Less than 4 minutes is a damn good response time from 911 call to emergency services arrival.
Especially considering that Newtown, CT, is a rather spread-out suburb, on that point I would agree. However --
I just looked at Google maps. The first officer arrived
behind the school, on Crestwood Drive. Yes, it's directly behind the school -- but there's no entrance to the school property from Crestwood, the property line has a high fence along it.
More importantly:
The call came in at 9:35:39 and the alert was broadcast at 9:36:06. So far, so good.
First officer arrives (at a place that offers him no access to the school) at 9:39:00 -- three minutes into the incident.
Two more officers arrive, and park near the ball field at 9:39:13. At least they're on the driveway and don't have to scale a fence to even get onto the property, but they're 100 yards from the entrance to the building and I can't help thinking that a patrol car can roll faster than they could run.
LAST gunshot is reported at 9:40:03. Four minutes into the incident (since the alert broadcast), and a minute after three officers arrived at the site.
First officer enters the school at 9:44:47. Irrespective of transit time, over which they had no control, the first officer didn't enter the school until FOUR MINUTES AND 47 SECONDS
AFTER the first officer arrived at the site. Supposedly, the training protocol for active shooters in schools ever since Columbine has been for the first officer(s) on the scene to enter immediately and attempt to engage or neutralize the shooter(s). They are NOT supposed to wait for backup. These guys waited almost
FIVE MINUTES before they entered the building, AFTER they were at the scene.
That's inexcusable.
Time line:
9:35:39 - First 911 call to Newtown Police Department is received.
9:36:06 - Newtown Police Department dispatcher broadcasts that there is a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
9:37:38 - Connecticut State Police are dispatched to SHES for active shooter.
9:38:50 - CSP are informed that SHES is in lockdown.
9:39:00 - First Newtown police officer arrives behind SHES on Crestwood Rd.
9:39:13 - Two more Newtown officers arrive at SHES and park on the driveway near the ball field. Gunshots are heard in the background.
9:39:34 - Newtown officer encounters unknown male running along the east side of SHES with something in his hand.
9:40:03 - Last gunshot is heard. This is believed to be the final suicide shot from the shooter in classroom 10.
9:41:07 - Information is relayed as to the location of the last known gunshots heard within SHES, the front of the building.
9:41:24 - Newtown officer has unknown male prone on ground, starting information relay regarding possibly more than one shooter.
9:42:39 - Newtown officer calls out the license plate of the shooter’s car.
9:44:47 - Newtown officers enter SHES.
9:46:23 - CSP arrive at SHES.
9:46:48 - CSP enter SHES.