Conducting After-Action Reviews for Active Shooter Hoaxes

This article is a guide that discusses the necessity for campus public safety to conduct after-action reviews (AARs) following active shooter hoaxes. It outlines how the frequency and sophistication of false active shooter reports have increased, leading to significant operational impacts on colleges and universities. The text emphasizes that these hoaxes are not non-events; they trigger real emergency responses, creating a need for thorough analysis and learning. The authors argue that treating these incidents as operationally insignificant overlooks critical opportunities to enhance readiness for actual violent events. The article details how hoaxes replicate the pressures and ambiguities of real emergencies, stressing the importance of AARs in institutional learning and preparedness. It also highlights the varying dynamics of decision-making during hoaxes, particularly in relation to when they occur within a cluster of incidents. The guide concludes that AARs are now a professional obligation for public safety leaders in the evolving threat landscape.