2.10.6 Active Shooter / Hostile Intruder Response
A. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines and procedures for the rapid deployment of officers in response to a major incident where there is an active, ongoing deadly threat to life or serious bodily injury such as an active shooter.
B. Persons Affected
All employees, faculty, staff, students, volunteers, contractors, patients, or other visitors of the University of Texas at Tyler and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (collectively, the “University”).
C. Definitions
Active Shooter/Hostile Intruder: An active shooter/hostile intruder is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined or populated area by any means, including but not limited to, firearms (most frequently used), bladed weapons, vehicles, or any tool that in the circumstance in which it is used constitutes deadly physical force. The subject’s overriding objective appears to be mass murder or casualties rather than other criminal conduct, such as robbery or kidnapping.
Immediate and Rapid Deployment: The swift and immediate deployment of law enforcement personnel and resources to an ongoing, life threatening situation where delayed deployment of personnel could otherwise result in death or great bodily injury to innocent persons. Immediate action and rapid deployment tactics are not a substitute for conventional response tactics to a barricaded individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people.
D. Policy
University policy is to respond to an active shooter/hostile intruder incident immediately and to rapidly deploy available personnel to locate, isolate, and eliminate the threat through the immediate application of appropriate tactics and, when necessary and appropriate, through lawful levels of force. The primary concern in such a situation is the safety of students, patients, faculty, staff, campus visitors, and any other persons who may be present. The University’s response to active shooter/hostile intruder incidents will be in accordance with specific police department procedures.
E. Responsibilities
University personnel have a responsibility to immediately contact the University of Texas at Tyler or the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler Police Department (collectively, “UPD”) in the event of an actual or potential active shooter/hostile intruder incident. Additionally, UPD is responsible for responding to any active shooter/hostile intruder event to immediately deploy a rescue team and mitigate the threat.
F. Procedures
- University personnel and/or any outside agency or visitors should immediately contact UPD in the event of an actual or potential active shooter/hostile intruder. UPD personnel will collect as much information as possible.
- If an active shooter/hostile intruder incident occurs, personnel should try to remain calm and be aware of their environment. If there is a safe and accessible escape path, individuals should attempt to evacuate the premises. If safe evacuation is not possible, individuals should find a place to hide to await the rescue team.
- In accordance with the Clery Act, Emergency/Immediate Notifications will be sent immediately upon confirmation of the emergency situation via the emergency communications system.
- In the event of an active shooter/hostile intruder, the on-duty UPD supervisor will notify the following administrators in the following order, regardless of the time of day or day of the week:
- Chief of Police or their designee
- University President
- Office of Marketing and Communications/Public Affairs Departments
- Director of Facilities/Physical Plant
- Designated University Hospital Administrator on Call (AOC)
- Upon arriving at the scene of an active shooter event and after assessing the crime scene, UPD will implement its mutual aid agreements with other police agencies if necessary, and with fire and rescue agencies. Additionally, after the incident UPD will collaborate with recovery agencies if necessary to assist with the scene and any victims.
- The coordination of all activities will be channeled through the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and UPD Dispatch to ensure adequate staffing, response, and unified control. After the active shooter/hostile intruder has been incapacitated and is no longer a threat to the campus community, the EOC and UPD will engage in post-event assessments and activities.
- The first officers entering the area or structure shall recognize that their primary objective is to stop further violence. Responding officers shall identify and attempt to stop active threats as their first priority. Once the threat has been mitigated, officers shall begin assessing victims needing medical attention. If practical, officers shall treat any significant hemorrhaging that may result in the immediate loss of life and provide situational awareness and pertinent information to other responding units and incident command.
- All requests for information shall be funneled through the University public information officer. Only the Office of Marketing and Communications (academic campus) or the Public Affairs Department (health science center campus) is authorized to release information regarding the incident. All inquiries are to be referred to those offices.
G. Review
This policy will be reviewed every five years, or sooner, if necessary, by the UT Tyler Chief of Police.