Skip to Content

University of Colorado Boulder
Search

Search

Other ways to search:

  • Events Calendar
  • Campus Map
Emergency Management
Emergency Management

Main menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Campus Emergencies & Hazards
  • Plans & Procedures
  • Resources

Secondary Menu

  • CU Police
  • CU Boulder Alerts
  • Contact Us

Mobile menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Campus Emergencies & Hazards
  • Plans & Procedures
  • Resources
  • CU Police
  • CU Boulder Alerts
  • Contact Us
  • CU Police
  • CU Boulder Alerts
  • Contact Us

Breadcrumb

Home Campus Emergencies & Hazards Active Harmer

Active Harmer

  • Know
  • Prepare
  • Act
  • Other

An Active Harmer is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area.  In most cases, active harmers use firearms(s) and there is often no pattern or method to their selection of victims.

Active harmer situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, an immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims.

Because active harmer situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.

  • This type of event can happen here. Universities are inherently open environments, and are difficult to secure.
  • Be knowledgeable of resources available for persons who appear to need psychological or emotional help.
  • Is there someone you know who may be showing warning signs, such as unusual or erratic behavior?
  • The Student of Concern team (SOCT) is a campus resource dedicated to assisting students who may be in distress or who may be experiencing challenging or difficult life circumstances.  
  • Counseling assistance for CU students is available at Counseling and Psychological Services.
  • Active shooters have been suicidal. They believe they are going to die, and have nothing to lose by killing.
  • Active shooting incidents create chaos. Expect a confusing environment. React with a simple plan that maximizes potential for safety.
  • There may be more than one “right” answer in your response.
  • Your initial response may need to be changed to another alternative.
  • Have the mindset that this will happen here at some point.
  • Know you will act and will survive.

If an active shooting incident occurs near you, quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life.

1. Run

If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the area. Be sure to:

  • Have an escape route and plan in mind
  • Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow
  • Leave your belongings behind
  • Help others escape, if possible
  • Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be
  • Keep your hands visible
  • Follow the instructions of any police officers
  • Do not attempt to move wounded people
  • Call 911 when you are safe and provide the location of the shooting and a description of the shooter, if possible.

2. Hide

If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you. Your hiding place should:

  • Be out of the active shooter’s view
  • Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (i.e., an office with a closed and locked door)
  • Not trap you or restrict your options for movement

Once you get to your hiding place:

  • Lock the door
  • Turn out the lights
  • Spread out in the room
  • Blockade the door with heavy furniture
  • Silence phones and stay quiet
  • Inventory

If evacuation and hiding out are not possible:

  • Remain calm
  • Dial 911, if possible, to alert police to the active shooter’s location
  • If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen

3. Fight

You and classmates or friends may find yourselves in a situation where the shooter will accost you. If such an event occurs, quickly develop a plan to attack the shooter. Use items at your disposal for improvised weapons, throw items to distract the shooter, and consider a plan to tackle the shooter, take away his weapon, and hold him until police arrive

Please click here to view the site for the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department. 

  • Active Harmer
  • Pandemic
  • Severe Weather
  • Winter Weather
  • High Wind & Tornadoes
  • Flood
  • Wildfire
  • Structure Fire
  • Common Emergency Definitions

Emergency Definitions

Personal Preparedness

Interactive Flood Map

Footer menu

  • CU Police
  • CU Boulder Alerts
  • Contact Us

Emergency Management

University of Colorado Boulder
1050 Regent Drive, 502 UCB
Boulder, Colorado 80309
emergency.management@colorado.edu

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Colorado Boulder
© Regents of the University of Colorado
Privacy • Legal & Trademarks • Campus Map

Return to the top of the page