In the July 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers law enforcement killed the shooter, Micah Johnson, using a robot armed with explosives. It is believed that this is the first time police have used...

In the July 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers law enforcement killed the shooter, Micah Johnson, using a robot armed with explosives. It is believed that this is the first time police have used a robot to killed a shooter. Attacks by terrorists have resulted in numerous changes in the police’s response. A major change is the emphasis upon a speedy and aggressive response by first responding officers. Previously in response to a shooting the strategy of many police departments was for officers to contain the situation and wait for SWAT. This response is no longer considered appropriate for terrorist attacks. Thus, in 2015, the New York Police Department (NYPD) started training its officers not to wait for backup but to be more aggressive in confronting and “neutralizing” the attacker. As a result of this change in tactics NYPD beat officers want more fire power and protective equipment such as military-style assault vehicles, body armor, and automatic rifles so they are not “outgunned” by the shooter. Secondly, this counterterrorism strategy is directly opposed to the community demand for de-escalation of violent incidents. This change of strategy could create tensions with the community which wants police to emphasize de-escalation and look less like a military-style force. Can law enforcement balance public expectations with new counterterrorism strategies?