The suspect in the Minneapolis church shooting followed by a manifesto against children, transgender people, Jews, and others. The mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church was described as an act of domestic terrorism. In this case the violence culminated in two fatalities and 18 wounded. Terrorism requires an intent to bring chaos and death to a mass society – in this case children praying at mass during a catholic school’s opening day of school. The FBI says the events was targeted against the Catholic school. The gunman fired their rifle at children and worshipers sitting in the Annunciation Catholic church during mass. Chief O’Hara at Minneapolis Police called it senseless and a deliberate act of cowardice beyond comprehension.
Month: August 2025
Stress and its malignant power to impair
Stress is a cumulative response to exposure to threatening, fearful, or chaotic scenes. It is especially important that police officers can quickly assess violent scenes to offer the best and most prompt action. Active shooter protocols need that teams of officers are not distracted in their search for the shooter sometimes stepping over victims along the way. It can become exceedingly difficult unless they are disciplined. “Officers are trained to be vigilant and alert. The job demands it. The fight/flight mechanism that keeps us on guard plays a primary role on how people feel after episodes of high stress. Police officers are no different. Feelings of frustration, lack of focus, chronic fatigue, and even depression can result from an over reliance social media like an unfed addiction. Therein lies the malignancy that can be attributed to the human stress response. No one is immune from its impact and there is a price to pay when our brains can’t turn off images and the media.
MSefton's Human Behavior Blog 