Lockdown Procedures,
Responsibilities, & What to
Expect.. “From the beginner to the
advanced, you will learn something new
from this class!”
By Officer Chris Crapser
Fort Wayne Police Officer / Snider High School
Resource Officer / Training Director for the Indiana
School Resource Officers Association
Intro..
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A little bit about myself, which you probably don’t want
to know! If you get overly offended this may not be for
you 
Dad’s philosophy… Do the right thing, the truth may
hurt.
Which takes us to how we developed this procedure..
This is not strictly a educators lockdown procedure, but
rather a fine tuned balance between the knowledge
gained by law enforcement officers responding to and
ever investigating criminality in society, and the school
system.
“The police may not have the education background of
many school administrators, but they do solve millions of
crisis situations every day!”
Preliminary Information
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Initially send a letter or e-mail to parents
providing explanation for the first Lockdown.
Prior to initial lockdown, provide staff with the
procedures by way of multiple e-mails,
communications, or Q&A.
The staff is the front line of defense. They will
be notified of procedure changes, recent
intelligence that may aid in the safety of the
school, and be provided with regular in-service.
Major or Minor Lockdown
Announcement
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Schools may have multiple levels of lockdown
procedures, but only a couple need to be known.
One needs to be perfected!
A Minor Lockdown, or “Shelter in Place” is used when
the threat is outdoors and non-specific. Teachers are to
lock their doors, keep students in the rooms, and
continue to teach until further advised.
A Major Lockdown is a procedure to be practiced &
perfected. It is announced in accordance to a direct
threat, such as an active shooter on property or in the
building. ------- LEVEL III Lockdown-------- and this is
what we are discussing today.
When a threat has been established, an announcement
will be made to the entire staff on an all call, by a prior
delegated staff member, and they will relay needed info.
Step 1 for Teachers…
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After hearing the lockdown
announcement, go directly to the
classroom door and make a “quick peek”
in the hall to secure any loose students.
Do we have a liability to secure innocent
students roaming the hall?
Yes!
Be it Morally, Ethically,
Policy Compliant, or out
of Parental Urges, do it!
What You as a Teacher Should be
Contemplating…
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When looking in the hallway at loose students,
look at their hands for items.
Do they belong? How are they dressed?
Observe: hoodies, coats, bags, hats, bandannas,
book bags, etc.
Observe facial expressions and body language.
Scan the hall. (Prevent tunnel vision). This may
save your life as well as your students.
Bring any loose students into your classroom.
Could This Happen?
That’s why it is called the
“Quick Peek”!
If it’s the Real Deal you should..
If there is an active threat in the building, you need to
do whatever it takes to keep yourself and students
safe; barricade the door, and or break a window and
evacuate. The teacher needs to use common sense.
If you see a suspicious person
during the peek, be it a drill or the
real thing, you should..
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Secure the door, then call the security office
“74610” with the description. In our local high
schools, police officers should be given the
location, description and direction from the
information you provide to our delegated staff
member assigned to the security office during a
lockdown. This person will also be the direct line
to 911, since history has shown that too many
calls to the 911 dispatch will make contact
impossible. (Examples; cell phones)
Documentation…
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Any student should be documented on a
list when brought into your room in case
of off site evacuation.
Attendance lists and grade books should
be taken when exiting.
Off site evacuation sites should be prearranged in case of emergency and should
be part of your existing emergency plan.
Let’s think out of the box!
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“Crapser Method”, that’s right Crap-ser, /Krapsir/, not Kratsert, Casper, Crasper, Crafner, or
whatever…
This is a compilation and possibly even
plagiarism, for the safety of the “Children” 
Who here practices lockdown drills? Volunteer?
Does anyone monitor your cameras during a
drill? Nobody? New People? Old people? Always
the same people? Who will monitor the cameras
during a real situation? Do you always have
same officers?
Do they know the building?
Even if it is just a drill…
Teacher
Security Secretary
I challenge you to practice All lockdown
drills with a “mock” active shooter. Hence,
all staff will be trained Pavlov style, with
hopes that when a real threat occurs, staff
will quick peek, and report if a threat is
observed!
“We fight as we train!”
After the “Peek”…
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Lock your door. (Sub’s should leave door locked all day.
Have a neighboring teacher open door in a.m. and after
lunch). Or leave all doors locked all day?
Does officer have a key fob, a master, an exterior
master? What if he needs to enter where there is no fob.
Cover your entry window.
Turn off any lights. (You may need a night light, or
flashlight if in interior room)
Move students away from door to a location out of line
with the door.
If there is an imminent threat outside, then close the
shades, otherwise leave them open.
Be it real or a drill, teachers need to reassure the
importance of following directions, and staying quiet.
Muscle memory: We will not step up to a
situation, we will revert to training practices.
Window Covering
Hallway View
Exterior Shades
Inside Classroom:
procedure on window.
Lockdown Policy, as a window
cover…?
Highlight your individual responsibilities and needed
extension numbers. It makes the perfect reminder! And
aids when sub’s are in your class.
Laminated stock from our print shop, with Velcro on back.
Room Communication
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Teachers need to keep their e-mail open
for incoming messages.
Keep classroom phone lines open in case
of emergency use.
Listen for bull horn communication and or
P.A. within the building.
BE PATIENT! We will make contact with
you!
Lockdown Duties
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Delegated assistant principals or technical savvy
and building knowledgeable staff should be
assigned in security room to monitor surveillance
systems and will forward suspect information to
the school resource police officer for response to
the conflict and active neutralization.( During
every drill & actual event!)
One staff member per monitor bank, plus a staff
member to answer security phone from
incoming staff calls, and relay information to
911.
The Security Room Needs to be
Secure!
An unmarked outer door
and a secure window
makes location and entry
difficult.
Procedure in the security
room!
Have you had suspicious
inquiries on your security?
Duties Continued…
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The principal’s duty lies with keeping a
prepared folder with a map of the
building, a master key and spare radio.
The principal has accessibility to a secure
perimeter entrance and meets initial
responding police personnel from outside
and will supply them with the information.
Duties Continued….
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The Assistant Principal will check our auditorium,
or unrelated locations that need to be checked
for liability: auditorium, outdoor gym, etc.. and
follow up by preparing a meet for S.W.A.T.
response at designated location.
S.W.A.T. response has proven to be irrelevant
due to the fact that most school shootings are
over well before arrival. (We must prepare as
though we are on our own!)
(Hence) The S.R.O. response will be crucial,
especially at high schools or nearby feeder
schools sharing same campus.
Bathroom Detail……
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Do we have a responsibility to check restrooms?
Are there speakers in the restrooms to advise
students?
Is it against contract to place staff in harm’s
way?
Assign close and minimal personnel to check
restrooms. Lock themselves and loose students
either in restroom, if lockable, or a nearby room.
Minimal personnel in the hallway is a necessity
for video motion detection.
Teachers Do Not...
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Do not open doors unless you are advised by
PA, e-mail, phone, or by a very reliable source,
such a law enforcement.
Your life, and your students’ lives, depend on it.
Fire alarms are to be disregarded during a
lockdown. If evacuation is needed, you will be
contacted by some form of communication.
“This is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT as compared
to a Fire Drill! Never Compare procedures!”
When was the last death in a school by fire in
the U.S.?
The Answer Is!
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1958!
Brick structures..
Fire drills every month..
2 state mandated lockdowns a year.
When was the last school shooting?
Or, how long into 2012 did it take for a
school shooting to occur? Any volunteers?
Any Ideas?
January 4
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The first school shooting of 2012 was
on January 4 at a Brownsville, Texas,
middle school. Officers arrived at the
school and fatally shot a middle
school student who acted out in
violence in the school, then pointed a
look-a-like pellet gun at police.
The first school shooting of 2012 that was student
shooting another student was January 10th.
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HOUSTON -- A Houston teenager accused of shooting a
classmate at school says he was defending himself from
a group of boys who have been bullying him.
Warren Lewis an honor role student, remained jailed
Wednesday after he was arrested for the shooting a day
earlier. The student who was shot is expected to recover.
The North Forest Independent School District says it's
still investigating how Lewis got the handgun into the
campus and past metal detectors.
During a court appearance Wednesday, the 18-year-old
Lewis told a judge that he had filed complaints with the
school about the boys who had been harassing him.
Lunch Time Lockdown…
Does your cafeteria look like this; a fish bowl?
There needs to be an alternative
lockdown location.
Snider Main Café will evacuate to the Aux Café, and Aux Café
students are moved to attached storage rooms.
Café staff will lock, secure doors, and lock themselves in. Keep
good rapport with café staff, your stomach demands it!
How about the Library & Computer
Lab…
Is it a fish bowl? You need to do the same due to the
accessibility of a large amount of students.
Snider students will move to secure Audio – Visual
storage rooms adjacent to the Library.
Gym…
Indoor physical education students will move to
secure locker rooms. These rooms need a PA, or
a communication system.
Outdoor classes will stay outside, and seek
shelter at a nearby, pre-arranged off site location.
Do you have method to contact outdoor classes?
Glenwood first, then Good Shepherd Church.
After a Drill…
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A debrief session with administration is required.
Make a list of fatalities (Adults, students,
cafeteria staff, police, everybody), loud
classrooms, unlocked doors, wandering
students, strange occurrences.
Voice any concerns, accomplishments, needed
drill amendments and improvements or
violations. (The drill should be a live or ever
changing document.)
An incident report will be filed listing all
information to track repeat concerns.
Mock Shooters & Active
Shooters use their eyes and
ears to locate targets.
Mock Shooters will give NEEDED
surveillance tracking practice to
those directing the officers to
the threat. (Revolving employee
positions means starting from
scratch every year)
We will always document the
time taken for responders to
neutralize the threat.
WHY DO WE DO THIS? We will
not step up to the level of a
threat in a serious situation, but
rather revert to our training.
FYI…
Why Drill? Ongoing Roadblocks.
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State Law… Two a year… We do four!
Problems: New Administrators, SRO’s, and staff
every year. (Start from scratch, again, again)
There is no conformity between schools. We
must develop uniformity over the district for the
benefit of sub’s, transferred staff, and police.
Must do: Work closely with administration to
practice improvised camera training during down
time throughout the year to stay sharp and train
new staff.
Advanced training: An hour on the weekend with
air soft ammo, qualified active shooter, several
scenario’s, administrator participation as well as
law enforcement response from SRO & street
officers.
Our Mock Shooters, during a school
time drill do not..
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Carry any type of weapon, or look-a-like, except
for their finger.
Use any type of physical force
Cause any large scene, or excessive intimidation
of teachers or students.
Do not exercise intricate covert plans to confuse
the staff monitoring cameras, since generally our
shooter is for needed practice, not more
confusion. Keep it simple.
Our Mock Shooters will..
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Wear a hood, mask, glasses, hat, or some type
of disguise.
Wait in a room until the agreed time, then begin
in a different portion of the school each drill.
They will check all noises and walk in unlocked
doors..
Being the mock shooter is a position everybody
wants, but it is also a learning experience that
most will not forget. Everyone should take a
turn! You will learn more than the staff by
putting yourself in that role just once.
For Teachers, after the drill…
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It is the teacher’s responsibility to advise
students what to do if they are caught in a
confined space with a suspect.
Running is preferred. However, if there is no
possible escape, they should hide behind cover,
stay as close to the ground as possible, and
physically make themselves as small of target as
possible.
There may be a time to fight! If you are trapped
in a room and there are no other survival
techniques, a last resort is TO FIGHT, by any
means necessary and as team if possible.
After the real deal…
Ending Considerations…
Teacher and students 12 hrs in a classroom
Media Response
Parent Pick up and Response
Altercations
Student and Staff Accountability (Who Left?)
Crime Scene (Closed for days)
Interviews (5 hours once outside)
Jammed 911 from overflow
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
Living with “The Next Day”
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Liability: Did you operate per your policy?
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
Business as usual?
Funerals?
Court- Criminal / Civil
Suicide? Feelings of personal guilt, or
dramatization of friendships….
Are we ready? Think about it…
History shows…
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Active shooters are prepared mentally and
tactically. They do their homework.
They are ready to die, and will attack as such.
There WILL be casualties during a real incident,
so don’t be surprised when you accumulate
casualties during a practice drill! This is not a
sign of failure, but an indicator that you are
practicing and learning what to improve.
Being vigilant WILL reduce casualties.
Complacency and Political Correctness is our
Enemy and Their Friend.. (Afraid to offend)
Who are the Suspects?
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Other Students (Most probable)
Disgruntled Parent (Very Possible)
“Domestic Terrorists” or Gang Members (Probably)
“Terrorists” or Muslim Extremists (It’s going to happen
somewhere); see attack on Beslan, Russia. Our
grandchildren will be fighting this war.
17 school busses stolen from Houston, Texas, Sept.
2007and more in 2010 which have not been recovered.
It is terrorist related.
Current Terrorist Training..
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Al-Qaeda has publicly asserted the right to kill
2,000,000 American children and has warned
that operations are in stages of preparation.
There are video tapes seized from Afghanistan
of practicing takeovers of schools.
The trainees issue commands in English,
rehearse separating youngsters into manageable
groups and meeting any resistance with
violence. Some hostages are taken to the
rooftop, dangled over the edge, then shot.
Any place that has given Islamic terrorists
trouble, they've come after the kids. Muslim
religious literature, states clearly that the killing
of children not only is permitted in Islam but is
approved by Mohammed, so long as the
perpetrators "are striving for the general good"
as interpreted by that religion
Attack on Beslan….
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The terrorists' tactical model.
A dress rehearsal for what terrorists plan to do
to us has already taken place. That was the
brutal takedown in 2004 of a school that served
children from 6 to 17 years old in Beslan, Russia.
Some 100 terrorists were involved, nearly half of
whom were discreetly embedded in the large
crowd of parents, staff and kids who showed up
for the first day of school; the rest arrived for
the surprise attack in SUVs, troop carriers and
big sedans. Across a three-day siege, 700 people
were wounded and 338 killed, including 172
youngsters.
Likely Targets….. Maybe…
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Terrorist Perpetrator: Rural Elementary or
Middle Schools where the children show
no risk of resistance. Rural so there is
minimal law enforcement presence and
emergency response.
Student Perpetrator: Could be anywhere
and anytime.
Table Top…
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Details: You are in charge of emergency
lockdown directives at an elementary school.
At approximately 0730 hrs there is an active
shooter in area possibly on foot.
Students and busses are due to arrive at 0735
hrs.
There is a large number of student walkers due
to congested housing around school.
Faculty and staff are inside school already but
the lockdown lasts for over an hour.
This is only information you receive.
Classroom Necessities
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Toilet Paper for 35 people and a sheet…..
Plastic Bags for toilet and a garbage can.
First Aid basics (4x4, cravat, bandages)
Snacks for everybody: Diabetics.
Secret Halloween bag of Snickers
Gallon of water and cups
Flashlight w/ batteries
Conduct daily “Memory Simulation” every day until you
perfect your response. This is your personal free Table
Top Session!
Prepare for an all day affair! It will take hours to clear
the building room by room.
Any Questions?