KEEP SCHOOLS SAFE

 

March 5, 2009

 

HOSTAGE SITUATIONS – BARRICADED CAPTOR.

 

NO DOUBT, two of the most feared words, especially when they refer to a school – Hostage Situation.  But, I strongly suggest that you and your school (district) would be well advised to start not only talking about it, but coming up with some kind of heads-up Hostage Situation(s) Protocol and Crisis Management Plan. 

 

A Hostage-Taker might be a terrorist(C’mon, think about it.  Is this really not a possibility?), fleeing felon, disgruntles employee      (past or present), employee’s spouse, drug or alcohol abuser, EDP )Emotionally Disturbed Person), trespasser, and, on occasion, a parent, student, or citizen who is angry or distraught about some situation and decides to resolve it by taking hostages and making demands.

 

POSSIBLE PLAN OF ACTION –

 

1. Notification of a hostage situation within the purview of your school district.
2. Activation of Pre-Determined Chain of Command (assuming your school district has the foresight to have established a Crisis Chain Of Command, et al.).  Here I am going to assume that you have one and the Principal has been pre-designated to assume command.
   • Principal assumes command until the local or state police arrive on the scene.
   • Security/Resource Officer will work closely with the principal or designated person in charge to assure the Initial Plan of Action is achieved safely.
   • School radios or other communication devices should be employed once it can be determined that the taker does not have one.  If he has one, radios should not be used without a pre-determined (secret) code system.
   • Gather and compile as much cogent information as possible about the hostage taker, the location, the student(s) involved, the teacher(s) involved.  Also, it is crucial that as much intelligence be accumulated concerning the actions of the taker, any communications made with the taker, any injuries and/or deaths, and the weapon(s) wielded by the hostage taker.
   • Police or emergency medical personnel will also require to be informed about the scene that they are being asked to enter:

Ø      Is the scene still hot?  In other words, is the Bad Guy still armed and firing rounds?  Medical personnel might not send their team unless the scene is cold.

Ø      Where is the safest entry point for our vehicles, if the Bad Guy is still “hot?”

Ø      Who will meet us, and, if it is not you, identify what this individual is wearing, etc?

 

1. Containment.  Take whatever actions are necessary to isolate the hostage taker and the victim(s) under his control.  Make certain that no other people are exposed to the hostage taker.

 

1. Evacuation.  Using a pre-arranged signal, immediately evacuate the building, concomitantly assuring that egressing students and personnel do not go near the area where the hostage taker and his victim has been isolated.  All individuals should gather at a pre-arranged location out of sight of the building to minimize the probability of injury from gunfire.  Students should remain under the supervision of the school officials unless protocol otherwise dictates otherwise.

 

1. Re-entry.  The school building is now a crime scene.  Assure that no one enters or re-enters the building.

 

1. About Contacting 911.  Immediately have a staff member contact 911 and give all available information to the dispatcher.  Ensure that the caller (staff member) remain on the line until the police actually arrive on the scene.  This will go a long way to ensure that accurate, detailed information is relayed to responding officers and school officials can respond to requests of the police officers.

 

1. Control Of Scene Transfers to the PD.  The principal shall maintain contact with the PD and report to the Command Center when it is operational.  It is important that items, such as building keys and detailed building plans be made available to the police department.

 

OF COURSE, I am talking procedure, policy and protocol here.  It is imperative to have one before an event such as this occurs.  Also, an Emergency Crisis Plan, including one for a hostage situation, be achieved, including a Chain Of Command, etc.

 

MORE IMPORTANT, at least in my opinion, however, is how you, as a teacher, security specialist, or resource officer, should tactically respond when confronting a hostage situation as a First Responder, or, more likely, someone who just happens to be on the scene.  See my next post.

 

Until Then, Stay Safe.

Hammer

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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