Date
8-20-2026
Department
Helms School of Government
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration (PhD)
Chair
Marc Philip Weiss
Keywords
Active shooter incidents; emergency response policy; public administration; policy implementation; emergency preparedness; crisis management; administrative leadership; interagency collaboration; multiagency coordination; organizational capacity; incident command system; operational effectiveness; training and exercises; organizational learning; corrective action tracking.
Disciplines
Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
Recommended Citation
Ferro, Christopher J., "Evaluating Administrative Strategies for Implementing Emergency Response Policies: A Public Administration Approach to Active Shooter Incidents" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8801.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8801
Abstract
The purpose of the proposed study is to address the persistent problem of ineffective implementation of emergency response policies for active shooter incidents within public agencies. Despite the development of numerous laws, public policies, and preventive measures aimed at mitigating such incidents, challenges remain in how such policies are administered and executed by public administrators. The proposed study will examine the administrative processes and strategies that shape how relevant policies are implemented and evaluated for effectiveness. The research will incorporate a qualitative design by examining case studies of successful and unsuccessful active shooter incident responses, conducting semi-structured interviews with public administrators responsible for emergency management, and analyzing administrative records and statutes. Data will be analyzed using thematic coding and a convergent qualitative approach to identify patterns related to administrative leadership, interagency coordination, and policy implementation effectiveness in active shooter emergency response.
