Matthew C. Kendall Undersheriff Darren Brewster Sheriff-Coroner Captain Gregory L. Van Patten

Standard operating procedures for emergency services personnel is an “All Hands-on Deck” response. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office trains frequently on responses to school shootings as well as other active threat scenarios. Sheriff’s office personnel train yearly on Active Threat response. Additionally, Sheriff’s Office personnel have conducted large scale training exercises at the Mendocino Community College and Howard Memorial Hospital. Sheriff’s Office personnel regularly conduct lower level Active Threat trainings with schools, businesses, medical clinics, libraries, and casinos throughout the county. Response tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP’s) are also taught during briefing training, field training and smaller break out training groups. These trainings involved Peace Officers from all jurisdictions within the county and the training is standardized throughout the Nation. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office treats any Active Threat as the highest priority call in which every on-duty deputy in the county, regardless of jurisdiction, is expected to respond immediately and with lights and sirens (Code 3). The call will be broadcast county-wide and all law enforcement resources are expected to answer the call.

Due to the County’s geographic challenges, including cities and remote rural areas, there is no optimum incident response time by emergency services personnel. According to a 2013 FBI study, almost 70% of gun related active assailant events, last just five minutes. A third of those last fewer than two minutes. Historically the trend had been for suspects in Active Threat incidents to commit suicide when contacted or cornered by law enforcement. Recently the trend has been to inflict as much carnage as possible in the shortest amount of time and then attempt escape. When confronted by law enforcement, the recent trend has been for suspects to either engage law enforcement or 951 Low Gap Road 707-463-4411 Ukiah, California 95482 Fax 707-468-3404 to surrender. A quick response time, by even a single officer or deputy, has shown to mitigate the damage inflicted by suspects. Equally as important is the coordination and availability of resources. The Sheriff’s Office understands the importance of the Incident Command System (ICS) as it relates to Active Threat situations and all sheriff’s office employees receive advanced training in ICS.

Response time to an incident of five minutes or more is not acceptable. According to a 2013 FBI study, almost 70% of gun related active assailant events, last just five minutes. A third of those last fewer than two minutes. Mendocino County is geographically challenged, which can influence response times for law enforcement personnel. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is continuously trying to mitigate this response time by hiring Resident Deputies who live and work in some of the most geographically challenged areas (Point Arena, Boonville, Potter Valley, Covelo, Laytonville). Resident deputies have a demonstrated history in our department of responding quickly to dangerous situations in their communities, thus mitigating dangers.