2018 NJ State PBA
Main Convention
WHAT HAPPENED CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39
Here’s some of what they know:
• Paddock had no criminal record, aside from a traffic ticket.
• Months prior to the incident, he bought $200,000 worth of
firearms, all legally.
• More than 1,000 rounds were fired during the event. Anoth-
er 5,000 rounds were not used.
• Paddock attempted to create a large explosion by shooting
two bullets into nearby fuel tanks. He didn’t succeed.
• The search history on Paddock’s computer showed that
he had researched how SWAT teams might respond. This
explains a blue hose that was found in his hotel room, at-
tached to a mask, which would have kept him going if re-
sponders tried to gas him.
Investigators tracked Paddock’s phone calls and comput-
er searches. They spoke with his family members and his girl-
friend. They even dug up surveillance of him at sporting goods
stores purchasing guns. The LVMPD uncovered all the details
except one: why he did it.
Though the world may never know the motive of the 65-year-
old white male who methodically planned and executed the Las
Vegas shooting, LVMPD officers like Mullen and Yatomi feel a
responsibility to share the lessons learned with law enforce-
ment across the country so that together, they become more
prepared to respond the next time around.
“We responded, we learned, and our agency got better be-
cause of it,” Mullen stressed. “Let’s share everything that we
have, so that we can protect ourselves from the next one and all
work together to figure out a solution.”
40
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ OCTOBER 2018
Las Vegas Shooting Takeaways:
• Keep dispatchers briefed on big events taking place in the
area so that in case of an emergency, they are aware of
the location and demographics.
• Supply go-bags with plenty of tourniquets and have
them readily available in many locations surrounding the
events, including hotels and restaurants.
• Organize with high-rise buildings to have elevator keys
available in go-bags.
• Don’t wait to build relationships with other first respond-
ers (fire departments, EMTs, medical staff). Train with
them now so that when something happens, the partner-
ship is already there.
• Have a plan in place within your agency for how to re-
spond if a mass casualty incident occurs.
• Following an incident of high impact, designate an area
where the community can go for help and recovery.
• Study the aftermath of large incidents together in order to
learn together and become stronger together.