Preventing an Active Shooter

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March 2013

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INTRODUCTIONS

HOMELAND SECURITY & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

TODD JASPER, MSCP, CCM

TODD JASPERAssociate Director

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PREVENTION

First, let’s start with an experiment...

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PREVENTION

What is your stereotype of an active shooter?

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MYTHS

Grades? Work performance?

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MYTHS

Loner?

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MYTHS

History of Mental Illness?

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MYTHS

Broken families? Trouble at home?

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MYTHS

Active shooters just snap

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MYTHS

If they do plan their attack, they do so in secret

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MYTHS

There are no warning signs for an active shooter

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MYTHS

However...

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PREVENTION

A study by the US Secret Service and the US Department of Education examined school shootings and made some startling discoveries.

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PREVENTION

A study by the US Secret Service produced the following findings:

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• There is no accurate or useful “profile” of students who engaged in active shooter incidents

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PREVENTION

A study by the US Secret Service produced the following findings:

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• Most school shooters come from two-parent families

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PREVENTION

A study by the US Secret Service produced the following findings:

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• Have good grades (only 5% of violent students receive failing grades)

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PREVENTION

A study by the US Secret Service produced the following findings:

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• Only a third of school shooters were characterized as “loners”

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PREVENTION

A study by the US Secret Service produced the following findings:

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• Fewer than one-fifth of school shooters had been diagnosed with mental health or behavior disorder prior to the attack

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PREVENTION

A study by the US Secret Service produced the following findings:

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• In over 80% of school attacks, the attacker told at least one person about his plans.

• In close to 60% of school attacks, the attacker told more than one person about his plans.

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PREVENTION

A study by the US Secret Service produced the following findings:

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• Over 90% of school attackers exhibit warning signs

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PREVENTION

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90%

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ACTIVE SHOOTER PREVENTION

What does this mean?

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PREVENTION

Is it possible to prevent an active shooter?

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If 90% of active shooters exhibit some behavior or present signs that

indicate they may become violent, we can prevent active shooters

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PREVENTION

Research by the US Secret Service found that:

• 93% of active shooters exhibited behavior prior to the shooting that signaled their intent

• 95% of shooters planned the attack for more than 2 days

• In nearly two thirds of attacks, more than one person had information about the attack before it occurred

• Over 90% of attackers engage in some behavior prior to the attack that cause others–school officials, parents, teachers, police, fellow students–to be concerned

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PREVENTION

Essentially, preventing an active shooter encompasses two activities (not very complicated)

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PREVENTION

Essentially, preventing an active shooter encompasses two activities (not very complicated)

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PREVENTION

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WARNING

SIGN

AWARENESS

PREVENTION

PROMPT

REPORTING

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PREVENTION

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Active shooters are a very serious subject. Reporting someone who may become an active shooter is inherently stressful.

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PREVENTION

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What other reasons might someone be reluctant to report someone?

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PREVENTION

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To be more confident in identifying who might become violent, it is important to know the warning signs.

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WARNING SIGNS

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In 2011, the FBI assembled 15 warning signs that someone may become violent or become an active shooter.

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WARNING SIGNS

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Leakage: boasts, predictions, and subtle threats; stories, essays, poems, and pictures; violent fantasies; and interest in violent video games, movies, and books

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WARNING SIGNS

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Depression, anger, impulsive and uncontrollable behavior

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WARNING SIGNS

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Poor coping skills

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WARNING SIGNS

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Low frustration tolerance

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WARNING SIGNS

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Grudges, lack of resiliency

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WARNING SIGNS

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“Us against them” mentality, narcissism

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WARNING SIGNS

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Boastfulness about weapons, abusive language

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WARNING SIGNS

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Suicidal ideation, wishes of death, desire to kill others

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WARNING SIGNS

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Delusions, hallucinations, bizarre thoughts

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WARNING SIGNS

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History of physical assault

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WARNING SIGNS

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Perpetrator or victim of bullying

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WARNING SIGNS

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Substance abuse

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WARNING SIGNS

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Rebellion against authority

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WARNING SIGNS

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Isolated, withdrawn, fatigued

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Can you spot an potential violent person?

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RESPONSE

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HOW TO RESPOND TO AN ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENT

1. EVACUATE 2. HIDE 3. TAKE ACTION

CALL 911 WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO

• Have an escape route and plan in mind

• Leave your belongings behind

• Keep your hands visible

• Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view

• Block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors

• Silence your cell phone and any other device that might draw attention

As a last resort and only when your life is in immediate danger:

• Attempt to incapacitate the shooter

• Acting as a team, use physical aggression and throw items at the shooter

Active ShooterPrevention & Response

Pocket Card

Office of the Vice President and General Counsel

JANUARY 2013

Faculty, staff or students who have a concern about a student should report that concern by fi l l ing out and submitting the Student Behavior Incident Report Form online at:

www.csmd.edu/BRT

Or, call the office of the Vice President of Student and Instructional Support Services at 301-934-7509.

Serious life and safety concerns should be immediately reported by calling 911 or by contacting the CSM Department of Public Safety and Preparedness by calling 301-934-7888.

CSM BEHAVIORAL REVIEW TEAM (BRT) REPORTING PROCESS

ACTIVE SHOOTER PREVENTION-- WARNING SIGNS

• Leakage: boasts, predictions, and subtle threats; stories, essays, poems, and pictures; violent fantasies; and interest in violent media

• Depression, anger, impulsive/uncontrollable behavior

• Poor coping skills

• Low frustration tolerance

• Grudges, lack of resiliency

• “Us against them” mentality, narcissism

• Boastfulness about weapons, abusive language

• Suicidal ideation, wishes of death, desire to kill others

• Delusions, hallucinations, bizarre thoughts

• History of physical assault

• Perpetrator or victim of bullying

• Substance abuse

• Rebellion against authority

• Isolated, withdrawn, fatigued

If you observe any of these signs, please

contact the CSM Behavioral Review

Team (BRT) IMMEDIATELY!

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BEHAVIORAL REVIEW TEAM

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What is the BRT?

• A Behavioral Review Team (BRT) is a team of professionals from across disciplines to review cases and to recommend responses and interventions for instances when student behavior causes concern.

• The BRT is NOT punitive in any way. Reporting behavior to the BRT is not a punishment.

• The BRT is specially trained to evaluate student behavior, warning signs, and the context of concerning behavior to determine if a greater threat to safety exists.

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MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

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•Mental Health First Aid training course designed to give members of the public key skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

•Just as CPR training helps a layperson without medical training assist an individual following a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid training helps a layperson assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis

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•More training and exercises

•Regular updates on reporting procedures and familiarization with the BRT and Mental Health First Aid

•More outreach to workplace personnel on how to identify if a colleague may be showing symptoms of a deeper problem and how to report warning signs.

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WHAT’S NEXT?

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