I think your response is the best one.
I too question the entire mind set of the responding personnel, their supervisors, and the base commander.
First, it sounds as if vehicles “cruising” the parking lot looking at license plates is a common occurrence. I wonder if the SP quality control people and/or base exercise teams test the responding officers reactions to just such a situation? When I was an AF base exercise team chief in the mid 1980’s not all of my SP response scenarios required an high intensity response. With base wide exercise once every quarter you can cover a lot of scenarios and different responses.
Second, what is the probability of a terrorist attack on Wright-Patt? Not every place in the CONUS is under the same level of terrorist threat. Proof? Why did September 11, 2001 happen where it did and not elsewhere? But, the bureaucratic mind set is one size must fit all regardless of how stupid or painful. That mind set creates incidents like this all too easily. BTW that mind set isn’t limited to the DOD.
Finally, despite the PAO’s response nothing has changed, nor will it. The best way to prevent this, or something worse, from happening again is some very vigorous PT for everyone from the responding SPs to the base commander - 20 laps around the fence in full chem protective gear comes to mind. Why do I want the base commander to join this fun run? His command authority extends well beyond his desk top and office; but, like most commanders he spends all too little time outside his office seeing what is really going on. The image is there but, as this non-fatal (by the grace of God) incident proves, the reality ain’t!
What is the probability of a terrorist attack on the Marine Barracks at Beruit Airport?
What is the probability of a terrorist attack on the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City?
What is the probability of a terrorist attack on a German disco frequented by GIs?
What is the probability of a terrorist attack on Fort Hood?
What is the probability of a terrorist attack on the Washington Navy Yard?
What is the probability of another terrorist attack on Fort Hood?
Here's a fun experiment you can try at home. Report your own car stolen, wait a couple of days, and then blow through a stop sign in front of one of your local cops. I bet the response you get will make the response of these MPs look positively restrained.