Active Threat

Be Prepared

Active threats are unpredictable, evolve quickly, and often over within a matter of minutes.

• Be informed. Sign up for CU Alerts.
• Be aware of your environment, co-workers and classmates and any possible dangers.
• Take note of all exits and posted evacuation routes in any facility you visit.
• Be prepared to Run, Hide and/or Fight.
• Note that in an Active Threat situation, University doors with card access will be locked to all but emergency responders.

Run, Hide, Fight

If an active threat occurs in your vicinity, you must react to the situation. You have three options:

RUN

• Have an escape route and plan in mind.
• Leave your belongings behind.
• Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow.
• Help others escape, if possible.
• Do NOT attempt to move the wounded.
• Discourage others from entering an area where the active threat may be.
• Keep your hands visible.

HIDE

• Lock or verify that exterior doors are locked.
• Find an interior room, preferably with multiple exits, and lock, barricade and secure the door.
  • If you are in a room equipped with a lockdown button, activate it.
• Be prepared to support/reinforce your barricade with force, if necessary.
• Get out of sight: turn off lights, silence phones, cover windows in doors, draw blinds and move away from windows.
• If outdoors, seek shelter in the nearest unlocked building.
  • If the closest buildings are locked, move as far away from danger as possible, seek cover, move to another building or leave campus if it is safe to do so.
• Do NOT leave until an “ALL CLEAR” notice is received.
  • Do NOT respond to any voice commands until you can verify with certainty that they are being issued by a police officer.
• If you can do so without risking safety, report information about the threat by calling 911.
  • If the shooter is in your area and you cannot safely talk, leave the 911 line open so the dispatcher can listen to what’s taking place; the location of a 911 call can be determined without speaking.

FIGHT

• Fight as a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger.
• Attempt to incapacitate the shooter.
• Act with extreme aggression.
• Improvise weapons or throw items at the assailant.
• Commit to your actions. Your life depends on it.

Lockdown Buttons

• If there is an active threat situation outside the room, individuals inside should press the Lockdown button and follow the Active Threat protocols of Run, Hide, Fight.
  • The button will not sound or provide any visual notification that it has been activated.
• Public Safety Officials are notified within seconds and will take appropriate actions.
• All card access to that door will be immediately disabled. If there are multiple doors, pressing any of the lockdown buttons will lock all doors.
• Individuals inside the room can still open the doors from the inside. Until Law Enforcement arrives, no one outside the room can open the door via card access.

Do I let someone in?

• If there is any doubt about the safety of the individuals inside the room or building, keep the area secure. If there are individuals outside the locked door that want to get in, consider:
  • Can you see outside the door to determine someone is not lying in wait? Is it a trap?
  • Does the person match the physical description given in the CU Alert?
• If a decision is made to let a person in, consider:
  • Have the person leave anything they are carrying outside of the secure area.
  • Have the person lift their clothing until the waistline is visible and rotate 360 degrees to see if he or she is concealing a weapon.
• Remember, always use good judgment. There are exceptions to all prescribed directions.

When Law Enforcement Arrives On-Scene

• Officers will proceed directly to the area where the last shots were heard to stop the threat as soon as possible.
• Remain calm and follow officers’ instructions.
• Immediately raise hands and spread fingers.
• Keep hands visible at all times. Do NOT hold cell phones or other items as you may appear to be armed.
• Avoid making quick movements toward officers.
• Avoid screaming or yelling.
• Do NOT stop to ask officers for help or direction when evacuating, proceed in the direction from which officers are entering the area.
• Provide to law enforcement or 911:
  • Location of the active threat
  • Number of shooters, if more than one
  • Physical description of shooter(s)
  • Number and type of weapons held
  • Number of potential victims at the location

Wait for the "All Clear"

Once there is no longer a threat to your safety, an "ALL CLEAR" CU Alert will be sent to registered devices.