Run, Hide, Fight - Advice for an Active Shooter Situation
Shootings in the workplace and on school campuses are often difficult and emotional topics to discuss. These incidents touch the lives of not just those involved, but the communities in which they happen. With social media and national news channels broadcasting the violence that unfolds in our nation and abroad, it can seem hard to find a break from the horrific imagery. These events are not just contained to large metropolitan areas, but they can happen in small cities like Campbell.
While our hope is that we never have to experience this type of violence, the City of Campbell and the Campbell Police Department wanted to provide some preparation tips in case you find yourself in an active shooter situation. Our law enforcement officers train regularly to prepare for any number of possible situations that could arise and we want to pass on tips to prepare. While it’s important to think and act quickly, we stress these three options: Run, Hide, and Fight.
Run: If you can find a safe pathway that leads away from the
shooter(s), then run as fast and as far as you can from the danger.
Hide: If no safe exit is available, or running puts you or others in harm’s way, then hide. Lock the door or barricade it with objects to prevent the shooter(s) from entering the room. If the room you are in has blinds or curtains, close them to limit visibility into the room. It is important to try and remain calm and be as quiet as possible. This means also silencing your cell phone.
Fight: An active shooter’s intent to inflict harm on as many subjects as they can. If running and hiding are not possible, then do something to make you and others around you, difficult targets. Scream loudly, physically thwart the attacker and/or band together with others to overtake him or her.
If you are able to provide any information to law enforcement as they respond to the emergency, this is extremely valuable. The better the information we can obtain, such as a location and description of the shooter(s), type of weapon being used, and other pertinent information, it will help us plan our response accordingly.
It is important to know that when Police Officers arrive at an active shooter incident, their first priority is to put an end to any further violence. That means that if you are injured and/or asking for help, first responders are not going to stop until the shooter(s) are stopped.
We encourage you to promptly report any suspicious behavior so that our officers can evaluate it before an incident escalates. We hope these simple tips will ensure the safety of our community in case of an active shooter emergency. As always, we welcome any suggestions on how to better serve the community members of the City of Campbell.
For more information about active shooter incidents, please visit the FBI’s website: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/office-of-partner-engagement/active-shooter-incidents
Address/Location
Campbell Police Department
70 N. First Street
Campbell , CA 95008
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 408-866-2121