Retired Cop Talks Experiencing Las Vegas Mass Shooting & Running into Dan Bilzerian

TL;DR

A patrol sergeant recounts the night of the Las Vegas shooting and the challenges he faced in responding to the incident.

Transcript

so on that night I was I was a patrol Sergeant I was working kind of in the center part of our our Valley I was not at the event it was you know my regular working shift but we were the in the Box Squad and my the dispatcher said hey call me and I could hear in her voice something wasn't right so I called her on the phone and we were about to it wa... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 The patrol sergeant's experience and training in intelligence work gave him valuable insights in responding to the Las Vegas shooting.
• 😨 The fear of a potential second wave attack delayed the immediate response to the main crime scene.
• 🌃 The sergeant encountered false reports and misinformation during the chaotic night, highlighting challenges in communication and verification.
• 👮 The presence of intoxicated and distressed festival attendees at the Tropicana Hotel added complexity to the officer's responsibilities.
• ❓ The sergeant's leadership and communication skills were crucial in providing reassurance and guidance to the crowd of survivors.
• 👮 The sergeant's account highlights the bravery and dedication of both on-duty and off-duty officers, as well as civilian heroes, during the tragic event.
• 😷 The trauma center's importance was stressed by the sergeant, emphasizing the critical role of specialized medical facilities in mass shootings.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the patrol sergeant initially react to the report of shots fired at the festival?

The sergeant immediately feared it was a coordinated attack by ISIS or Al Qaeda, given his experience in trying to prevent such attacks through intelligence work.

Q: Why did the sergeant make the difficult decision to wait before responding to the scene?

There were already a large number of officers and SWAT teams on the scene, and the sergeant believed there may be a second wave of attacks elsewhere in the city.

Q: What was the sergeant's main concern in protecting the Trauma Center?

The Trauma Center played a crucial role in saving lives, and the sergeant believed that if it was compromised, it would have severe consequences for the entire valley.

Q: How did the sergeant handle Dan Bilzerian's offer to help?

The sergeant appreciated the offer but asked Bilzerian to be a good witness and return to his hotel room, as his main priority was maintaining the crime scene.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The patrol sergeant received a call about multiple shots fired at the Route 91 festival and initially feared it was a multi-prong attack by ISIS or Al Qaeda.

• He made the tough decision to wait for more information before rushing to the scene, as there were already numerous officers and SWAT teams responding.

• The sergeant and his team later responded to a false report at the Paris hotel, before discovering thousands of scared and intoxicated festival attendees seeking shelter at the Tropicana hotel.