Active Shooter or Aggressor Overview
An active shooter or aggressor is a person who appears to be actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area—typically using firearms but possibly using other weapons, such as knives, vehicles, and/or improvised explosive devices (IED) to cause additional mayhem and to impede law enforcement and emergency services responders. There may be no pattern or method to their selection of victims.
These situations are dynamic and evolve rapidly, so it’s important that you act quickly and that you remember “Run. Hide. Fight.”
Description of the video:
Executive Vice President John Applegate: Indiana University is thoroughly committed to the safety and well-being of all members of the university community.
In recent years, we have established comprehensive, university-wide policies and programs in a wide variety of areas to assure the safety of our campuses and of our students, faculty, and staff.
Even more importantly, countless students and professionals are dedicated to helping to create a shared culture at Indiana University that fosters a supportive and safe environment for learning and for living.
Superintendent Ben Hunter: For the Indiana University Police Department, protecting our scenic and vibrant campuses throughout the state is a responsibility that we take very seriously.
Each campus has a unique personality. Some have large residential populations or an urban flavor. Some cater to commuters. We routinely host concerts, festivals, and major sporting events, including Big 10 contests and tournaments. Similarities include welcoming environments, and an emphasis on excellence and on safety.
Just like the Indiana University Police Department and emergency management staff, you have a role as well. Unfortunately, we have seen how tragic events with an active aggressor have played out on college campuses and office settings throughout the United States. These life-altering events can be scary and traumatic. IUPD wants you to have a plan, and be ready to react.
Run. Hide. Fight. is a national model we’ve adopted on all our campuses. Whether you’re on campus at a community event or a place of business, this is your plan for what to do if someone with a weapon is actively trying to kill or hurt people. You likely will never need to use these steps, but thinking about what to do during an active-aggressor or active shooter situation is the first step to keeping yourself and others safe around you.
Speaker 1:
Active aggressor attacks are dynamic and unpredictable, but the first step is simple : If you see an attacker or hear gunshots, try to determine the location and get away as quickly as possible.
Leave the area. Don’t worry about your belongings. Tell others to run but don’t wait for them. Make those around you aware of the threat in an attempt to prevent people from entering a dangerous situation.
Once outside, keep running. Call 911 after you’ve reached a safe location. Remember to tell the 911 operator where the incident took place. Don’t assume they know your location. Be as specific as possible to make sure first responders have an exact location.
911 operator:
Where is your emergency?
Speaker 2:
I’m on the campus of Indiana University. There’s a white male in the business building. He’s wearing blue jeans and a grey shirt. He’s attacking people with a gun.
911 operator -
OK, we’ll have officer on the way.
Speaker 2:
Thank you.
Speaker 1:
There’s a shooter in the building! there’s a shooter in the building!
Speaker 3:
I you think the attacker’s nearby and you can’t run, then you need to make a decisive decision and hide.
Speaker 4: Barricade doors with whatever’s available. Chairs, tables, bookcases. Anything that will stop or slow down an attacker. In medical or research settings, a wheeled bed locked by the door or a research bench may be an option. Turn off the lights. Silence your cellphone, including vibration, and hide it. And please, don’t share on social media your location.
Speaker 5: During the attack, if you cannot avoid the attacker, then get ready to fight aggressively with anything you can get your hands on. Distraction can help. You can yell and scream and throw things at the attacker. And when you fight, try as quickly as you can to get the weapon from him and work with others to take him down.
911 dispatcher:
IU officers, please be en route to the business building. We have a report of an active shooter. A white male wearing a grey shirt and blue jeans.
Speaker 6: Police will arrive at the scene very quickly. You need to know their first priority will be stopping the attacker, not tending the injured.
Officer 1: Hands up! Hands up! Get up, move!
Speaker 6: Follow their instructions and keep your hands visible at all times.
Officer 2: Contact! Drop the gun! On your stomach!
IUPD Captain Craig Munroe: Studies show that before violent attacks, assailants often provide clues or signs that something is wrong, or that they intend to do harm. We just need to recognize them, and to let someone know. We also need to each do our part to try to prevent these from happening. If you see signs that concern you, call 911.
Officer Hayley Ciosek: If you’re simply concerned about a student or a colleague’s behavior, you can call IUPD or contact your behavioral consultation team for your campus.
For a list of behavioral signs to look out for, please visit protect.iu.edu.
Detective Kimberly Minor: If you receive an IU Notify, or are aware of an active aggressor incident, be prepared to act immediately. It’s important to make sure your IU Notify contact information is updated by going to one.iu.edu. Receiving messages by text is the quickest and most reliable way to receive them. You can also participate in safety training and programs conducted by IUPD and emergency management staff throughout the year. Check the Protect IU website and University Human Resources Training website for more information.
Superintendent Ben Hunter - Active aggressor attacks are rare, but we know from news reports they do occur. That’s why we want you to remember - Run. Hide. Fight. At Indiana University, we want you to be prepared, not frightened. Concepts like see something, say something/Run. Hide. Fight. can help keep our community safe, no matter where you are.