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OHSU’S CRITICAL INCIDENT READINESS TASK FORCE
Q&A
Why was a task force formed?
Following the tragic shootings at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Tech, universities across the
country, including Oregon Health & Science University, are revisiting critical incident plans and
preparedness. As part of this process, OHSU President Joe Robertson, M.D., M.B.A., has established a
community task force. The task force will examine OHSU’s readiness and ability to respond to a critical
incident and determine other methods for ensuring the continued safety of the OHSU community.
Possible options may include establishing a permanent presence of an existing police department at
OHSU or arming OHSU public safety officers.
Why is a task force necessary?
The task force will provide an external assessment of OHSU’s level of readiness and determine if
additional measures are needed. A community task force was formed to ensure the review and
recommendation process is highly transparent and inclusive. OHSU values and encourages community
input in decisions about public safety..
What authorities do OHSU Public safety officers currently have?
Currently, OHSU public safety officers are certified under state law by the Department of Public Safety
Standards and Training (DPSST) as “Special Campus Security Officers.” OHSU public safety officers have
some police powers, including the ability to arrest based on a warrant or for probable cause, to use
reasonable force, and to access law enforcement data.
What limitations do OHSU Public safety officers have?
OHSU public safety officers cannot take individuals who are a danger to themselves into protective
custody. They cannot stop and search individuals suspected of a crime. They cannot issue citations for
violations. They are not allowed to train at the state police academy. They also are not allowed to
receive some forms of confidential information from other law enforcement agencies or to be nationally
accredited. OHSU public safety officers cannot immediately respond to a shooter or armed individual on
campus.
OHSU has identified certain areas in which we can improve our readiness for a critical incident. For
instance, OHSU is seeking the ability to have its public safety officers undergo training at the state police
academy in addition to their current training. OHSU is also considering a number of additional steps to
increase safety and security.
Has OHSU ever been the scene of a shooting?
Thankfully, OHSU has never experienced a campus shooting. Nevertheless, all universities are
investigating this possibility and planning accordingly. OHSU believes it is our responsibility as a public
institution to discuss these issues in a public forum and be well-prepared for any type of critical incident,
including a campus shooter. Doing so is part of our overall commitment to the safety of our staff,
students, patients and visitors.
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What were the lessons learned from the shootings at Virginia Tech that may assist universities such as
OHSU in improving their safety measures?
Confusion about how, when and with whom to share information about a potential threat was the top
finding in all official reports on the Virginia Tech tragedy. Reports also found a need for multidisciplinary
threat response teams trained to evaluate information about potential threats. OHSU began addressing
these issues more than a year ago.
Additionally, the Virginia Tech reports identified a need for campus officers and local police to train
together for critical incident responses. The current status of OHSU officers does not permit them to
train for direct response to critical incidents. At OHSU, Portland Police are the designated first
responders if a critical incident were to occur.
What sets OHSU apart from other Oregon universities and health care providers?
OHSU is a high-traffic university medical center. Its two hospitals and Level 1 trauma center (one of only
two in the state) mean the university is a hub of activity around-the-clock. In addition, OHSU’s missions
of education, patient care and research bring a wide variety of visitors to the campuses daily. In
addition, many of OHSU’s facilities are geographically isolated or have limited access points. These
factors increase the response time for first responders during a critical incident.
What will the task force do?
The task force will produce a series of recommendations to OHSU President Joe Robertson, M.D.,
M.B.A., regarding OHSU’s current critical incident readiness. The task force may also make
recommendations for additional steps that should be taken to increase campus safety. Dr. Robertson
will review these recommendations with senior leadership and determine if additional steps are needed.
In some cases, a change in state law may be required to provide OHSU Public Safety officers with
additional powers or responsibilities.