At the US Attorney’s Office, we always have to stay on our toes. There are a lot of people who would seek to damage any part of the US government and a lot of released prisoners who would love to enact vengeance on the US attorneys that put them away. When an unfamiliar face appears in the office lobby, it could be just a lost person searching for the restroom or someone with more sinister intentions. Every employee, even an intern like me, goes through active shooter training. We hope for the best, but plan for the worst. It’s the sensible thing to do in a government office.
When I was at work last week, I looked up from my computer desk to see the small TV in the lobby reporting on a Florida school shooting. With our security and training, I expect something like that to happen at a government office, but it happened at a school. Though we have a safe campus, the grim possibility of a shooting occurring on the Union campus is just as real as it is at my workplace, and we should be prepared for that possibility.
***
Union sent the “Run, Hide, Fight” active shooter video to students, and it’s time to talk about how to implement those strategies at Union. Being prepared is essential to surviving any catastrophic event. It’s easy to watch a video and feel disconnected from the situation it’s depicting, but as the saying goes, the best offense is a good defense, and students should consider possible plans of action during the case of an active shooter on campus.
I talked with Operations Supervisor of Safety and Security Jonny Jines and Vice President for Student Life Brian Carrier about appropriate actions to take and pans of action to consider ahead of time in the event of an active shooter.
Jines says if you’re not in a building on campus, make sure you know where the shots are coming from before you start running so you don’t run towards the shooter. When you do flee, look for cover. A bush may conceal you from sight, but it won’t stop a bullet. If you’re going to hide, hide behind cover that will stop a bullet.
“If there’s shots being fired and you’re out in the open, try to determine if it’s coming from outside, from building nearby,” Jines said. “Where’s it coming from? … Try to identify the location, then try to get behind something that’s going to provide some cover.”
In the event that you are in a building and cannot safely leave, hide in whatever room you are in by turning out the lights, securing the door by locking it or barricading it and getting out of sight. Shooters know that their time is limited, so they will not try to enter a room that is locked or that doesn’t appear to have people in it.
“Cut out the lights and try to secure the door,” Jines said. “Have everyone get down on the floor, and try to remain as quiet as you can.”
If you cannot prevent the shooter from coming inside, prepare to fight him by picking up any nearby objects to use as weapons. Get against the wall next to the door to catch him off guard when he comes in.
Once you’ve taken action to hide, flee or fight, call 911 immediately. After calling 911, you can call campus security.
“Once they call the police, then call security,” Jines said. “We might be in the building when it happens.”
Preventative measures should be taken ahead of time, so think ahead to possible evacuation plans in the event of a shooting in any given building. In an emergency situation, you’re more likely going to revert to whatever you have planned to do.
“I think, just to have a dialogue about it, and to be talking about it,” Jines said. “Not they we’re expecting anything, but it’s better to be forewarned and prepared.”
Jines also encouraged students to be on the lookout for anyone or anything that looks out of place and report it to campus security. Carrier also echoed the sentiment of awareness and prevention.
“We have policies and procedures in place for distressed writing,” Carrier said. “We’ve instituted layers there to increase the likelihood of notification to multiple parties in the event that there are warning signs.”
Carrier emphasizes preventative measures in addition to reactionary training to shooters. Union monitors troubling behavior both in student’s writing and actions. It’s important for students to report any concerning behavior to safety and security in order to prevent tragedy before it occurs. Shooters tend to target places they have a connection to. Get to know your fellow students so any warning signs can be identified.
Ultimately, Carrier emphasizes relying on God for guidance and care in preventative measures. We should rely on the ultimate protector in times of need or worry.
“We serve a sovereign God,” Carrier said. “He knows our hearts and hears our prayers.”
