SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Four months have passed since a hoax call was received reporting six people had been shot at Savannah Early College High School, prompting a massive response from several local law enforcement agencies. Now, the National Policing Institute (NPI) has released an after-action report detailing the strengths and weaknesses of law enforcement’s response to the school shooting hoax.
The report lists positives, such as an immediate response time from police, a natural team dynamic forming between several agencies and ease of classroom access.
However, the detailed report featured a lengthy list of complications with communication between law enforcement, the school and parents being the primary concern.
The report addresses a breakdown in communication between school administration and law enforcement, which caused roadblocks in the response.
“There needed to be more clarity regarding the role of school administrators, some of
whom tried to direct the law enforcement operation,” the report reads.
“School administrators allowed students, teachers, and staff back into the school without
consulting with law enforcement personnel. As a result, law enforcement personnel could
not use bomb dogs to conduct an effective protective sweep.”
The NPI’s report also found faults with communication with students, families, media and the community, stating “Rumors and false information spread quickly on social media…this exacerbated the situation as family members believed in false social media narratives, which caused anger, frustration, and an uncontrolled parental response to the school.” This echoes sentiments shared with WSAV from parents.
“If there was a clear-cut plan where all the parents could stay informed, that would make us all feel better,” said Melinda, a Savannah-Chatham County Public School (SCCPSS) parent. “I remember what that hoax happened and everyone was getting different information, and we were all just sitting at home scared. So if they could communicate quickly with the parents, that would be best.”
The report added that school staff received conflicting instructions on whether to evacuate or remain in their classrooms which created anxiety, confusion and fear.
Finally, the report criticized the reunification efforts of the school district and law enforcement alleging that officers were “absent from securing reunification areas” and therefore couldn’t assist school staff or give timely and accurate information about the incident.
Overall, the NPI acknowledged law enforcement’s efforts in their response to the hoax incident and provided recommendations for an improved path forward in the event of a legitimate school shooting event.
SCCPSS response
The Savannah-Chatham County Public School District provided the following statement to WSAV:
The November 30 response was the first large-scale active shooter response that we have encountered in Chatham County. The District appreciates the immediate show of strength that resulted from our partner emergency agencies who were on site with our Campus Police Department within minutes of receiving the threat. Responders, with assistance from school personnel, entered the facility swiftly and were prepared to engage and eliminate the threat to our students and staff. While training is a critical component for readiness in an emergency, we recognize the fluidity of these situations and strive to respond in the fastest, most effective way possible to mitigate threat and ensure the safety of all. Many lessons were learned during the response that will allow all Chatham County agencies to better prepare for future events. Holding after-action reviews and utilizing resources made available by our partner agencies allows us to review, improve, and enhance our safety and security protocols, training and procedures. As a public agency we work daily to balance the need for transparency and open engagement, while at the same time protecting our sensitive information and safety plans that could create vulnerabilities if used inappropriately.