Emergency Procedures: Hostile Intruder

This procedure cannot cover every possible situation that might occur. Nevertheless, it is a tool that can reduce the number of injuries or death if put into action as soon as possible. Time is a critical factor in the management of a situation of this type. It must be stressed that if you have had any contact with any individuals who display the following tendencies that you contact the police, student affairs officials or other University official in a timely manner:

• Threatens harm or talks about killing self, other students, faculty or staff.
• Constantly starts or participates in fights.
• Loses temper and self-control easily.
• Swears or uses vulgar language most of the time.
• Possesses or draws artwork that depicts graphic images of death or violence.
• Physically or verbally assaults others constantly to include immediate family members.
• Expresses themselves in a violent or disturbing manner in writing or drawing.
• Possesses weapons (firearms or knives) or has a preoccupation with them.
• Becomes frustrated easily and converts frustration into uncontrollable physical violence.

In the event that a hostile person is actively causing deadly harm or imminent threat of deadly harm within a building, realize that there are a variety of options to consider to keep yourself and others safe:

• Lock yourself in the room you are in at the time of the threatening activity.
• If communication is available, call University Police at 594-7777 or activate an emergency call box.
• Do not stay in an open hall.
• Do not sound a fire alarm . A fire alarm would signal the occupants in the rooms to evacuate the building and thus place them in potential harm at they attempted to exit.
• Barricade yourself in the room with furniture or anything you can push against the door.
• Lock the window and close blinds and curtains.
• Stay away from windows.
• Turn all lights and audio equipment off.
• Try to stay calm and be as quiet as possible.
• If for some reason you are caught in an open area such as a hallway or lounge type area, you must decide what action to take.

You may have to make decisions regarding your safety and the safety of others. Please consider the following:

• If you try to hide, make sure that it is a well hidden space or you may be found as the intruder moves through the building looking for victims.
• If you believe that you can safely make it out of the building by running, then do so. If you decide to run, do not run in a straight line. Keep any objects you can between you and the hostile person while in the building. Use trees, vehicles or any other object to block you form view as you run. When away from the immediate area of danger, summon help any way you can and warn others.
• If the hostile intruder is causing death or serious physical injury to others and you are unable to run or hide, you may choose to play dead if other victims are around you.
• The last option you have if caught in an open area in the residence hall or classroom may be to fight back. This is dangerous, but depending on your situation, this could be your only choice.
• If you are caught by the hostile intruder and are not going to fight back, follow their directions and do not look the intruder in the eyes.
• Once police arrive, obey all commands. This may involve your being handcuffed or made to put your hands in the air. This is done for safety reasons and once circumstances are evaluated by the police, they will give you further directions to follow.

Police officers responding to a hostile intruder are trained to proceed immediately to the area in which shots were last heard. It is their purpose to stop the shooting as quickly as possible. The first responding police officers will assemble a team of three members and enter the building wearing ballistic helmets, carrying ballistic shields and armed with tactical equipment. The police officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns and handguns and may be using pepper spray or tear gas to control the situation. Regardless of how they appear, remain calm and follow any instructions that the police officers may give to you. Put down any bags or packages that you may be carrying and keep your hands visible at all times. If you know where the shooter is, tell the police officers. The entry team will not stop to render aid to injured people; it is their job to eliminate the threat to the community. Rescue teams, composed of police officers and medical personnel, will be deployed to treat and remove injured persons once the threat has been contained.

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