Active Harmer

Know

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

The University of Colorado Boulder Police Department offers both in-person, SkillSoft and video presentations on Active Harmer Response. These presentations are designed for students, faculty and staff of the CU Boulder campus.

Quarterly, in-person trainings are generally held for an entire office staff or a group of combined offices who share work space. Work unit members unable to attend an in-person class can view the same content in the video recording below.

The in-person course, the SkillSoft course and the video recording, which you can watch on demand, review basic statistical data and include the Department of Homeland Security video “Run. Hide. Fight." protocol. The classes discuss how you should react if you find yourself in an active harmer and/or other threatening situations. Every effort is made to address concerns, dispel myths and develop response options.

The in-person and video presentations last approximately 90 minutes, while the SkillSoft course, which is designed to be an introduction to this content, can be completed in approximately 15 minutes.

As a follow-up to the 90-minute training, we can come to your office space and conduct a site security assessment. Through that, we can provide recommendations for enhancing workplace safety.

Our Emergency Management department, housed in the Division of Public Safety, can assist you in the creation or update of an all-hazards emergency action plan for your work space. This will include evacuation plans, shelter in place plans and how to maintain the continuity of operations. The Emergency Management team can provide you with a table top exercise to test your emergency action plan, be sure it's functional and is understood by your staff.

If your work team is interested in starting these classes or if you would like more information, please contact the CU Police Department Events and Emergency Management Division at emergency.management@colorado.edu

Surviving an Active Shooter Incident

Active harmer incidents can occur anywhere at anytime. If an active harmer incident occurs near you, Run. Hide. Fight.

Run.

Get away from where the attack is occurring. Go to a place of calculated safety away from the location.  Call 9-1-1 and provide the location of the attack and a description of the attackers, if possible.

Hide.

If you cannot get away from where the attack is occurring, find a room where you can hide. If you have to hide out:

  • Lock the door
  • Turn off the lights
  • Spread out in the room
  • Silence phones, etc.

Fight.

You and classmates or friends may find yourselves in a situation where the attack 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.

Law Enforcement Response

Law enforcement agencies in Boulder County, including the University of Colorado Police Department, have trained on responses to active shooting incidents. Be mindful that police response will come as expediently as possible, but in the first few minutes of such an incident you may have to rely on your own actions to assure your safety. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact the University of Colorado Police Department at 303-492-6666.

In an effort to include those whose schedules do not align with the quarterly, in-person Active Harmer Response trainings, CUPD is now offering several virtual active harmer response trainings, including a 15-minute SkillSoft course (available to CU affiliates only), and a video recording of its approximately 90-minute Active Harmer Response class, available for public viewing here and below. This video includes safety instructions, resources and basis statistical data.

As a follow-up to this video training, academic departments, work units and student groups can request an in-person site security assessment. During the assessment, Emergency Management personnel assist in the creation or update of an all-hazards emergency action plan for shared work spaces, including evacuation plans, shelter in place plans and how to maintain the continuity of operations. The EM team can also provide a tabletop exercise to test your plan and ensure it’s functional and understandable.

Video Resources

Active Harmer Training

This 90-minute Active Harmer Response training video includes the shorter video, "Run. Hide. Fight. Surviving an Active Shooter Incident," produced by the city of Houston through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. This exerpt can provide you with the basic information you will need to survive an attack, but CUPD highly recommends that you view the entire class recording, above. The video includes scenes of a simulated active harmer situation. Viewer discretion advised.

FEMA Active Harmer Training (English)

FEMA Active Harmer Training (Spanish)

The City of Houston and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) collaborated with CU Boulder, allowing us to share these short active harmer training resources with the campus community.

Be Aware & Be Prepared

  • 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 Support and Case Management office is a campus resource dedicated to assisting students who may be in distress or who may be experiencing challenging or difficult life circumstances. Learn more at the SOCT website.
  • Counseling assistance for CU students is available at Counseling and Psychiatric 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.

We encourage a campuswide culture of training, reporting and support through our Don’t Ignore It website. Anonymous tips can also be shared through CU Boulder Safe2Tell.