Bar active shooter situation
I've been working in downtown bars for nearly 3 years now. Recently I experienced my first active shooter situation. I'm due soon to renew my state certifications and training but they don't cover active shooter protocol. So I want to partly vent about the experience, partly ask advice and opinions, and also ask where to access active shooter protocol education and training when it's not covered by state mandated liquor training.
The shooting happened directly outside my bar. We had last call and shut the door like 5 minutes prior to the event. It's a big steel door with a little porthole window. I heard something, before realizing it was gunfire, but I knew something was wrong. Like maybe 20 shots were fired in total about 10 feet from our front door. When I got to the door and looked out the little window, I saw three people trying to find cover while shots were still being fired. Not knowing what was happening but acting on instinct, I opened the door and demanded the few people get inside. The last guy I think I grabbed and pulled so I could shut the door.
It ended up fine, nobody was hurt somehow despite it being extremely busy and crowded on the streets. Bullets went through the windows but, thank Christ, didn't find a body. But it made me realize how woefully unprepared I am for that kind of situation. What if it was inside the bar? What if one of the people I pulled inside was the shooter? I realize now I need to know that protocol and I don't.
Thanks for listening to my TED talk