The Development of Police Management on Mass Shooting Incident: A Case Study of Korat Shooting Incident

Abstract

This research aimed at the development of police management on mass shooting incident: a case study of Korat shooting incident. In order to provide appropriate approaches in response to mass shootings through the analysis of post-crisis management. This qualitative study undertook documentary research, and conducted in-depth interviews with participants who have knowledge and experience in various crisis management incidents, specifically mass shooting incidents, and those directly involved in responding to the Korat shooting incident. The participants consisted of seven police officers at the executive and operational levels from different departments, and eleven private individuals, which consisted of two social media followers, one public safety technology business developer, one criminology and public safety academic. The participants voluntarily consented to provide information through the conduct of an in-depth interview. The study used content analysis. 

The findings showed that guidelines to improve police officers’ performance in managing the response to mass shootings in the community requires four aspects: 1) Professional training – to provide training in information management in emergency situations for the radio center personnel and to provide training in media communication for executive police officers; 2) Operational procedure - to create a manual for police officers working in the radio communication center, and to give authority to police officers at the operational level who are performing their duties to make decisions or give orders and disseminate information without deferring to their superior; 3) Technology enhancement – to create functional media platforms such as maintaining an active police station's Facebook account with local followers, educating the public how to rescue themselves from a shooting incident, and setting up public and private social media networks to share information about emergency situations such as a shooting incident; 4) Legal Aspect: Establish legal procedures to facilitate cooperation from the public, private sector, and local media in disseminating information related to emergency situations. This could include adopting a memorandum of cooperation between the police and online social networks, enabling provincial and national police spokespeople to share information about emergencies, such as shooting incidents, on these platforms.