1. PREPARATION RESPONSE PREVENTION
ACTIVE SHOOTER
PREPARATION RESPONSE PREVENTION

2. Captain Dave Lee WV State Police Director of Training
State Police Academy
135 Academy Drive
Dunbar WV 25064
(304)

3. Today’s Goals Discuss history of school violence
Discuss the importance of preparation for an active shooter event ,not only by first responders, but also by school personnel.
Learn about what you might expect from law enforcement during an active shooter response, and also about ideas and methods of response for school personnel.
Discuss the importance of educators, law enforcement , other first responders and those personnel involved in the secondary response to collaborate in preparation and prevention.
Discuss the importance of stopping school violence/ active shooter events before they start.

4. My Background

5. School shootings- A brief overview
Not a new problem
Pontiac’s Rebellion School Massacre- July 26, 1764
4 Lenape Indians entered a schoolhouse near present day Green Castle, PA, shot and killed schoolmaster killed 9 or 10 children (reports vary)
1800’s
23 incidents
Most involved single shooter with a specific target(s) in mind.
Most involved a disgruntled student, teacher or parent

6. Charlestown, WV December 13,1898
During a school exhibition, a group of young men tried to break up a student performance.
A teacher attempted to throw the troublemakers out
When the group turned on the teacher, several audience members attempted to assist the teacher.
A free for all fight ensued.
5 people were killed with many others being injured.

7.
169 Incidents
Majority of events still involved 1 shooter with a specific target(s) in mind
Majority Still involved disgruntled student, teacher or parent.

8. Bath school disaster may 18, 1927
Bath Michigan
School Treasurer Andrew Kehoe
Killed his wife and destroyed his house and farm
Detonated dynamite that he had placed in the basement of the Bath Consolidated School killing 45 people, mostly children.
Kehoe then pulled his car up to the school and detonated a bomb inside of it, killing himself and 4 others
Deadliest mass murder at a school in U.S. history
World’s first confirmed suicide bombing

9. University of texas-austin august 1,1966
Charles Whitman
Climbed atop the observation deck on campus and killed 17 and wounded 31 during a 96 minute shooting rampage.
Confronted and killed by 2 police officers

10. Cokeville Elementary School hostage crisis may 16, 1986
David and Doris Young take 150 students and teachers hostage in Cokeville Wyoming and demand 300 million dollars.
Doris accidentally sets off homemade gasoline bomb injury 75
Doris is badly burned and reports vary on whether she was killed by the explosion or shot and killed by her husband, who then killed himself.

11. Stockton California January 17, 1989
Cleveland school
Patrick Purdy 24
Shot and killed 5 students and wounded 29 others before killing himself

12. Pearl Mississippi, October 1, 1997
Pearl High School
Luke Woodham 16
3 killed and 7 others wounded
Woodham attempted to flee to a near by middle school where he was stopped and detained by vice principal Joel Myrick, who had retrieved a handgun from his vehicle.

13. West paducah KY, december 1, 1997
Michael Carneal 14
3 killed and 5 wounded at Heath High School

14. Jonesboro, Arkansas March 24,1998
Mitchell Johnson 13
Andrew Golden 11
4 students and 1 teacher killed
10 wounded
Golden pulled fire alarm and Johnson fired on students and teachers from outside as they evacuated.

15. Columbine Colorado april 20, 1999
Eric Harris 18
Dylan Klebold 17
Killed 12 students and 1 teacher
Wounded 10 others

16.
61 incidents

17. Red Lake minnesota march 21, 2005
Jeff Weise 16
Red Lake Indian Reservation
Killed his grandfather and companion
Drives to Red Lake Senior High School
Kills 5 students and 1 teacher
Wounds 5 others
Committed suicide

18. Nickel mines pa october 2, 2006
Carl Roberts 32
Killed 5 amish girls and wounded 5 others
Committed suicide

19. Blacksburg va april 16,2007 Virginia Tech Sueng Hui Cho 23
Kills 32 students and faculty and wounded 17 others
Committed suicide

20. Chardon ohio february 27, 2012
Thomas Lane 17
Kills 3 and wounds 3

21. Newtown ct december 14, 2012 Adam Lanza 20 Sandy Hook Elementary
20 students and 6 adults killed
2 injured

22. 12 shootings so far in 2013
What does this cross section of cases teach us????

23. It can happen anywhere in the country

24. At any time

25. At any educational facility

26. We must be prepared

27. Terms
Active Shooter: a person who’s activity is immediately causing death and or serious bodily injury. The activity is not contained and there is immediate risk to others.
Barricaded Suspect: Suspect is in a position of advantage, usually barricaded in a room or building. Suspect has committed or threatened violence. Suspect may or may not be holding hostages. There is no indication that the suspects activity is immediately causing death or injury.
Rapid Deployment: Swift and immediate deployment of law enforcement personnel to ONGOING, life threatening situations where delayed deployment could otherwise result in death or great injury to innocent persons.

28. terms
Dynamic Situation: the situation is evolving very rapidly along with the suspect’s actions.
Static Situation: The situation is not evolving or in motion. The suspect appears to be contained.

29. Commonalities AND LESSONS LEARNED
Suspects behavior was unpredictable
Pre-incident signs existed
Incidents occur in a target rich environment
Tactical Intervention was too late
Suspects usually don’t have an escape plan
Most active shooters are suicidal
Mass murder is most often the goal, rather than other criminal conduct.
Most active shooter incidents are over within 10 minutes or less.
Multiple weapons and ammunition are often involved.
Expect Carnage, Chaos and Confusion
Traditional “contain and negotiate” does not work. Rapid Deployment is necessary.

30. preparation Crisis Response Box Purpose
To quickly locate and provide relevant information to the right people so that they may begin responding.

31. Contents Aerial Photos Maps Campus layout Blueprints
Teacher/Employee Roster
Keys
Fire alarm shut off procedures
Sprinkler system shut off procedures
Utility shut off valves locations
Gas line and utility line layout
Cable TV/Satellite shut off

32. contents Student/Staff photos
ICS Key responder contact info
Designated Command Post and Staging Area Locations
Student Attendance Roster
Updated daily
Emergency Resources List
Red Cross
Clergy
Prosecuting Attorney
FAA
Etc

33. contents Evacuation Sites
Student Disposition Forms and Emergency Data Cards
Inventory of Staff Resources
List of students with special needs
First Aid Supply Locations
Trauma Bandages and supplies

34. Preparation Coordinated planning with first responders is crucial.
Walk through drills
Dynamic drills- First Responders/School Staff
Lockdown
Evacuation
Plan for worst case scenarios
Students in open areas
Key administrators unavailable or incapacitated
First responders and school personnel should work jointly on the crisis response box.
This will go a long way in making sure everyone knows what each other will be doing in a crisis

35. preparation
Because active shooter situations are over within minutes, often before law enforcement arrives or is able to deploy, you must be prepared to mentally and physically deal with an active shooter situation.
Personal Awareness
Be aware of your surroundings and always alert to potential threats
Communications
Ideally there is two way communication between the central office and each class room and teaching area
PA system
Classrooms
Common areas
Outside areas
Alternate methods of warning
Bell system

36. Preparation Security Cameras
If your school has them, they should be check routinely to ensure they are operational
Who monitors them???

37. Response
Classroom Safety Tips: Once the School is lock down, minus exigent circumstances, no one should leave there position of safety. Classrooms should be locked and students should be instructed to stay quiet, get down low, and sit out of view of the windows. A door or window placard system can be used to help identify your location as being either occupied by non-hostiles (Green Color) or in need of medical treatment (Red Color). No color indicated would result in law enforcement treating the location as a potential suspect location.
Cover: Protects you from Gunfire
Concealment: Hides you from sight
Rule of thumb for School Staff:
 Call 911 and stay on the phone.
 Meet law enforcement if possible.
 Isolate and evacuate as soon as possible.
Do not leave your position of safety until you are certain it is safe to do so.
 Collect as much information as possible.
 Don’t try to be a hero.
 Allow police first responders to make contact.

38. Response
Active shooters generally have a singular focus - cause as much carnage as possible.
•Shooters range in profile from misguided teenagers to members of highly trained terrorist groups.
•They often seek to block exits to increase the number of casualties and impede law enforcement’s response.
•For personal protection, make a habit of identifying multiple exits upon entering a building, arena, stadium or other structure. Think about exits that may not be seen by the general public.
•During an active shooter situation, be alert that any exit may have been booby trapped by the shooter.
•Quick, accurate assessment of conditions is critical to surviving.
•First try and assess sounds and their source. Freezing is not a realistic option; you become an easy target.

39. Response
The first response team is typically a small unit of officers. Do not run toward the officers, but listen for their commands.
Officers may use pepper spray or other chemical munitions to control the situation.
Officers may shout commands and push people to the ground for their safety.
•Keep your hands in plain view and expect to be treated like a suspect until the officers assess the situation.
•Don’t expect first responders to render first aid; their initial concern is neutralizing the threat.

40. response Questions you may be asked by responding officers
How many shooters have you seen
Location of the shooter
Physical description of shooter(s)
Number and type of weapons held by the shooter
Number of potential victims at the location

41. Response
Evacuation
If you are caught in an open area without the ability to “Lock Down”
If you are outside the facilities ( ie Playground)
Other Exigent circumstances may make evacuation your most viable option
Have predetermined evacuation points
Alternate sites

42. Prevention
The only good active shooter scenario is the one that never happens
Being proactive in all facets of school operations is the best way to prevent/deter school violence.
Be a “Hard Target” as a facility and as individuals

43. Prevention Facilities Secure doors and windows Controlled access
Security cameras
Man Traps
Bullet resistant glass ( film retrofit)

44. Prevention Staff Be aware of surroundings Control students
Encourage students to report inappropriate behavior
Zero tolerance for bullying and aggressive behaviors
If staff members has personal issues that could cause a confrontation at school

45. Prevention Students Accountability Break “Snitch” mentality
Dress codes
Cell phones
Back packs

46. Resources U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Active Shooter how to responder
Indiana University Public Safety and Police Department
Responding to an Active Shooter
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
How to plan for work place emergencies and evacuations

47. Resources QuickSeries Publishing
Work Place Violence prevention and Response
Wikipedia
List of school shootings in the U.S.