Overview

When one or more

subjects participate
in a shooting spree,
random or
systematic, with the
intent to
continuously harm
others

Active shooter
scenarios are
incredibly dangerous
and difficult because
there is no criminal
objective (robbery,
hostage taking)
involved other than
mass murder

Often the shooter

has no regard for his
own life

Schools
Random Public Settings

Work place
Churches

School
Shootings
The most poignant
example of active
shooter horrors are
found in the school
shootings of recent
years

Newtown Connecticut
26 dead

Virginia Tech 2007

32 dead
20 wounded

Columbine High School 1999

13 killed, 25 injured
Planned on killing 500

Workplace
Shootings
Work place
violence is
not new. One
of the first
most notable
shootings
was in
Oklahoma

Post Office, Edmond Oklahoma 1986

14 dead, 6 wounded
Suspect reprimanded day before

Accent Signage Systems 2012

6 dead, suspect commits suicide
Suspect told he was going to be let go

Edgewater Technology 2000

7 dead
Was angry that company was holding part of his wages for IRS
debt. Also claimed he was killing Nazis.

Other
Shootings
Active shooter
events are not just
in the workplace;
they have occurred
at churches, malls,
theaters and parks

Mumbai, 2008
188 dead, 372 wounded
10 armed militants

Sheik Temple Wisconsin 2012

6 dead, 4 wounded
White supremacist (loner)

Beltway Sniper 2002

10 dead 3 wounded in three states

This is one of the most difficult issues facing

law enforcement, schools, businesses
There are signs or pre-indicators for potential
violence when we look back at these
incidents
Just because someone might have some of
these indicators, it DOES NOT MEAN he/she
will be involved in spree shooting

Unresolved conflicts with co-workers,

students, or staff (i.e., firings, suspensions
with threats made)
Depression
Severe mood swings
Unstable, emotional responses
Paranoia
Domestic problems

Displays continued lack of hygiene

Emotional resistance to policies and/or
change
Talks of previous violence
Increased in unsolicited comments about
violence, firearms, or other weapons
Increased alcohol/drug use
Increased absenteeism

Procedures
Systems
Training

Start with a site assessment. Conduct realistic

security assessment of facilities and
vulnerabilities
Identify multiple evacuation routes under
varying conditions
Designate good shelters
Designate team leaders
Get local law enforcement involved

POC (Point of Contact) person must have

knowledge of facility and ability to get
information to liaison with public safety
Procedure for employee screening (background
checks)
Procedure for employees to report unusual
behavior or violent behavior (see something
say something)
Procedure for employees who need assistance
(EAP)

Central Command Station for security and

command of incident

Notification Procedures

Incorporate your active shooter drill into your

facilities emergency preparedness plans

Have a pre-designated counseling company*

*OCE NOTE: Catholic Charities Crisis Teams

Devise a credential-based access control

system. Alternatively, limit authorized entry
through controlled access points
Emergency notification system. This can
include PA system, bullhorn, mass texting,
mass e-mail, alarms, etc
Monitor perimeter and access points. Best if
someone is designated to watch cameras from
central security station, if applicable

Training is the most overlooked area, because

it takes time away from work that needs to
be done. It also frightens people to think
about it.
If your personnel are not trained they will not
know what to do if an incident like this
occurs.

*OCE NOTE: Students below 7-8 grade level, should

not be involved in realistic action exercises

In the early 1900s a school fire took the lives of

children and teachers
Legislators implemented building codes and fire drills
Some still didnt listen. In 1950 Our Lady of Angels lost
92 children and 3 teachers to fire.
After the Our Lady of the Angels School fire, Percy
Bugbee, the president of the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) said in an interview, "There are no
new lessons to be learned from this fire; only old
lessons that tragically went unheeded

Rick
Rescorla
Former U.S Army Officer.
Became a teacher after
Vietnam
Left that job to take on the
VP of security for Stanley
Morgan/Dean Witter
Company had 22 floors in
the World Trade Center
south tower

Gained credibility after

first Tower bombing
Insisted that everyone
(including executive
officers) drill evacuations
every three months
All Stanley Morgan
employees made it out
before the tower
collapsed

Train to your Plan

Include public safety in your training
exercises
Include staff in your planning
After your drill is over, debrief it to see if there
are any gaps or procedures that need to be
clarified

Active shooter incidents are unpredictable.

You must have a survival mindset and have a
basic plan in place

During life threatening events the trained will

work through the crisis where an untrained
person might just freeze or take the wrong
action

Physiologically the human body reacts to lifethreatening incidents automatically

Initially we will all be startled
The trained person will start to recall what
he/she has learned
The untrained person might freeze or panic

The trained will prepare to act and commit

Because active shooter incidents are so

unpredictable, your plan needs to be basic
and easily adaptable to a dynamic
environment

Run, Hide and Fight

Evacuate, Hide out, Take Action

Avert, Defend, Act

Once you become aware of active shooting:

Figure out where the threat is coming from

and is there an avenue for escape

Dont hesitate; do not worry about

belongings; bring others with you if you can

Remember time is critical; the further away

the safer you will be

Once you get to a safe area call 911

Give what information you have

description, location, weapons

What if you cant escape?

If you cant get out, find a place to hide

Hopefully, you will have pre-designated areas

that you can use. If you dont do the
following:
If the door locks, lock it and try to barricade the

door
If it has windows facing inward try to close blinds.
If no blinds, turn off the lights and get low

Remain quiet and call 911 if it will not draw

the attention of the shooter

Be prepared to take action if he comes in

If you cannot escape. Or the shooter is

coming into your hiding space. You only have
one option left FIGHT!

Be committed to this act. Use anything

around as an improvised weapon

If you have several people with you, come up

with a hasty plan (keep it simple)

Police will respond in force for an active shooter

All departments around the nation are trained to

respond directly to this type of threat

This means that initial responding officers will

not immediately assist with evacuations or first
aid

Most active shooter incidents last no longer than

8 minutes

Keep your hands visible (everyone is

considered an unknown until law
enforcement has control of the scene)
Do not point objects at officers
Try not to grab them
Try to remain as calm as possible
When safe, officers will start first aid

Depending on the circumstances

evacuations might take some time

Law enforcement will need to verify who

everyone is and make sure everyone is
accounted for

Help will be needed to make these

verifications

Your emergency preparedness plans need to

address the aftermath
Most large companies have a continuity
business plan
All employees/students will be affected
differently
Having counseling available will be critical for
your staff/students

It will take time for law

enforcement to process
the scene
You will have family
members inquiring about
loved ones
As part of your
preparedness plan (KIT),
you should have contacts
for family members to
help public safety pass
along information

Active shooter events are unpredictable

Have a plan in place and train your personnel

to that plan

Public safety will respond in force, but their

primary objective at first is to stop the
shooter

Tom.Sellas@indy.gov

Thanks to IMPD