Weapon on Campus

Excerpts from COD Emergency Response Plan

College Staff Response

If a weapon is brought to campus, there is a range of possibilities of where and what the weapon might be, as well as motivation and intended plan of action. An assessment of each situation will determine the response. Understand that academic obligations are secondary to life threatening situations.

In all suspected cases:

Remain calm
Assess the validity of the threat
Immediately contact Public Safety Police Department, ext. 2000, if possible this contact should be made so as not to alert the individual
Relay all information concisely
Stay on the line if possible
Follow the direction of responding officers

With out placing themselves at risk, on-scene personnel should attempt to determine:

Has the subject been seen with the weapon or is the subject actively displaying/using the weapon?
Is the subject aware the weapon has been observed?
Is the weapon identifiable? How many weapons are observed?
Has the subject harmed others or just made threats?
Is the subject stationary or mobile, if mobile what direction of travel?

In the case of a stationary event, faculty and staff will be asked to evacuate the surrounding area, taking students with them. Instructions will be received by classroom telephone or verbally from responding staff. Directions for evacuation will be given along with safe routes. Once the decision to evacuate is made, it is mandatory.

Engineering and mechanical employees will be notified of the situation by radio or reached at ext. 2129 and will stage to assist. This assistance could be in the form of shutting down elevators and/or power, or it could consist of aiding in the evacuation.

Administrators will be notified as soon as possible so that they can use their influence to assure proper adherence to safety procedures as directed by the Chief of Public Safety Police Department.

Public Safety will notify Health Services so they can prepare to render any necessary first aid once the scene is secured. They can be reached by radio or telephone at ext. 2154.

Police Response

Any Student Community Service Officers report to Dispatch center to assist in coordinating communications or other assignments.
Patrol officers respond to area, determine level of threat and respond accordingly.
Officers may establish a perimeter, controlling access until sufficient level of deployment to proceed arrives. This may involve Glen Ellyn, Wheaton or DuPage County Sheriff's Police.
Determine if evacuation is appropriate, if so conduct evacuation.
Appropriate enforcement action is taken.
Medical aid is rendered as needed.
Follows up investigations begin.
Assess need for post-incident counseling.
Reports provided to Administration and Public Information.