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Analysis and Critique of Dayton Ohio Active Shooting Incident
Michael Cullars
Helms School of Government, Liberty University
HLSC 530-B01: Homeland Security Capstone
Dr. James Carlino
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Analysis and Critique of Dayton Ohio Active Shooting Incident
Active shooting incidents in America have sparked debates about gun rights and the need
to take action on toughening legislation on gun control. Advocates of the right to bear arms
believe that regulating their right to bear arms violate their second amendment rights. Those
victimized by actors of gun violence believe that there remains an urgent need to legislate guns
through such actions as restricting who may have access to them and banning dangerous weapon
systems such as assault weapons and high capacity magazines. The event which occurred on 4
August 2019 in Dayton Ohio only strengthened the debate on gun control but this critique and
analysis focus on the events and the emergency response actions which occurred at the
downtown Organ district of Dayton, Ohio.
According to Hillhouse (n.d.) Connor Betts fired rounds into a crowd at the nightlife
Oregon District in Dayton, Ohio in the early morning hours of August 4, 2019. The perpetrator
equipped himself with body armor and carried high-capacity magazines (Hillhouse, n.d.). Betts
had in his possession a 223 caliber rifle, which according to Staff (2019), could fire off 250
rounds if loaded to full capacity.
According to Staff (2019), the suspect began firing dozens of rounds outside the Ned
Peppers nightclub. Police officers responded within 30 seconds after the perpetrator fired the
first rounds into the crowd, killing him (Doubek, 2019). There were nine fatalities and an
additional 27 people injured in the attack (Hillhouse, n.d.). Although the perpetrator killed his
sister during the attack, it remains unknown if the perpetrator targeted his sister (Staff, 2019).
According to O’Rourke (2020), the first responders' emergency response to the incident
was chaotic. But, within minutes, the police officers responded, used what they learn from their
training and place it to action such as providing first aid to the wounded. O'Rourke (2020)
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describe how Dayton's Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) President Jerry Dix provided examples
of life-saving techniques that his fellow brothers and sisters conducted on the casualties. The
officer's stop excessive bleeding by applying tourniquets, padding wounds with gauzes, and
transporting as many casualties as they could to the hospital (O’Rourke, 2020). Dayton fire
crews set up a perimeter to conduct triage operations but retired Fire Chief Jeff Lykins revealed
to Dayton 24/7 news that he ordered his fire crew not to enter the scene because of reports of a
second active shooter engaging the scene (O’Rourke, 2020).
Communication between first responders and other neighboring partners were not in
unison during the response. The Dayton police and fire departments had difficulty
communicating with other agencies because of different communication frequencies, languages,
and codes (O’Rourke, 2020). Besides the communication problems, the Fire Chief of Dayton’s
Fire Department contributed the lack of proper gear such as ballistic vests and tactical for his fire
crew contributed to his decision not to risk the lives of his crew (O’Rourke, 2020).
Although the police officers responded and to quell the perpetrator’s attack on innocent
victims and perform first aid for the wounded, there were issues within Daytona’s emergency
management process which its leaders failed to maximize the processes involved in the
emergency management cycle. Emergency management is a discipline that aims to prevent
and/or react to disasters from an all-hazard approach (McEntire, 2019). Within the emergency
management process, involves the following phases, mitigation/prevention, preparedness,
response, and recovery. The focal point of emergency management is to reduce hazards through a
collective approach and integrating systems within the emergency management phases to
manage disasters and other threats. The following phases involved a critique and analysis of the
emergency management and first responders’ personnel actions during the various phases of
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emergency the emergency management process during the active shooting incident in Dayton,
Ohio.
Mitigation
Kilroy (2018) explained mitigation as actions taken on consistent bases to reduce the loss
of life and property from natural and human-made disasters. The shooting incident that occurred
on August 4, 2019, was a human threat event. Kilroy (2018) explained active shooting incidents
in America is a common theme. Individuals involved in mass shootings conduct these acts for
different reasons such as from hate or to engage in terroristic acts. However, since the aftermath
of the event, the perpetrator’s motive for conducting the attack remains unknown Hillhouse
(n.d.).
Mitigation strategies that would enhance key leaders, emergency management personnel,
business, and other organizations' ability to respond to active shooting incidents are to have a
pre-established Emergency Action Plan (EAP). According to “Active Shooter Preparedness:
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency [CISA]” (n.d.), actions such as establishing
collaborative planning and threat assessment teams, reporting protocols, identifying objectives
and resources need to achieve a needed capability would make for an effective EAP.
Organizational leaders should carry out pre-established evacuation routes into the EAP. Since it
is difficult to predict when an active shooter incident may occur, it is imperative that the public
become educated on reporting suspicious behavior, communications, and other actions to deter
an active shooter attack. The chaos involved in the Daytona shooting caught the business
industries affected by the shooting by surprise. Conducting hazard and threat vulnerability
assessments, EAPs and education are effective ways to mitigate active shooting incidents.
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Preparedness
Preparedness involves the actions necessary to enhance response efforts and recovery
capabilities (McEntire, 2019). Communication problems between the police and fire
departments and not having protective gear were some issues which impacted the emergency
response. Coordinating mechanisms such as instituting the incident command system would
have provided command and control to improve emergency response operations. It was apparent
that roles, responsibilities, and communication protocols amongst the emergency personnel were
unclear.
Mutual aid agreements with other jurisdictions, planning, and allocation of resources,
and identifying the roles and responsibilities of leaders and key stakeholders under the Incident
Command System (ICS) would have minimized some challenges during the active shooting
incident. The Fire Chief became uncomfortable ordering his crew to enter the perimeter
believing that a second active shooting was at the scene. Furthermore, besides the false
information, the Fire Chief did not risk the lives of his firefighters because they did not have the
appropriate protective gear.
Conducting functional, tabletop, and full-scale exercises would have benefited the
emergency management personnel, collaborating partners, and first responders. The Homeland
Security and Evaluation Program, (HSEEP), a program component of the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), designed to improve planning before emergency management
organizations execute drills and evaluate the training and identify problems before a real-world
emergency event occurs (McEntire, 2019). According to Melmer et al. (2019), simulation
training benefits first responders because they provide a realistic approach in identifying gaps
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and limitations in planning and protocols as well as applying pressure and stress to training
events such as conducting medical triages. The police transporting patients to the hospital’ a
non-collaborative incident command system, communication problem between first responders
and surrounding jurisdictions, indicates that the city leaders and emergency management
personnel in Dayton, Ohio did not adequately train enough/and or identified the key personnel
and resources need to respond to various emergencies in a disruptive manner.
Response
The Daytona law enforcement officers performed well in responding to the incident. It
was apparent, based on their actions, their leadership did a great job in responding to an active
shooter incident. The officers quickly quelled the threat within 30 seconds of the initial shots.
They also perform life-saving procedures before transporting some victims to the hospital.
Without the quick response time of the law enforcement officials, the casualty rate would have
been much higher. The response efforts would have improved if there was an adequate incident
command system in place, an Emergency Operations Center to monitor response and recovery
operations, radio interoperability, one communication protocol for all involved to understand,
and coordinating with hospitals for emergency management services and mass casualty care.
Recovery
According to Staff (2019), a family assistance center was set up at the Daytona
Convention Center to aid families impacted by the actions of the shooter. Recovery can be a
long-term process. First responders, survivors, and family members may need counseling to
deal with the stress and trauma from violent events. Faith-based organizations can offer
spiritual support. Social services can provide counseling needs and other services to promote the
physical and mental well beings of those impacted violent events.
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Summary
The active shooting incident only iterates the importance of preparedness. This effort
requires teamwork, planning, training, communication, and consistency to prepare and respond
to threats and other hazards. The defense of the American homeland and the emergency
management process requires leadership and the desire of others to ensure and prevent the loss of
property, life, and damage to the environment. We should be as the ant and always be prepared
in case of an emergency. Proverbs 6:6-8 states, “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways,
and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in the summer
and gathers her food in harvest” (ESV)
.
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References
Active Shooter Preparedness | CISA. (n.d.). Www.Cisa.Gov. https://www.cisa.gov/active-
shooter-preparedness
Doubek, J. (2019, August 4). Police Identify Suspected Dayton, Ohio, Shooter; 9 Dead, 27
Injured. Www.WMRA.Org. https://www.wmra.org/post/9-killed-least-16-injured-
shooting-dayton-ohio#stream/0
Hillhouse, J. (n.d.). Dayton Shooting. Homeland Security Digital Library. Retrieved March 3,
2020, from https://www.hsdl.org/c/tl/dayton-shooting/
Kilroy, R. (2018). Threats to homeland security: reassessing the all-hazards perspective (2nd
ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
McEntire, D. A. (2019). Introduction to homeland security: understanding terrorism prevention
and emergency management (2nd ed.). Wiley.
Melmer, P., Carlin, M., Castater, C. A., Koganti, D., Hurst, S. D., Tracy, B. M., Grant, A. A.,
Williams, K., Smith, R. N., Dente, C. J., & Sciarretta, J. D. (2019). <p>Mass Casualty
Shootings and Emergency Preparedness: A Multidisciplinary Approach for an
Unpredictable Event</p>. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, Volume 12, 1013–
1021. https://doi.org/10.2147/jmdh.s219021
O’Rourke, M. (2020, February 5). DAYTON24/7NOW Investigates: The Oregon District
shooting response. WRGT. https://dayton247now.com/news/local/dayton247now-
investigates-the-oregon-district-shooting-response
Proverbs 6:6-8 ESV - - Bible Gateway. (n.d.). Www.BibleGateway.com. Retrieved March 6,
2020, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+6%3A6-
8&version=ESV
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