ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSE AND AWARENESS CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE

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

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 OPPORTUNITY • 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 WHETHER 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 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/SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM COMMANDER CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT (319) 286 -5481 EMAIL: c. fields@cedar-rapids. org