Active Shooter Response Plan

Protect and Serve Cheyney University Police Department.Lawrence W. Richards, Chief of Police

Cheyney University

Features:– Strong law enforcement presence and response

capability– Dedicated and concerned community base– Multiple means for reporting emergencies and

alerting the community to an emergency– Solidly constructed facilities

• Places of refuge• Multiple escape routes

Emergency Numbers

• EMERGENCY SERVICES: 9 -1 -1• DELAWARE COUNTY POLICE FIRE & AMBULANCE:

610-565-6500• LOCAL HOSPITAL – Riddle Memorial:• LOCAL FBI FIELD OFFICE: 610-891-3600• CHEYNEY POLICE DEPARTMENT: 610-399-2405• ADDRESS: 1837 UNIVERSITY CIRCLE – CHEYNEY

PA• BLDG: MCKNIGHT-ROGERS

Contacting Emergency Personnel

• 9-911• Keep in mind that emergency circuits may

be overwhelmed– Busy signal– Multiple rings

• 911 or 2405 for immediate response from the University Police Department

Active Shooter Defined

• A suspect or assailant whose activity is immediately causing death and serious injury

• Threat is not contained and there is immediate risk of death and injury

Profile of an Active Shooter

• Attempts to kill people in a confined spot heavily populated

• Uses a firearm• No pattern or method to the selection

of victims• Unpredictable• Over quickly – before Law Enforcement

arrives

Profile - Active Shooter

• Considered the greatest terrorist threat on campuses

• Cheyney Police implement nationally accepted law enforcement response plans

• You need to be informed of law enforcement’s response plan so you can take protective measures – be prepared mentally and physically.

Active Shooter’s Intentis to Kill and Injure

• BE ALERT• BE PREPARED• TAKE NOTE OF EXITS• IF IN AN OFFICE, SECURE THE DOOR• IF IN THE HALLWAY, FIND A ROOM, SECURE THE

DOOR• LAST RESORT – TAKE THE SHOOTER DOWN• IF YOU CAN’T FLEE, YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL

ARE GREATER WHEN YOU TRY TO INCAPICITATE.

How to Respond

• Determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life. Students will follow your example:– Evacuate– Leave your belongings – Help others if possible– Prevent students from entering an area where the

shooter might be.– Keep your hands visible– Do not attempt to move wounded people– Follow instructions from Police

Hide Out

If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide out of the shooter’s view.

Hiding place should be:• Out of view• Provide protection if shots are fired –

(an office with a closed locked door)• Shouldn’t trap you or restrict your

movement.

If the Shooter is nearby…

• Lock the door• Block the door with furniture• Silence your cell phone• Turn off any source of noise (radio, tv)• Hide behind large items (desk, closet)• Remain quiet

Your Response

• Your actions will influence others– Stay calm– Assure others that you and the police are

working to protect them

Your Response

• Secure the immediate area – whether classroom, bathroom, or office.– Lock the door.– Most doors in the university are solid core, and

many walls are block and brick. This may provide some protection.

– Block the door using whatever is available – desks, file cabinets, books, other furniture…

– If the shooter enters your room and leaves, lock/barricade the door behind him.

– If able to do so safely, allow others to seek refuge with you.

If you can’t evacuate or hide?

• Remain calm• Dial 911• If you can’t speak, leave the line open

so the 911 operator can hear what’s happening.

Last Resort - take action against the shooter

• Only when your life is in imminent danger…

• Attempt to disrupt or incapacitate the active shooter by:

• A. Act aggressively against him/her• B. Throw items – improvise weapons• C. Yell

How to respond when police arrive…

• Purpose of police? Stop the active shooter ASAP – police will proceed to the last known area where the shots were heard.

• Police arrive in teams with tactical equipment.

• Police may shout commands and push people to the ground for safety

How to react when police arrive

• Remain calm, follow police instructions• Put down any items in your hands

(bags, jackets etc.)• Raise your hands, spread your fingers,

keep hands visible at all times• Avoid pointing, screaming, grabbing

onto officers

What do I need to tell Police or 911?

• Location of the active shooter• Number of shooters• Physical description• Number and type of weapons if known• Number of potential victims on location

Emergency Action Plan

The Plan includes:• Method for reporting emergencies• Evacuation policy and procedure• Contact information• Notification system to alert hospitals,

law enforcement etc.

Training Exercises

• Mock training exercises will train staff to:

• Recognize the sound of gunshots• React quickly when shots are heard by:

Evacuating the area; Hiding out

Acting against the shooter as a last resort; Calling 911;Adopting a survival mindset during a crisis

Additional ways to Prepare and Prevent

• Ensure the CU has 2 evacuation routes• Post evacuation routes throughout CU• Include Law Enforcement and First

Responders during training exercises• Encourage Law Enforcement, SWAT

teams, etc to train at CU• Be aware and alert of workplace

violence and take action

Our Responsibilities – Seconds Count

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K65-829gOAk&feature=related

Building Manager Responsibility

• Disseminate emergency messages to building staff and occupants thru– Email– Phone tree– Paging, etc.

• Encourage Directors, and/or Department Chairs to bring training to individual departments for all staff.

Human Resource Responsibility

• Conduct effective employee screening and background checks

• Create a system for reporting signs of potentially violent behavior

• Offer counseling services to employees• Develop an EAP which includes

dealing with Active Shooter situations action planning

Facility Manager Responsibilities

• Institute access controls (i.e., keys, security system pass codes)

• Distribute critical items to appropriate managers / employees, including:

• Floor plans; Keys; Facility personnel lists and telephone numbers

Facilities cont’d

• Work together with CU Police to ensure the physical security of the location

• Assemble crisis kits containing: - radios; floor plans; staff roster, and staff emergency contact numbers; first aid kits; flashlights

• Place floor plans near entrances and exits; Activate the emergency notification system

CU Police Responsibility

• Law enforcement will immediately respond to the area.

• CU Police goal - to locate, contain, and stop the shooter.

• Containing the shooter is priority after this is neutralized, then, treating the wounded and evacuation will occur.

• Treat wounded• Evacuate the building

Potential Workplace Violence

• An active shooter may be a current or former employee, or an

• acquaintance of a current or former employee.

• potentially violent behavior in an employee.

• Alert HR if an employee or coworker exhibits potentially violent behavior.

Indicators of potentially violent employees

• Increased use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs

• Unexplained absenteeism; vague physical complaints

• Depression / withdrawal• Resistance and overreaction to

changes in policy and procedures• Repeated violations of policies

Indicators cont’d

• Increased severe mood swings• Explosive outbursts of anger or rage• Suicidal; comments about “putting

things in order”• Behavior which is suspect of paranoia,

(“everybody is against me”)• Increasingly talks of problems at home

More Indicators…

• Escalation of domestic problems into the workplace; talk of severe financial problems

• Talk of previous incidents of violence• Empathy with individuals committing

violence

The Aftermath…What to do…

• After the active shooter is no longer a threat…

• Take a head count• Notify the families• Assess the psychological condition of

those at the scene

Closing Statement

• We can no longer predict the origin of the next threat

• Assailants in some recent incidents across the country were not students or employees

• There were no obvious specific targets and the victims were unaware they were targets, until attacked

Discussion and Questions

• What if…