Binghamton Immigrant Shooting: "safe for officers"????

According to William Kates in an AP article:

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – A gunman barricaded the back door of a community center with his car and then opened fire on a room full of immigrants taking a citizenship class Friday, killing 13 people before apparently committing suicide, officials said....

Police said they arrived within two minutes....

Police heard no gunfire after they arrived but waited for about an hour before entering the building to make sure it was safe for officers. They then spent two hours searching the building.

If this is true, several people should be fired, most certainly including whoever made this policy- if indeed it was policy. Early reports are frequently inaccurate, but if true, this is appalling behavior by those whose primary job is supposedly to protect and to serve.

As the saying goes, When seconds count, the police are just minutes away. Or maybe an hour, right outside the door, so they can be sure they are safe. Wouldn't want to rush in to anything which might be dangerous. Maybe bust a pot smoker while they wait. Or a repeat jaywalker. Catch up on the Police Gazette. Fill out some federal diversity forms. Arrest a blogger for taking pictures of them in inaction. Feel sorry for the bleeding victims inside. Work on their quota of parking tickets.

The receptionist, shot in the abdomen, played dead until the shooter was in another room,,then called 911. She showed more guts than the police. Not that it did anyone any good.

Thanks, guys.