Global Intellegence & National Security Services, LLC.

Active Shooter

It is critical that we give advance thought to how each of us should immediately respond if we ever have an "active shooter" at the work place or in a school setting.

The following is a guide only and does not replace a plan created specifically for your own school or workplace as every environment – physical or otherwise – is different.

Schools

The prevention of an active shooter in a schools is certainly the best possible scenario. Vigilance and the sharing of relevant information is the basis of prevention. Faculty, staff, counselors, and if you are clients of ours - GINSS Officers – as we are in the best position to identify and react to warning signs, such as violent messages in papers and student projects, direct threats, and rumors about guns or other weapons on within the school.

The active shooter situation is when the threat is not contained and there is an immediate risk of death and injury. This Suggested Response Plan will address two issues:

How students, faculty, and staff should respond in this type of situation.
What a school community can expect from our officers.

HOW TO RESPOND RUN. HIDE. FIGHT

Regardless of where you are, you should RUN. If you are unable to RUN, you should HIDE. If RUNNING and HIDING are not an option, you need to FIGHT. Please consult the Quick Reference Guide for more information. Those three words should be used to determine the actions you take when confronted with violence in school. The FBI has released the following Quick Reference Guide for further information.

If you are caught in an open/common area that has no cover:

Immediately try to place some object (file cabinet, desk, furniture) between you and the shooter.

If you are in a classroom, lab, washroom, or an office, attempt all of the following:

Please click the FBI Active Shooter Quick Reference Guide for more information.

Lock or block the door and reinforce it with a desk, file cabinet, or any heavy furniture that is available.
Turn off all lights, close the blinds, and cover any window or door (with a window) if possible.
Eliminate noise: computers, cell phones and/or radios.
Keep quiet, out of sight, and seek the safest spot in the room. Hide behind a concrete wall or a heavy object.
Place signs on windows that are facing outside (not on interior windows), letting emergency response personnel know about any wounded people.
Do not respond to anyone who knocks on the door, and keep it locked.

If you are in a hallway:

Seek out a room and keep the door locked.

If you are in a gym or theater with access to the outside:

Exit the premises toward any police unit. Keep your hands on your head and follow instructions given by authorities.

If you are outside:

Seek cover: a wall, a tree, parked vehicles, or any other object that can stop a bullet.

While others are securing your place of refuge, designate someone to call 9-1-1 and provide GINSS Officers with the following critical information:

Your specific building and location in that building
The number of assailants that are involved.
The description of the assailant(s): race, gender, height, weight, clothing with special attention to color/style (hat, jewelry, etc.)
Kind(s) of weapon(s) that is being used: handgun, shotgun, rifle, etc.
Amount of people at your location, number of people injured, and how severely they are injured Comfort the injured and utilize basic first aid if you are able to.

SCHOOL SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE

GINSS Officers are armed, and have the responsibility of first response in the event of a situation such as an active shooter.

Notification to the school community will be made as soon as possible through various channels.

GINSS's on-duty armed officers will have entry responsibility. These officers are highly trained professionals, many of whom have received training that exceeds the State of Illinois requirements and some may be off-duty police officers. While armed GINSS Officers are entering the shooter's area, other GINSS Officers will direct the arriving Police Department units to the scene and prepare for the arrival of the specialized units of the Police Department or other LEO responders (Local SWAT, FBI SWAT and HBT).[3]

Once the threat has been eliminated, first aid and evacuation will begin. Those being evacuated will be instructed to follow a number of procedures:

Safe exit routes will be established. Do not exit your secure area until you are instructed to do so by police or fire personnel.
For safety purposes, you may be instructed to keep your hands on your head.
You may be searched.
You will be escorted out of the building by law enforcement personnel.
The entire area will be considered a crime scene by the police. You will not be allowed to return to the area until the crime scene has been processed.
Everyone will be escorted to a designated area for medical treatment, counseling, and to be interviewed by investigative personnel from the Chicago Police Department.

These safety response guidelines are not all-inclusive, but if understood and followed up with periodic reminders and training, they can help you be prepared in the event of an active shooter incident.

[1] Twenlow S, Fonagy P, Sacco F, et al. "Premeditation Mass Shootings in Schools: Threat Assessment." Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 2002; 41: 475-477.

[2] Auburn University Press, Active Shooter Incidents: The Community Response.

[3] (SWAT) Special Weapons and Tactical, HBT (Hostage, Barricade, and Terrorist)

https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/active-shooter-event-quick-reference-guide_2015.pdf/view

WORK PLACE ACTIVE SHOOTER INFORMATION

This video describes the fundamental concepts of developing an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for an active shooter scenario. This instructive video guides viewers through important considerations of EAP development utilizing the first-hand perspectives of active shooter survivors, first responder personnel, and other subject matter experts who share their unique insight.

https://www.dhs.gov/options-consideration-active-shooter-preparedness-video

Emergency Action Planning Trailer

https://www.dhs.gov/active-shooter-emergency-action-plan-video

The Active Shooter Emergency Action Planning (EAP) video is comprehensive active shooter preparedness, response, and recovery resource that utilizes interviews with first responders, survivors of active shooter events, and other subject matter experts to capture best practices and lessons learned. This video combines state-of-threat awareness with state-of-practice solutions that will empower you to build resilience for your community, organization, family, and home.