Active Shooter Defined
An Active Shooter is one or more individuals who participate in a random or systematic shooting
spree, demonstrating their intent to continuously harm others. Their overriding objective appears to be
mass casualties, rather than other criminal conduct. For the purpose of this response plan, an active
shooter will include anyone who uses a firearm(s), to systematically or randomly inflict death or great
bodily harm to people. A suspect is considered an Active Shooter if he or she is still actively
shooting, has access to additional potential victims, and has a willingness to harm others until stopped
by authorities or his/her own suicide.
An incident can occur at any time of the day or night, and on any day of the week. Most acts occur
without warning and the succession of events are unpredictable.
The suspect may be better armed than the police, sometimes making use of automatic weapons,
explosives, booby traps and body armor.
The assailant usually will have some degree of familiarity with the building or location they choose to
occupy.
Initial Response
Any emergency situation to include an active shooter should be reported to the 911 dispatcher (911 on
base, off base 119). Basic information from the emergency situation should be reported to the
dispatcher who will then initiate the appropriate PMO response.
Evacuation. When conditions are safer outside than inside a building, all personnel in the hazard
zone will be directed to leave the building immediately to a designated safe area. Evacuation of an
entire facility or area may not always be prudent, especially if evacuation may lead to other risks by
taking the occupants out of the physically secure environment of the facility and onto the streets.
Reverse Evacuation. When conditions are safer inside a building than outside, personnel may be
directed to seek shelter indoors. Once all personnel are inside, the building exterior doors should be
locked and lock down/shelter-in-place procedures initiated.
Lockdown/Shelter-in-Place. When a person or situation presents an immediate threat to personnel in
a building, the order to lockdown or shelter-in-place may be given. For the purposes of this plan,
lockdown and shelter-in-place are used interchangeably. All doors leading to hallways or outside the
building are locked; personnel stay in their offices, work areas and classrooms. Initial notification
may be made using Big Voice or the ATHOC System. For personnel in the immediate active shooter
area, notification of the incident could be from hearing gun shots or loud voices alerting other people
of the threat.
Warn individuals not to enter an area where the active shooter may be.
Have an escape route and plan in mind.
Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow.
Leave your belongings behind.