Campus Guide to
Active Shooter
MCLNO Police Department
Guide to Active Shooter

This guide will make you familiar with the
term “active shooter.”
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It will help you learn what to plan for and
expect.
What is an “Active Shooter?”

Simply – an “Active Shooter” is a person
who is trying to kill as many people as
possible, usually for no particular reason.
Police Response to Active Shooter

The police department will try to stop the threat
as quickly as possible.

Before special units arrive, patrol officers will
start looking for the shooter. Officers will work in
teams of four whenever possible. As the priority
is to eliminate the threat, officers will work in
smaller groups, or alone, if necessary.
Police Response to Active Shooter

Officers will try to get as much information
as they move through the building:

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They will ask where you heard the shots from
and what you saw.
Officers will need quick answers.
Police Response to Active Shooter

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Officers will not search room to room.
They will move quickly towards the sounds
of shots/screaming.
They will only search rooms when they
cannot hear anything.
What Are Your Responsibilities?

Depending on where you are in the
hospital, you should try and do the
following:
What Are Your Responsibilities?

Do not sound the fire alarm. A fire alarm will
tell people to leave the building and place
them in danger as they attempt to exit.

Turn off radios, televisions and other audio
equipment. Put cell-phones on vibrate or
silent.
In a Classroom, Office or Similar
If you are in a classroom, room or office,
STAY THERE, secure the door.
 If the door has no lock and the door opens
in, a good heavy door wedge can be
kept on hand or you can look for heavy
furniture to put behind the door.
 If the door has a window, cover it if you
can.

In a Classroom, Office or Similar

If the Police have not arrived, move well
away from the scene and find a safe place
to hide.

When police arrive, keep your hands
up and do exactly what the Police tell
you to do.
In a Classroom, Office or Similar

You may have information that Police
Officers will need. Once you are in a safe
place, stay put.

If the windows don’t open, or you cannot
break them, or you are not on a ground
floor, get out of sight from the door and stay
low and quiet.
In Hallways

If in the hallways, get in a room that is not
already secured and secure it.

Don’t run through a long hall to get to an
exit - you may encounter the gunmen or
hostage taker.
Trapped with the Gunmen



If you are trapped with the gunmen, don’t
do anything to upset them.
If they are not shooting, do what they say
and don’t move suddenly.
Only you can decide what you will or will
not do to save your life or the lives of
others.
Trapped with the Gunmen

If they do start shooting people, you need to make a
choice, (at this point it is your choice)


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stay still and hope they don’t shoot you
run for an exit while zigzagging
or even attack the shooter.
Running or attacking are very dangerous, but no more
than doing nothing and dying in place.
A moving target is much harder to hit than a still one and
the shooter won’t expect to be attacked by a person
without a gun.
Any choice might still have a negative outcome.
Trapped with the Gunmen

This is NOT a recommendation to attack
the shooter but rather a choice
to fight when there is only one other option.
Open Spaces

Stay alert and look for good places to hide brick walls, large trees, retaining walls,
parked vehicles and any other object which
might stop a bullet – are good places.
Unsecuring an Area

Keep rooms secure until police arrive and tell
you what to do.

Consider the safety of everyone versus the
safety of a few.

If you are unsure about the safety of everyone
in the room, the area should remain secured.
What to Tell Law Enforcement
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Your location: building name and office/room
number.
Number of people where you are.
Injuries: number injured and types of injuries.
Suspects: location, number of suspects,
race/gender, clothing description, physical
features, type of weapons (long gun or hand
gun), bags carried, shooters identity if known,
separate explosions from gunfire, etc.
IMPORTANT

Program the Hospital Police 24-hour
emergency number (504-903-6337) into
your cell phone. Always notify the police
department as soon as it is safe to do so.
Remember:

These safety tips do not cover
everything, but if you understand them,
they can increase your chances of
surviving an active shooter incident.