Active Aggressor Training Sessions
The Office of Public Safety is prepared for an Active Aggressor event. We also encourage you to develop your own plan as well. Please know there may not always be a pattern or method to their assault. These situations demand immediate action by all involved to protect themselves while waiting for law enforcement to neutralize the threat.
If there is an Active Aggressor on campus, call 911 immediately, and then call Bellarmine Public Safety at 502.272.7777.
If you have an opportunity for us to present a preparedness program or have any questions, please contact the Office of Public Safety at 502.272.7777 or email Public Safety publicsafety@bellarmine.edu.
Active Aggressor Information: How to Respond
If an active aggressor is on campus, there may not always be a pattern or method to their assault. These situations demand immediate action by all involved to protect themselves while waiting for law enforcement to neutralize the threat.
If law enforcement is not yet on campus, call 911 immediately, and then call Bellarmine Public Safety at 502.272.7777.
Because of the wide array of possibilities when encountering an active aggressor, these guidelines listed below are designed for a variety of situations. Throughout any violent encounter, the most important thing is to remain calm while deciding which appropriate action to take.
If you have an opportunity to escape:
- Assess your surroundings to form a plan.
- Be aware of exits, stairwells, and windows that could provide you with an escape route.
- If you have formed a plan of escape, make sure that it is safe for you to do so and that you will not be crossing the path of the intruder.
- If you have determined it is safe, then run.
- Always try to escape or evacuate, even if others insist on staying.
- Encourage others to leave with you, but do not let their indecision slow you down.
- Move quickly and leave your belongings behind.
- Try to prevent others from entering the danger zone.
- Try to remain in the aggressor’s blind spots by hiding behind walls, vehicles, or large trees.
- If law enforcement is already on the scene, keep your hands raised as you approach them to identify yourself as a civilian and not a threat.
If there is no possibility to escape:
- Quickly find a room that can be locked from the inside or barricade the door if possible.
- Turn off all lights and remain completely silent.
- Try to render to first aid to any injured person who may be hiding with you.
- Silence all cell phones and other electronic devices in order to avoid bringing attention to yourself.
- Stay hidden and do not huddle together in groups with other students.
- Remain hidden until the “all clear” is given by someone acting in an official capacity.
Information to have ready if you call 911:
- Concisely summarize what is happening.
- Identify yourself and your location.
- The number of people at your location.
- The number of injured people and the types of injuries.
- Number of assailants you observed.
- The gender, race, and age of the assailants.
- Remember any language or commands used.
- The clothing color and style of the assailants.
- Note any physical features of the assailants (height, weight, tattoos, glasses, etc.).
- Note the type of weapons (handgun, rifle, explosions, etc.).
- Note any type of bag or backpack.
- State if you happened to recognize or know the aggressor.
- State what you heard (explosions, gunshots, etc.).
If an active aggressor enters your classroom:
- Remain calm
- Make no sudden movements and do nothing to provoke the aggressor.
- If there is no way to escape or hide, you may consider the personal option of attempting to overpower the aggressor.
- Overpowering the aggressor is a last resort and would be more effective if there were other people in the room who would assist you.
- If considering overpowering the aggressor, take notice of objects around you that could be utilized as weapons such as books, chairs, backpacks, or other items that would serve as a distraction to the intruder.
When the police arrive:
- The primary job of the police is to locate, identify, and apprehend the aggressor.
- Until the police identify the aggressor, anyone they come across is initially a threat.
- You should remain calm, do not scream or yell, and keep your arms and hands raised to where the police can see them and recognize you as a civilian.
- Remain calm until the “all clear” is given by the police or someone else in an official capacity.