Security

Intruder & Shooting Incidents

The Role of School Administrators, Faculty, and Staff

  1. Immediate Response

    Before the onset of a situation, the following things need to be considered.

    • Do you have a key for the classroom to lock it down?

    • Can you close the blinds?

    • Can you get you and your students away from the windows?

    • Do you have an opportunity to evacuate?

    • Do you know an evacuation route?

    • Do you know how you would contact security or 911?

    • How well do you think during a crisis? (if you have any doubts about your ability to think clearly and calmly in an emergency you should get busy planning and preparing)

    The following things need to happen as close together as possible. Responding personnel will have to use individual judgment as to what they can and should do first.

    1. Get yourself and students out of harm's way. When possible, contact the appropriate school authority or campus security to determine whether evacuation or lockdown is the appropriate response. Faculty should make decisions of lockdown or evacuation on their own only in life threatening situations.

    2. Assess whether anyone is injured and the severity of injuries. Take appropriate measures.

    3. Call 911 or have someone call 911 in immediate life-threatening situations, then alert campus security.

    4. In the event a faculty cannot call or leave the classroom, ask someone in the class to call 911 or security using their cell phone.

    5. Remain with students until notified by appropriate personnel on what actions to take. Faculty and staff who are not with students should serve in designated roles and/or take assigned action.

  2. Implementing the Crisis Management Plan

    Depending on the nature of the emergency, either law enforcement or the fire department will be in charge of the incident.

    1. Secure all areas for student and staff safety until the police arrive.

    2. Be aware that the site may be a potential crime scene. Avoid unnecessarily tampering with or disturbing evidence. To the extent possible, leave all objects exactly as they are in order to protect evidence for law enforcement investigations. Discourage others from disturbing potential evidence.

    3. Communicate to emergency responders where the school staff command post is located (most likely the president’s office or board room).

    4. Direct families arriving on-site to pre-designated locations where they can receive information (determined by the nature of the emergency).

    5. In the case of a lockdown, if possible keep notice of which students have left.

    6. Never speculate. Be sure to understand the circumstances surrounding the situation before saying anything about it, and to the extent practicable, before taking action. Follow all rules about repeating or giving out information.

    7. As appropriate, keep students informed about what is happening. Ensure that the same information is communicated to all students. If at all possible, update students in individual classrooms, not in a large group setting.

    8. As soon as possible, take a head count to determine which students, staff, and faculty are accounted for and which ones are not.

    9. Maintain the crime scene for evidence.

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The Role of Students

Students should understand and follow all plans applicable to the given crisis situation. Students should not panic. In addition, they should be informed of the following:

  1. In the absence of staff direction, decide where it is safest to be and remain there.

  2. Determine whether you should shelter-in-place1, run, play dead or fight2.

  3. If a violent situation occurs, notify the first available employee. Share all relevant information with law enforcement, faculty, and campus staff.

  4. During and after the crisis, to the extent that it is safe, keep with you what is on your person, do not pick anything up, and do not go back for anything until after receiving permission.

  5. Assist faculty and staff in quickly assessing who is accounted for and who is not.

  6. If able, provide assistance to injured persons.

  7. Calm and reassure fellow students.

  8. Follow campus, law enforcement, or other emergency response personnel directions about where to go or remain.

  9. Do not speculate or perpetuate rumors to others.

  10. Do not retaliate or take unnecessary chances.

Notes

  1. Cover is a solid object capable of stopping or deflecting a bullet (i.e. concrete trashcans, bulkheads, columns, planter boxes, etc. Concealment is an object that hides your whereabouts but may not necessarily stop or deflect a bullet (i.e. wood doors, partitions, desks, shrubs, sandwich boards etc.

  2. Fighting is the last option and depends on a long list of considerations.

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