WCTC may use Capitol shooting as lesson for students

WAUKESHA (WITI) -- Police near the U.S. Capitol opened fire on Thursday, October 3rd on a car being chased by authorities, hitting a woman driving the vehicle that also contained a child. Split-second decisions involving shoot or don't shoot scenarios are the types of things taught at Waukesha County Technical College on a regular basis.

Teachers often talk about threats, including threats that may not involve a gun. A car is one such possible threat.

In the most dangerous kind of scenario, a car has been described by police as a 3,000-pound bullet. With enough aim and velocity in the situation that occurred Thursday and other instances, it can prove lethal.

When threatened with a collision, police are trained to stop that threat -- so the gunfire following the car's aggressive driving is a trained response, especially if the officers feared for their safety or their lives.

Brian Dorow, Dean of Criminal Justice at WCTC, helps teach first responders about the kinds of dangers they could face on and off the streets.

Instructors stress that a threat can happen anytime, anywhere and by anyone -- and the fact that it was a female driver on Thursday plays into that lesson.

Dorow says if the woman was willing to risk two lives, police probably presumed she was a threat to many more, including their own safety.

The hope is for educators to find out what exactly happened during the incident. WCTC plans to review this case and see if there are any lessons that can be shared with students.