A Cop's Perspective: The Uvalde Massacre and Answering the "Why" • The Havok Journal

The Robb Elementary School attack was a tragedy that could have been prevented. The police response was chaotic and marred by confusion and communication failures. As a result, the attacker was able to cause more damage than they otherwise would have. The following is an AAR (After Action Report) of the police response because most officers, including myself, were confused about how the police officers and their command responded.

The Texas Department of Public Safety called in the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center soon after the attack to assess the law enforcement response. ALERRT is an acronym for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training program which is responsible for developing and delivering “model active shooter response training” to law enforcement and civilian groups nationwide. According to their website, they have trained over 400,000 people since 2002. All the information in this article came from their assessment. I will highlight the initial response from officers. To me, that was the most critical part of this response.

Initial Timeline

Below is a detailed timeline that ALERRT put together through surveillance cameras, witness reports, officer reports, dispatch, 911 calls, and recordings.[1]

At 11:28:25, the suspect became involved in a motor vehicle crash in a dry canal near the elementary school. Two people from a nearby business approached the crash scene at 11:29:02, The suspect engaged them both with a rifle. The two people fled back to the business unharmed and called 9-1-1.

At 11:30:14, the suspect, wearing dark clothing and carrying a bag, left the crash scene and climbed a chain-link fence onto the elementary school property. The suspect walked deliberately across the open grounds between the fence and the teachers’ parking lot. The suspect moved towards the school buildings on the westmost side of the campus. Although a defect that might have been caused by a bullet was located on a building south of the affected structure, it could not be substantiated at this time that any rounds were fired at a teacher and children on the playground at the time of the crash.

At 11:31:36, the suspect is captured on video shooting from between cars, and a Uvalde Patrol unit is captured arriving at the crash site.

Prior to the suspect’s entry into the building at 11:33:00, according to statements, a Uvalde Police Officer on scene at the crash site observed the suspect carrying a rifle outside the west hall entry. The officer, armed with a rifle, asked his supervisor for permission to shoot the suspect. However, the supervisor either did not hear or responded too late. The officer turned to get confirmation from his supervisor and when he turned back to address the suspect, he had entered the west hallway unabated.

To me, when I saw that. My blood pressure went up and through the roof. I cannot comprehend why that officer felt they needed permission to shoot the suspect. ALERRT explained that Texas Penal Code 9.32, DEADLY FORCE IN DEFENSE OF PERSON states, that an individual is justified in using deadly force when the individual reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary to prevent the commission of murder (amongst other crimes). The officer had more than enough justification to shoot the suspect.

The officer did not need to ask for permission.

The other part of this situation was the officer was 148 yards away. I do not know if the officer is proficient with his/her rifle. In a previous article, “A Capable Cop is a Confident Cop: Qualify Vs Proficiency,” I discussed the issue of police training. I know most police officers do not shoot during a qualification past 100 yards. Some departments hand out rifles to officers at each shirt and the rifles are just zeroed by having the rear and front sight flush with each other and not zeroed to the specific officer unless you’re on a SWAT team.

There has been a trend of law enforcement agencies requiring officers to obtain permission from a supervisor before taking any sort of police action. This policy has been implemented in response to a number of high-profile incidents in which officers have used excessive force or made other mistakes that have resulted in public outcry. While the intention of this policy is to prevent such incidents from occurring, it may actually have the opposite effect. For one thing, it can create delays in law enforcement response responses. In addition, it can lead to more paperwork and bureaucracy, which can make it difficult for officers to do their jobs effectively. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to require officers to obtain permission before taking action should be made on a case-by-case basis. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to this issue.

When responding to a school shooting, every second counts. The first few minutes are crucial in determining the outcome of the incident. If law enforcement and other first responders can quickly contain the shooter and evacuate students and staff, the chances of saving lives are much higher. However, if mistakes are made in those critical first minutes, it can all go downhill from there. In many school shootings, the initial response is delayed or ineffective, which allows the shooter to continue killing and injuring innocent people. In some cases, these delays can mean the difference between life and death. With such high stakes, it’s clear that the first few minutes of a school shooting are the most critical and important.

So, the big question is, how can this be prevented? I’m talking about the law enforcement response.

Let’s begin by talking about this profession as more than a job. This isn’t a job, where you clock in and out and that’s it you’re done. This “job” is a serious one because it deals with arresting criminals, fighting evil, and being that last line of defense.

I have seen this happen firsthand during my decade-plus in law enforcement. Time and time again, I have seen officers who have risen through the ranks, not because they are good at their jobs, but because they are good test takers. American law enforcement’s dirty little secret is that inaction and cowardice are rarely punished. The result is that we have a lot of officers who are in way over their heads, which ultimately puts both the public and their fellow officers at risk.

Here is my take on what needs to change:

1. Most citizens might be surprised to learn that many police departments do not select supervisors on the basis of professional competency, knowledge, ability, initiative, or leadership skills. While there are many phenomenal leaders in American policing, the supervisory ranks of law enforcement are often filled with cowardice, incompetence, and laziness. This often leads to a lack of accountability and an overall decline in the quality of policing. As a result, it is essential that police departments select their supervisors carefully and ensure that they are competent and capable of leading their subordinates.

2. There is no question that being a law enforcement officer is a demanding and challenging profession. In addition to the physical demands of the job, officers must also deal with the constant stress of making split-second decisions that could have life-or-death consequences. As such, it is essential that only those who are physically and mentally prepared for the rigors of the job are hired into the law enforcement profession.

3. It’s time for cops to get serious. Too many police officers are spending their time making TikTok videos and lip-syncing instead of actually doing their jobs. This might be great for public relations when there is no threat, but it doesn’t reduce crime or make criminals love the police. In fact, it does the opposite. It breeds mental weakness among police officers and makes them less likely to do their jobs effectively. It’s time to stop rewarding and incentivizing this type of behavior. Let’s get back to basics and focus on keeping our communities safe. That’s what matters most.

4. In today’s rapidly changing world, it is more important than ever to have a police force that is adaptable and able to think critically. Traditional policing tactics are no longer sufficient to meet the needs of modern society. Instead, we need a new breed of law enforcement officer, one who is part cop and part wolf. These hybrid wolves are exactly what we need to keep our communities safe. They are knowledgeable and experienced, but they also have the strength and courage to take action when necessary. In addition, they are not afraid to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to difficult problems. The next time you hire or promote a police officer, make sure that they possess all of these qualities. It is only by prioritizing these critical thinkers that we can hope to keep our communities safe.

5. It seems as though the importance of leadership has been forgotten. Individuals with little to no experience are promoted into high-level positions, simply because they have a “nice resume.” As a result, organizations often suffer because these individuals lack the fundamental skills needed to lead successfully. It’s time to put an end to this trend and return to valuing operational-level leaders who possess genuine knowledge, initiative, and decisiveness. These are the traits that are needed to create a successful law enforcement culture. Not only will this help improve organizations, but it will also act as a much-needed purge of the cowards and slackers who have been masquerading as leaders.

6. The relationship between the police and the public has always been a tenuous one, but in recent years it has become increasingly strained. Part of the reason for this is that police are often used as political pawns by both the media and politicians. Whenever there is a high-profile incident involving police conduct, there is always a rush to judgment by both the media and the general public. This puts an incredible amount of pressure on police officers, who are then reluctant to be proactive for fear of being made into scapegoats. As a result, crime rates have spiked all across the country. It’s time for both the media and politicians to stop using police as political pawns and start working together to find real solutions to the problems facing our communities.

The above list is quite a challenge, but how else are we going to fix the failures in the police culture if we don’t start looking inwards? I have always said that policing culture has a big part in this mess and blame. We have always been quiet about our issues and never really voiced our concerns. Sure we bitch and moan to each other but look at where it has gotten us. It’s time for change. Uvalde TX truly highlighted those failures and innocent lives were lost as a result. This is unacceptable.

[1] ALERRT & FBI (2020). Active Shooter Response – Level 1. Version 7.2.

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Ayman Kafel is the co-founder and managing partner of Project Sapient Podcast. It is the #1 law enforcement and military podcast with over 12,000 listeners and growing rapidly in just under a year. Project Sapient was founded to engage brothers and sisters in law enforcement and military communities in conversations that need to be had and exemplify the positive and unpack the controversy plaguing the profession and our society.

Ayman has seen the ugliness of war and evil in the world. He has survived two civil wars prior to immigrating to the United States in the late eighties.

In addition, Ayman is an Army Combat Veteran who was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. He became a police officer in 2007 after 8 years of service in the Army.

Ayman has been a police officer for over 15 years. He has worked as a patrol officer, plain-clothes officer, detective, fire investigator, Metro SWAT operator, DEA Task Force Officer, and DEA Special Response Team assistant team leader.

His current position is the commander of his department’s Problem-Oriented Policing Unit. He leads a team of investigators that employs unconventional methods and Special Forces philosophy in achieving specific objectives in the communities he serves. These unconventional methods range from winning hearts and minds to specific strategic law enforcement actions to arrest and prosecute those who are the root cause of various crimes. Ayman has made it his mission to use his experience and bring awareness of PTSD, TBI, depression, and various other mental health disorders that are very prevalent in the veteran and law enforcement communities. To talk openly and confidently about these things without the stigma of what society labels combat veterans and law enforcement