Active ShooterActive ShooterSituational AwarenessSituational Awareness

Lieutenant Robert McCulloughLieutenant Robert McCulloughCommander, Homeland SecurityCommander, Homeland Security

Baltimore County Police DepartmentBaltimore County Police Department

Integrity…Fairness…Service

GoalsGoals To define and understand your role as it To define and understand your role as it

relates to situational awareness/active relates to situational awareness/active shooter.shooter.

To examine what we already know about To examine what we already know about active shooters.active shooters.

To discuss how to respond to an active To discuss how to respond to an active shooter situation.shooter situation.

To discuss what to expect when police To discuss what to expect when police and other first responders arrive. and other first responders arrive.

We Will Never Forget

What Is Situational Awareness?What Is Situational Awareness?Definition:Definition:Situational awarenessSituational awareness involves being aware of what is involves being aware of what is

happening in the environment, in order to understand happening in the environment, in order to understand how information, events, and one's own actions will how information, events, and one's own actions will impact both immediate and future outcomes. impact both immediate and future outcomes. Situational Situational AwarenessAwareness is the ability to identify, process, and is the ability to identify, process, and comprehend the critical elements of information about comprehend the critical elements of information about what is occurring or about to occur. Simply, it’s what is occurring or about to occur. Simply, it’s knowing knowing what is going on around you.what is going on around you. As leaders, it is your As leaders, it is your responsibility to know what is happening in your responsibility to know what is happening in your workplace. workplace.

What is an active shooter?What is an active shooter?

Definition:Definition:

An active shooter is an individual actively An active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area, people in a confined and populated area, typically through the use of firearms.typically through the use of firearms.

What are some of the suspicious What are some of the suspicious things you see on a daily basis?things you see on a daily basis?

How do you respond?How do you respond?

Why?Why?

What Is Your Role?What Is Your Role? Be Vigilant (Be Present & Observe)Be Vigilant (Be Present & Observe) Intervene Early (Use Resources)Intervene Early (Use Resources) Notify and CommunicateNotify and Communicate Document Document Take ControlTake Control Follow-upFollow-up

Who is in charge when Who is in charge when your not aroundyour not around??

Source: The FBI School Shooter Source: The FBI School Shooter Quick Reference Guide, BAU-1Quick Reference Guide, BAU-1

What Do We Know About What Do We Know About School Shooters?School Shooters?

There is not a “profile” of a school shooter-instead the There is not a “profile” of a school shooter-instead the students who carried out the attacks differed from one students who carried out the attacks differed from one another in numerous ways.another in numerous ways.

School shootings are rarely impulsive acts.School shootings are rarely impulsive acts. They are typically thought out and planned in advance.They are typically thought out and planned in advance. Prior to most school shootings other students knew the Prior to most school shootings other students knew the

shooting was going to occur, but failed to notify an adult.shooting was going to occur, but failed to notify an adult. Very few of the attackers ever directed threats to their Very few of the attackers ever directed threats to their

targets before the attack.targets before the attack. The most common goal was retribution.The most common goal was retribution.

Source: The FBI School Shooter Source: The FBI School Shooter Quick Reference Guide, BAU-1Quick Reference Guide, BAU-1

What We Know?What We Know?(Continued)(Continued)

The justifications and excuses offered indicated that the The justifications and excuses offered indicated that the attacks stemmed not from an absence of values but from attacks stemmed not from an absence of values but from a well developed value system in which a well developed value system in which violenceviolence was was acceptable.acceptable.

In many cases, other students were involved in the In many cases, other students were involved in the attack in some capacity.attack in some capacity.

Many offenders experienced a Many offenders experienced a significant personal losssignificant personal loss in the months leading up to the attack, such as death, in the months leading up to the attack, such as death, breakup, or divorce in the family.breakup, or divorce in the family.

Many offenders repeatedly Many offenders repeatedly watched/played violent watched/played violent mediamedia..

Be aware of online videos, blogs, & social networking.Be aware of online videos, blogs, & social networking.

Source: U.S. Secret Service, Source: U.S. Secret Service, 2002.2002.

Threat AssessmentThreat Assessment11 Key Questions11 Key Questions

What are the student’s motive(s) and goals?What are the student’s motive(s) and goals? Have there been any communications suggesting ideas Have there been any communications suggesting ideas

or intent to attack?or intent to attack? Has the student shown inappropriate interest in school Has the student shown inappropriate interest in school

attacks, weapons, and/or mass violence?attacks, weapons, and/or mass violence? Has the student engaged in any attack related Has the student engaged in any attack related

behaviors?behaviors? Does the student have the capacity to carry out an act of Does the student have the capacity to carry out an act of

targeted violence? targeted violence? Is the student experiencing hopelessness, desperation, Is the student experiencing hopelessness, desperation,

and/or despair?and/or despair?

Source: U.S. Secret Service, Source: U.S. Secret Service, 2002.2002.

Threat AssessmentThreat Assessment11 Key Questions11 Key Questions

(Continued)(Continued) Does the student have a Does the student have a trusting relationshiptrusting relationship with at with at

least one responsible adult?least one responsible adult? Does the student see violence as an acceptable or Does the student see violence as an acceptable or

desirable way to solve problems?desirable way to solve problems? Is the student’s version of events consistent with his/her Is the student’s version of events consistent with his/her

actions?actions? Are other people concernedAre other people concerned about the student’s potential about the student’s potential

for violence?for violence? What circumstances might affect the likelihood of an What circumstances might affect the likelihood of an

attack? (Multiple Indicators v. Single Severe Event)attack? (Multiple Indicators v. Single Severe Event)

Dynamics to Look AtDynamics to Look At

FamilyFamily Social DynamicsSocial Dynamics Student’s/Parent’s PersonalityStudent’s/Parent’s Personality SchoolSchool Disciplinary HistoryDisciplinary History Academic PerformanceAcademic Performance Prior Intervention/Incident(s)Prior Intervention/Incident(s)

Source: Department of Homeland Source: Department of Homeland Security, Active Shooter 2008.Security, Active Shooter 2008.

How Should You Respond?How Should You Respond?(Generally)(Generally)

Always be aware of your environment and Always be aware of your environment and any possible dangers.any possible dangers.

Take note of the nearest exits in any Take note of the nearest exits in any facility your inside.facility your inside.

If you are in an office, stay there and If you are in an office, stay there and secure the door.secure the door.

Attempt to take the active shooter down as Attempt to take the active shooter down as a very last resort.a very last resort.

BCPS Critical Response & School BCPS Critical Response & School Emergency Safety GuideEmergency Safety Guide

What Should You Do?What Should You Do? Call 911 Call 911 Notify SRO (if assigned)Notify SRO (if assigned) Lockdown/Stay Put will be announced.Lockdown/Stay Put will be announced. Staff members should ensure that everyone is Staff members should ensure that everyone is

evacuated from hallways, restrooms, locker evacuated from hallways, restrooms, locker rooms, storage and other areas.rooms, storage and other areas.

Students in all other areas will remain there Students in all other areas will remain there under direction of staff.under direction of staff.

Provide assistance to persons requiring special Provide assistance to persons requiring special assistance.assistance.

BCPS Critical Response & School BCPS Critical Response & School Emergency Safety GuideEmergency Safety Guide

What Should You Do?What Should You Do?(Continued)(Continued)

Close and secure all doors and windows, pull Close and secure all doors and windows, pull down/close blinds, and cut off lights.down/close blinds, and cut off lights.

Students are to sit under their desks or tables Students are to sit under their desks or tables and out of view from all windows and doors.and out of view from all windows and doors.

Do not leave the room for any reason.Do not leave the room for any reason. Stay quiet and await further instruction.Stay quiet and await further instruction. Office staff shall lock lobby & other office doors.Office staff shall lock lobby & other office doors.*** Make sure all cell phones and electronic *** Make sure all cell phones and electronic

devices are silenced.devices are silenced.*** Furniture can be used to barricade doorways.*** Furniture can be used to barricade doorways.

Sheltering in PlaceSheltering in Placeversusversus

EvacuationEvacuation

??

? ? ?

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Baltimore County Police & Fire Personnel Will Respond Quickly

Police Tactical Team

Department Homeland Security, Department Homeland Security, Active Shooter-How to RespondActive Shooter-How to Respond

What To Expect When Police & Other What To Expect When Police & Other First Responders ArriveFirst Responders Arrive

Remain calm & follow instructions.Remain calm & follow instructions. Identify yourself to police.Identify yourself to police. Put down items in your hands.Put down items in your hands. Raise hands and spread fingers.Raise hands and spread fingers. Keep hands visible at all times.Keep hands visible at all times. Avoid quick movements towards officers.Avoid quick movements towards officers. Avoid pointing, screaming or yelling.Avoid pointing, screaming or yelling. Do not stop officers for help or directions.Do not stop officers for help or directions. Medics will be sent in when safe to do so.Medics will be sent in when safe to do so.

Department Homeland Security, Department Homeland Security, Active Shooter-How to RespondActive Shooter-How to Respond

Information To ProvideInformation To Provide

Location of the active shooterLocation of the active shooter Number of shootersNumber of shooters Detailed physical description of shooter(s)Detailed physical description of shooter(s) Number and type of weapons held by Number and type of weapons held by

shooter(s)shooter(s) Number of potential victims at the locationNumber of potential victims at the location

Expect Recovery To Take Expect Recovery To Take A Long TimeA Long Time

THE ENDTHE END

Thank You!