WHEN GREEN AND BLUE COLLIDE: THE RELATIVE SUPERIORITY THEORY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INCIDENTS
Loading...
Authors
Lenart, Harley J.
Subjects
relative superiority
North Hollywood Shootout
Pittsburgh
Las Vegas mass shooting
tactical advantage
law enforcement
patrol response
ambush
officer involved shooting
military theory
direct-action
patrol
SWAT
police militarization
firepower
special operations
mass shootings
North Hollywood Shootout
Pittsburgh
Las Vegas mass shooting
tactical advantage
law enforcement
patrol response
ambush
officer involved shooting
military theory
direct-action
patrol
SWAT
police militarization
firepower
special operations
mass shootings
Advisors
Brannan, David W.
Halladay, Carolyn C.
Date of Issue
2019-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The past three decades have seen a significant increase in suspects using weapons, which had not been readily available to the public, and which are more lethal. When suspects are better armed and more skilled with their weapons and tactics than officers, law enforcement’s disparity of superiority leads to death and injury. For example, on October 1, 2017, the Las Vegas Massacre resulted in 58 people killed and more than 850 people injured. The entire incident lasted 10 minutes with the suspect firing more than 1,200 rounds before committing suicide. Retired Admiral William McRaven developed the relative superiority theory and the six principles of special operations. The theory’s basis is the need for operators to achieve superiority at a specific place and time by virtue of surprise, speed, and violence of action. This thesis analyzed case studies from the North Hollywood Shootout and the 2009 Pittsburgh officer-involved shooting. The relative superiority theory was applied to each case study and identified successes and failures of law enforcement’s response to the incident. The analysis and conclusions support the application of relative superiority theory to future critical law enforcement incidents during which officers may be outgunned or are already in an inferior position.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner.