s clear that officers did not follow that scenario this week. 19 officers staged outside the classroom. 78 minutes elapsed before they entered. Children repeatedly called 911 from inside.
“It was the wrong decision,” top officer says.https://t.co/08outQNCyr
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— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) May 28, 2022
We are continuing to scrutinize the Uvalde response. Meanwhile, here’s a look at nationwide training for active shooters.
“If you know children are being murdered, why do you wait? Get in there.”https://t.co/UV5I33bFhi
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— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) May 28, 2022
Baker concluded his thread by writing “We are continuing to scrutinize the Uvalde response. Meanwhile, here’s a look at nationwide training for active shooters.”
He signed off with a chilling quote from that report on national active shooter training: “If you know children are being murdered, why do you wait? Get in there.”
