Ten years ago today two Columbine High School students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, entered the school and went on a shooting rampage. The two shooters critically injured 24 people and killed another 13 before taking their own lives.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department was the first responding law enforcement agency on the scene. In the days after the event they came under severe scrutiny for allowing the two gunmen to have free reign of the school for almost an hour until the Denver SWAT Team arrived. The Denver SWAT Team also received criticism for their long response and what seemed an inordinate amount of time to enter and secure the building, approximately 2.5 hours after their arrival on scene.

In the years since Columbine, law enforcement have re-evaluated their protocols and procedures when dealing with an “active shooter” scenario. They have, hopefully, instituted revised procedures on how to better handle these situations. More importantly though is to provide adequate training in these tactical changes. Without the proper training all we are doing is placing our Law Enforcement Responders in greater danger.

As the post investigation of Columbine indicated, both Harris and Klebold had four propane tank bombs in their vehicles that failed to detonate with the sole intent of harming the first responders. Whether they be Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Services, or Fire Services a First Responder can only assist the victim if they make it to them safely.

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