Home >  Information > Emergency Procedures >

Hostile Intruder/Active Shooter

RESPONSE GUIDELINES FOR HOSTILE INTRUDER/ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATIONS

A number of tragic shooting incidents in public spaces and campuses around the country have heightened the community's concern and awareness about what steps to take if ever confronted with a similar situation.  These incidents have demonstrated that preparedness, alertness, quick action, immediate notification, and rapid response are imperative.

It is important to recognize that past Hostile Intruder/Active Shooter incidents have shown that in these situations there is no time, room or intention for negotiation on the part of perpetrators.  The perpetrator is there to cause as much injury as possible in the least amount of time possible.  In most cases, perpetrators use firearm(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims; these situations are dynamic and evolve rapidly, hence quick action is of the essence.

If you find yourself in a Hostile Intruder/Active Shooter situation, how you respond will be dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter.  Try to remain calm and use these guidelines to help you plan a strategy for safety.

 

If a hostile intruder/active shooter is Outside your building:

  1. Get to a room that can be locked; close and lock windows and doors
  2. Turn off the lights
  3. Try to get everyone down on the floor (so that no one is visible from outside the room)
  4. Call 911. The Dispatcher will ask for, at least, the following information:
    • Your name
    • Location of the incident (be as specific as possible)
    • Number of shooters (if known)
    • Identification or description of shooter
    • Number of persons who may be involved
    • Your location
  5. Stay in place (calls from unfamiliar voices to come out may be the attacker attempting to lure you)
  6. Do not respond to any voice commands until you are sure that they come from a Police Officer, a Campus Safety & Security Officer or an Administrator known to you

 

If a hostile intruder/active shooter is INSIDE your building:

  1. Exit (get out of) the building immediately
  2. Notify anyone you may encounter to exit the building immediately
  3. Call 911.  The Dispatcher will ask for at least the following information:
    • Your name
    • Location of the incident (be as specific as possible)
    • Number of shooters (if known)
    • Identification or description of shooter
    • Number of persons who may be involved
    • Your location

 

If exiting the building is not possible, the following actions are recommended:

  1. Go to the nearest room or office
  2. Close and lock the door and/or block it (try barricading the door with desks and chairs)
  3. Cover the door windows
  4. Call 911 (the Dispatcher will gather information from you)
  5. Keep quiet and act as if no one is in the room (silence cell phones)
  6. DO NOT answer the door
  7. Stay in place (calls from unfamiliar voices to come out may be the attacker attempting to lure you)
  8. Do not respond to any voice commands until you are sure that they come from a Police Officer, a Campus Safety & Security Officer or an Administrator know n to you

 

If a hostile intruder/active shooter Enters your office or classroom:

  1. Remain calm
  2. Dial 911 (if you can’t speak, leave the line open so the Dispatcher can listen to what’s taking place)
  3. Try to escape, but if unable, you must take action to survive!! Make a quick survival decision, either:
    • Try to negotiate with the hostile intruder/active shooter (perhaps not the most effective measure), or
    • Try to hide; bear in mind that being hidden (i.e. behind a wooden door) is not the same as being covered (i.e. behind a steel door), or
    • Play dead (pretend to be unconscious), or
    • Try to overpower the hostile intruder/active shooter by force (use anything at your disposal and fight for your life); Only you can decide if this is something you should do
    • If someone other than yourself acts to overpower the hostile intruder/active shooter it is recommended that you assist, as this will increase the chances of success and survival.  Again, only you can decide if this is something you should do

 

If the hostile intruder/active shooter leaves your area, and as soon as it is safe to do so:

  1. Close and lock the door and/or block it (try barricading the door with desks and chairs)
  2. Call 911 (if not on the line already)
  3. DO NOT answer the door and stay in place behind cover
  4. Do not respond to any voice commands until you are sure that they come from a Police Officer, a Campus Safety & Security Officer

 

If you decide to flee during a hostile intruder/active shooter situation:

  1. No matter what the circumstances, make sure you have an escape route and plan in mind.
  2. Do not attempt to carry anything while fleeing
  3. Do not attempt to remove injured people (leave wounded victims where they are and notify authorities of their location as soon as possible)
  4. Move quickly, keep your hands up high and visible
  5. Follow the instructions of any Police Officers you may encounter

 

What to expect from responding police officers:

Police Officers responding to an active shooter are trained in a procedure known as Rapid Deployment and proceed immediately to the area in which shots were last heard; their purpose is to stop the shooting as quickly as possible.  The first officers to arrive will not stop to aid injured people; rescue teams composed of other officers and emergency medical personnel will follow the first officers after areas have been secured to treat and remove injured persons.

Please understand that the police will be treating all those they encounter (including you) as possible suspects.  When you encounter the police:

  1. Remain calm
  2. Do as the officers tell you
  3. Put down any bags or packages you may be carrying
  4. Keep your hands up and visible at all times
  5. If you know where the hostile intruder/active shooter is, tell the officers
  6. Once out of harm’s way remain at whatever assembly point authorities designate
  7. Keep in mind that the entire area is still a crime scene; police will usually not let anyone leave until the situation is fully under control and all witnesses have been identified and questioned
  8. Do not leave until you have been interviewed and released
     

Hostage vs. Hostile Intruder/Active Shooter Situations

A Hostage Situation is different from a Hostile Intruder/Active Shooter situation.  In a Hostage Situation the perpetrator/captor seeks to negotiate with no immediate intention to harm or injure victims, while Hostile Intruder/Active Shooter incidents have shown that in these situations there is no time, room or intention for negotiation on the part of perpetrators.