CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT CEDAR RAPIDS IA ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSE AND AWARENESS

PROFILE OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SUBJECT ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN KILLING OR ATTEMPTING TO KILL PEOPLE CHOOSE POPULATED SITES WHERE INDIVIDUALS ARE EASILY CONFINED(SCHOOL, OFFICE BUILDING, THEATER, CHURCH, ETC.) LOOK FOR TARGETS OF OPPROTUNITY GOAL IS TO CREATE AS MUCH CARNAGE AS POSSIBLE USE FIREARMS UNPREDICTABLE BEHAVIOR 9 OUT OF 10 ARE SUICIDAL THEY HAVE A PLAN

YOUR ACTIONS EVACUATE EVADE ENGAGE

EVACUATE IF THERE IS A SAFE ACCESSIBLE PATH HAVE AN ESCAPE ROUTE AND PLAN IN MIND LEAVE BELONGINGS BEHIND ASSIST OTHERS IF POSSIBLE PREVENT OTHERS FROM ENTERING AREA YOU ARE ESCAPING BE AWARE OF IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES ALONG ESCAPE ROUTES AND NEAR EXIT POINTS. KEEP HANDS VISIBLE SO FIRST RESPONDERS CAN DETERMINE WETHER OR NOT YOU ARE A THREAT CALL 911 AND PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN WHEN YOU REACH A SAFE PLACE

EVADE HIDE IN AREA WHERE SHOOTER IS LESS LIKELY TO FIND YOU IF YOU ARE IN ROOM WHEN SHOOTING STARTS STAY PUT AND LOCK THE DOOR. ENTERING INTO HALLWAYS MAY TURN YOU INTO A TARGET. AVOID WINDOWS THAT CAN BE SEEN FROM HALLWAYS IF DOOR DOES NOT LOCK BARRICADE IT WITH FURNITURE OR DOOR STOP REMAIN CALM AND QUIET SILENCE CELL PHONES STAY PUT UNTIL ADVISED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT IT IS ALL CLEAR. JUST BECAUSE YOU CANNOT HEAR OR SEE THE SHOOTER DOESN’T MEAN THE THREAT HAS BEEN ELIMINATED. HAVE A PLAN TO AMBUSH SHOOTER IF THEY GAIN ENTRY

ENGAGE ENGAGE THE SHOOTER AND ATTEMPT TO INCAPACITATE HIM/HER. USE IMPROVISED WEAPONS(SCISSIORS, BOX CUTTER, LETTER OPENER,FURNITURE LEGS, BACK PACK FULL OF BOOKS, ETC.) TARGET THE EYES, NOSE, THROAT AND GROIN BE AGGRESSIVE AND FIGHT LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT BECAUSE IT DOES!

LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE LAW ENFORCEMENT’S MAIN OBJECTIVE DURING INTIAL RESPONSE IS TO NEUTRALIZE THE THREAT INITIAL RESPONDING OFFICERS WILL ENTER AND PROCEED DIRECTLY TO THREAT OFFICERS MAY BE ARMED WITH RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS. IF YOU MAKE CONTACT WITH OFFICERS FOLLOW THEIR COMMANDS KEEP HANDS VISIBLE AND TRY TO AVOID YELLING AND POINTING BE PREPARED TO GIVE INFORMATION BUT DO NOT HINDER OFFICERS FROM MOVING TO THEIR OBJECTIVE IF YOU HAVE BARRICADED YOURSELF IN A ROOM STAY THERE UNTIL LAW ENFORCEMENT RETRIEVES YOU.

INFORMATION TO RELAY TO 911 YOUR LOCATION(STREET ADDRESS YOU ARE AT) LOCATION OF SHOOTER(S) NUMBER OF SHOOTERS PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF SHOOTER(S) TYPES OF WEAPONS NUMBER OF VICTIMS WERE THERE ANY EXPLOSIONS

HOW YOU CAN PREPARE STUDY THE ENVIRONMENT YOU ARE IN IDENTIFY LOCATIONS OF COVER(SOMETHING THAT WILL STOP BULLETS) IDENTIFY LOCATIONS OF CONCEALMENT(SOMETHING THAT WILL HIDE YOU) IDENTIFY EXIT POINTS AND EVACUATION ROUTES(THINK OUSIDE THE BOX WINDOWS CAN BE EXIT POINTS IF ON THE FIRST FLOOR) IDENTIFY THOSE OBJECTS IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT WHICH CAN BE UTILIZED AS WEAPONS IDENTIFY THOSE OBJECTS WHICH YOU CAN UTILIZE TO BARRICADE THE DOOR MENTALLY PREPARE YOURSELF BY DOING QUICK WHAT IF SCENARIOS. BY HAVING A SIMPLE PLAN IN MIND ALREADY YOU CAN REACT QUICKER EDUCATE YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY

FOR FURTHER CONTACT: LT. CHARLIE FIELDS PATROL COMMANDER/SRT COMMANDER CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT (319)