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ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING

NYS UNIVERSITY POLICE – OLD WESTBURY

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WHAT IS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER?

An Active Shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.
Sometimes victims are chosen, but often, they are randomly selected.
Active Shooters often consider themselves as victims.

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Warning Signs of an Active Shooter

Anti-Social Behaviors
Vindictiveness
Victim Mentality
Extreme Paranoia
Persistent Anger
Violent Thoughts
Controlling Personality Traits
Strange Behavior
Unhealthy Habits

Anti-Social behavior: Anti-social personalities have trouble getting along with others. Signs can range from an unwillingness to socialize to outright harassment. Sometimes an anti-social personality will isolate themselves. In other instances, a person may make inappropriate remarks, show disrespect for authority, or even push the boundaries of acceptable behavior. However they display their anti-social tendencies, this type of personality has a habit of upsetting other people, and creating an environment of apprehension and discomfort. In almost all cases, they show disregard for the feelings or safety of other people in their vicinity.
Vindictiveness: Not only do they blame others for their problems, but they also go so far as to express a desire for revenge. Sometimes their vengefulness manifests in relatively mild terms, in statements such as, “They’ll get theirs someday.” In other cases, their utterances can come with a more threatening edge, such as “I’ll show them.” Whether they express themselves in terms of impersonal karma or direct retribution, people who consistently hold grudges and celebrate the future suffering of others may be giving you a valuable hint.
Victim Mentality: Some people take responsibility for their mistakes. Others turn around and blame others. With an unshakable belief in their own victimhood, they rarely (if ever) admit they are in the wrong. We’re all guilty of condemning others now and again, but someone who frequently and consistently points the finger at others, complaining he has been treated unfairly, is not displaying normal behavior.
Extreme paranoia: They seem as if the world is out to get them. They are convinced there is a conspiracy to undermine or even destroy them.
Persistent Anger: is a reliable indicator of potential violence. Everyone gets angry once in a while. There is a difference, however, between someone who vents their frustration in a normal, even healthy, manner, and someone who seethes or bursts with an underlying fury. Someone who consistently throws temper tantrums—swearing, yelling, crying, sulking, using overly emotional language—may be signaling trouble.
Violent Thoughts: Clues to violent thoughts are the statements people make and the behavior they display. If someone hears of a mass shooting in the news and celebrates instead of commiserates; if someone talks, even in a joking manner, about shooting other people; if someone utters remarks, however offhandedly, about blowing people’s brains out, they are giving you a valuable glimpse into their minds. Whether the threat is overt or implied, it should never be ignored. Often a series of violent remarks is the clearest, if not the only, warning sign you’ll ever receive. Take it seriously.
Controlling Personality Traits: Some people are considered “control freaks.” These people are extreme and must be in command. When they are not, they become mentally imbalanced. If they feel they have lost control, they may regain their power in dangerous ways.
Strange Behavior: Lack of social skills, inappropriate remarks, social unacceptable habits
Unhealthy Habits: Neglect personal hygiene, look disheveled, suffer from strange illness, drug addiction.

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RUN, HIDE, FIGHT

Based on material developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
For more information, please visit the DHS website at: www.dhs.gov/active-shooter-preparedness
https://youtu.be/j-a0tuEn7rI

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HOW TO RESPOND WHEN AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IS IN YOUR VICINITY

RUN

Have an escape route pre-planned, and attempt to evacuate the premises.
Leave your belongings behind, but always keep your cell phone on you.
Keep your hands visible and follow the instructions of any police officers.
Do not attempt to move wounded people.
Prevent others from entering the area.
Call 911 when you are safe.

- Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life. Remember that students will likely follow you to lead them during an active shooter situation.

Have an escape route pre-planned, and attempt to evacuate the premises. Even in a fire drill, always know where the nearest exit is. Many people tend to leave or enter through the main entrance, but your nearest exit could be a side entrance.
Leave your belongings behind, but always keep your cellphone on you. Having your cellphone on you is crucial in calling 911, but I will explain in the next slide what you should do with your cellphone if you are unable to run or evacuate the area.
Keep your hands visible and follow the instructions of any police officers. Later, I will explain more on what to do when police arrive to the scene.
Do not attempt to move wounded people. This could cause more harm than good to the wounded individual, and this could also prevent you from evacuating safely.
Prevent others from entering the area. If you see people moving in the direction where the active shooter is located, stop them.
Call 911 when you are safe.

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HOW TO RESPOND WHEN AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IS IN YOUR VICINITY

HIDE

Find the best and most strategic hiding place
Your hiding place should…

Provide protection (Cover vs. Concealment)
Be out of view
Non-confining
Secure the doors with a lock or barricade

Silence your cell phone
Turn off any source of noise
Dial 911, if possible, to alert police to the active shooter’s location. If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen.
Remain calm and quiet

If evacuation is not possible, find the best and most strategic hiding place.
Your hiding place should provide protection. Concealment will not stop a bullet, it “conceals you from view. Examples are furniture, closed window blinds, doors. Cover shelters you from gunfire and will stop a bullet. Examples are bricks, concrete, and steel.
Be out of view from open windows and doors.
It should be non-confining so that if you are able to run and get out, then you can.
Secure the doors with a lock or barricade. Block the door with furniture.
Silence your cell phone so you do not alert the active shooter to your location. People may be trying to get in touch with you to see if you are safe or to alert you, so that is why you need to silence your phone.
Turn off any other source of noise, such as a TV or radio
Dial 911, if possible, to alert police to the active shooter’s location. If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen.
Remain calm and quiet.

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HOW TO RESPOND WHEN AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IS IN YOUR VICINITY

FIGHT

As last resort, when your life is in imminent danger
Attempt to incapacitate
Find a weapon (ex. Chair, fire extinguisher, metal coffee pot, hot beverage)
Strategize with others if possible
Act as aggressive as possible
Commit to your actions

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HOW TO RESPOND WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVES

Law enforcement’s purpose is TO STOP THE ACTIVE SHOOTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
We will proceed directly to the area in which the last shots were heard.
We may be wearing our regular patrol uniforms, external bulletproof vests, and other tactical gear.
We will be armed with handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
We will be shouting commands.

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HOW TO RESPOND WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVES

Remain calm and follow officers’ instructions.
Immediately raise hands and spread fingers.
Keep hands visible at all times.
Avoid making quick movements towards officers.
Do not yell, scream, or point.
Do not stop to ask officers for directions when evacuating; just proceed in the direction from which officers are entering the premises.

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INFORMATION TO PROVIDE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR 911 OPERATOR

Location of the active shooter
Number of shooters, if more than one
Physical description of shooter(s)
Number and type of weapons held by the shooter(s)
Number of potential victims at the location

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ONCE THE THREAT IS STOPPED

Expect rescue teams comprised of additional officers and emergency medical personnel to follow the initial officers.
Once you have reached a safe location or an assembly point, you will likely be held in that area by law enforcement until all witnesses have been identified and questioned.

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“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”�� -Theodore Roosevelt

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Detective D. Parlato��New York State University Police at Old Westbury��Main Line: 516-876-3333��E-mail: parlatod@oldwestbury.edu