{"541761":{"#nid":"541761","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Q\u0026A: Police Chief Connolly on Responding to Active Threats","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp class=\u0022paragraph\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech extends its sympathies to the faculty, students, and staff at the University of California-Los Angeles, the latest educational institution to respond to gun-related violence. In light of this most recent campus shooting, Georgia Tech Police Chief Rob Connolly\u0026nbsp;spoke to\u0026nbsp;the Daily Digest\u0026nbsp;about\u0026nbsp;responding to an emergency. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022paragraph\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow does Georgia Tech notify campus of an emergency situation?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe have a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.police.gatech.edu\/emergencypreparedness\/notification\/\u0022\u003Enetwork of communications\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;designed to notify everyone on campus of an emergency, as quickly as possible. Our emergency notification system (GTENS) disseminates messages by email, campus phone number, and mobile text messaging.\u0026nbsp;Other means for getting the word out are an outdoor siren warning system, campus cable TV, and our\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/gtpdalerts\u0022\u003Esocial media\u0026nbsp;channels\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022paragraph\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow does the Georgia Tech Police Department\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eprepare to\u0026nbsp;respond\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eto\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ean active shooter scenario?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003EAll GTPD officers undergo annual hands-on active shooter training, and have trained officers at other USG schools. Training is held in different types of buildings to keep skills sharp. In addition, officers train how to safely clear a building when there is or might be a threat.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022paragraph\u0022\u003EOur \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.police.gatech.edu\/emergencypreparedness\/\u0022\u003EOffice of Emergency Preparedness (OEP)\u003C\/a\u003E organizes active shooter drills for specific buildings\u0026nbsp;on campus; the two we held recently were at the Stamps and O\u0027Keefe buildings. OEP also organizes tabletop drills, which are informal exercises to reinforce responder roles in simulated scenarios.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022paragraph\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat should an individual do in\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ean\u0026nbsp;active shooter\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eincident?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003EDon\u0027t wait until it happens, think now how you would respond. Prepare yourself to\u0026nbsp;understand your options in the event of an active shooter incident.\u0026nbsp;The most recent trainings from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fbi.gov\/about-us\/office-of-partner-engagement\/active-shooter-incidents\u0022\u003EFBI\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dhs.gov\/xlibrary\/assets\/active_shooter_booklet.pdf\u0022\u003EDepartment of Homeland Security\u003C\/a\u003E are helpful to understand what you can do before, during, and after an active shooter incident.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022paragraph\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow does Georgia Tech identify a student, staff,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Efaculty member, or visitor that could be a potential threat to the campus?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003EEveryone on campus has a responsibility to identify potential threats. \u201cSee Something, Say Something\u201d isn\u2019t just a slogan \u2013 it is a valuable tool. I encourage you to call GTPD (404-894-2500) \u0026nbsp;if you\u2019re suspicious or worried, or have a talk with your supervisor if you\u2019re concerned about a coworker or student.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022paragraph\u0022\u003EMultiple departments across campus (including GTPD, Human Resources, and the Counseling Center) collaborate regularly to discuss students, staff and faculty whose behavior is concerning. GTPD also monitors social media for potential threats, and we frequently connect with federal and state law enforcement agencies for watch lists.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022paragraph\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDoes GTPD offer any training resources?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe sure do. OEP hosts a \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.training.gatech.edu\/courses\/programs#programs-22\u0022\u003E\u201cPlan, Prep, React\u201d\u003C\/a\u003E course in active shooter response options, and our Crime Prevention officers offer hands-on training in self-defense. Attendees of our Citizens Police Academy are exposed to a variety of situations, including a 2-hour active shooter drill, with attendees in protective gear actually taking on the roles of \u0022bad guys\u0022 and \u0022good guys.\u0022 These classes are very popular and can be requested through the GTPD and OEP websites.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022paragraph\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhere should we go for more information?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003EOur website (\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/police.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Epolice.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E) provides a lot of information on safety and emergency preparedness. You can find a copy of our emergency action plan, response guidebook, and contact information that you can add to your mobile phone\u2019s address book. We also advocate that everyone add our\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.livesafe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ELiveSafe\u0026nbsp;app\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;to their smartphone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022paragraph\u0022\u003EI also recommend contacting the Counseling Center, which has some\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/counseling.gatech.edu\/content\/436\/for-faculty-staff\u0022\u003Every good resources for faculty and staff\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;who want help for identifying the warning signs and to learn how to help distressed students both before and after a crisis. The \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.omagdigital.com\/publication\/?i=269711\u0022\u003ECETL Handbook\u003C\/a\u003E is also a very good resource. The Office of the Dean of Students encourages the use of a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.deanofstudents.gatech.edu\/plugins\/referral\/\u0022\u003Ereferral form\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(login required) for expressing concerns about any member of the campus.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022paragraph\u0022\u003EPlease don\u2019t hesitate to contact GTPD, day or night. We take every call seriously. Your safety is our primary concern.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Notification, training, and risk assessment"}],"uid":"27299","created_gmt":"2016-06-03 10:07:47","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:21:49","author":"Michael Hagearty","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2016-06-03T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2016-06-03T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"370221":{"id":"370221","type":"image","title":"Chief of Police, Rob Connolly","body":null,"created":"1449245856","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:17:36","changed":"1475894344","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:39:04","alt":"Chief of Police, Rob Connolly","file":{"fid":"74994","name":"connolly.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/connolly.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/connolly.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":247403,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/connolly.jpg?itok=PrASlWPi"}}},"media_ids":["370221"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}