Office of Public Safety

University Community Response Checklist

Preparedness Guide: Active Shooter

It is impossible to set forth the exact procedures that people should follow in every situation. It is important for persons to remain calm and exercise their best judgment in applying these guidelines to specific incidents. If it is possible to do so safely, exit the building immediately when you become aware of an incident, moving away from the immediate path of danger. If you are directly involved in an incident and exiting your location is not possible, the following actions are recommended:

Secure Immediate Area:

  • Lock and barricade doors
  • Turn off lights
  • Close blinds
  • Block windows
  • Turn off radios and computer monitors
  • Keep occupants calm, quiet, and out of sight
  • Take adequate cover/protection, i.e. concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets
    (Cover may protect you from bullets)
  • Silence cell phones
  • Place signs/markers in exterior windows to identify the location of injured persons
  • Wait for police to assist you out of the building

Un-securing an Area:

  • Consider risks before un-securing rooms
  • Remember, the shooter will most likely not stop until they are engaged by an outside force
  • Attempts to rescue people should only be attempted if they can be accomplished without further endangering the persons inside a secured area
  • Consider the safety of the masses -vs- the safety of a few
  • If doubt exists for the safety of the individuals inside the room, the area should remain secured

Contacting Police:

  • Use emergency number 911
  • Non-emergency line:
    Macomb Campus 309-298-1949
    Moline Campus 309-797-0401

    Be aware that the 911 system will likely be overwhelmed. The phone may have to ring numerous times before authorities are able to answer.

What to Report:

  • Your specific location - building name, office/room number
  • Injuries - number injured, types of injuries
  • Assailants(s) - location, number of suspects, descriptions of assailants, types of weapons, names of assailants

Police Response:

  • Objective is to immediately engage assailants
  • Evacuate victims
  • Facilitate follow-up medical care, interviews
  • Investigate