Active Shooter/Violent Intruder

View Emergency Checklist

Response

Intervention by Public Safety begins the moment a witness makes the first call to the Public Safety Dispatch Center. Dispatch personnel will be provided with training that allows them to quickly identify potential violent intruder events and to obtain essential information from the caller. Witnesses are the first and best source of information for responding offices; they provide critical information on intruder location, direction, and use of deadly force (if any). If safe to do so, callers can remain on the line to continue to communicate real-time information to responding officers. Although many active shooter incidents involve witness reports of multiple shooters, the overwhelming majority of these events are perpetrated by one individual acting alone.

It is imperative that members of our community report a threatening incident in a timely manner. DO NOT take unnecessary risks. If you believe an individual poses an imminent threat to the District community, please contact the Public Safety Department immediately at (650) 738-7000. If in doubt, call 9-1-1 and report:

Your Name and Location
Nature of the Incident
Description of the person(s) involved
Description of property involved
Do not hang up until the dispatcher advises you to do so

These events occur with little to no warning. Public Safety Dispatch may receive information regarding a violent intruder from 911, campus telephones, reports from officers, staff, faculty or other sources. Buildings will be secured as needed, however SMCCCD is not able to accomplish a strict “Lock Down” of all facilities, as there are hundreds of doors that are currently not electronically programmed (ACAMS).

Public Safety will provide emergency communication and information as soon as possible, once verifiable information has been received. Emergency communication strategies are further delineated in the SMCCCD Emergency and Crisis Communications Plan.

Run, Hide, Fight

In the event of an imminent threat to your safety from a violent intruder, please be familiar with the following procedures:

RUN: When there is an active threat

a. Have an escape plan and route in mind

b. Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow

c. Leave your belongings behind

d. Once you are safe, call 911

HIDE: ONLY if escape is not possible

a. Lock and barricade the door

b. Avoid hiding near windows. Close the blinds or cover the windows if possible

c. Silence your cell phone Turn off the lights

d. Remain calm and quiet

FIGHT: Only as a last resort and if your life is in imminent danger

a. Attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the intruder

b. Act as aggressively as possible; commit to your actions

c. Throw items and improvise weapons ( a fire extinguisher can make a good weapon)

d. Coordinate your actions with others, if possible

Police Response

As soon as it is safe to do so, notify law enforcement by calling 9-911 (911 from non-campus phones)
Remain under cover until the threat has passed, or you have been advised by law enforcement that it is safe to exit
Do not approach emergency responders; let them come to you
Raise both of your hands over your head when approached by emergency responders. This is the universal surrender signal.
Follow commands given by the officers
Make sure that registered cell phones have been activated (in silent mode) to receive campus emergency notifications, sent through the AlertME system
Do not sound the fire alarm unless there is a fire. Fire alarms prompt individuals to evacuate a building. Evacuation during an active threat can place more people in harm's way.