Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
Addendum 10A (Revised: 8/1/14)
Civilian Active Shooter Response
Violent Behavior / Active Shooter Response Protocol
1. College and university campuses are no longer immune to serious or violent crime. In
the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shootings, it is imperative that we provide students,
staff and faculty with a protocol on how to respond during potentially violent criminal
attacks on campus. The protocol for UCSF faculty, staff, students and visitors is as
follows:
2. Response to Potentia lly Violent Criminal Behavior
If you see or know that a person has a firearm on campus, you hear shots fired on
campus or you witness an armed person shooting people, protect yourself first by
moving to a safe location.
As soon as possible, call the police by dialing 9 + 9 -1-1 using a campus phone or use
an emergency call box if available and safe. From a non -campus or cell phone, dial
415-476-6911 to contact a police dispatcher.
a. Tell the dispatcher your name, location, phone nu mber and describe the
situation : who, what, when, where, how and why (if known) and if anyone
hurt or injured.
b. If possible, alert others in the immediate area of the current situation.
3. Active Shooter Incident
An active shooter can be described as a person who causes death or se rious bodily
injury through the use of a firearm. This is a dynamic situation that usually evolves
rapidly and demands an immediate response from law enforcement officers to
terminate the life -threatening situation. The immediate response of the first offi cers on
the scene is to take aggressive action to find and stop the shooter or shooters.
a. Active Shooter Response
Officers from the UCSF Police Department, San Francisco Police
Department and/or San Francisco Sheriff’s Department will likely be the first
to respond to the scene. As they move into the affected area, rescue efforts
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
will be delayed until the shooter is located and stopped or no longer a threat
to life safety.
b. If you are wounded or with someone who is wounded, these officers will
bypass you to search for the shooter and stop the killing. Rescue teams will
follow shortly to aid you and others.
c. To assist the police, please stay calm and patient during this time and do not
interfere with police operations. If you know where the shooter is and/or can
describe the shooter, tell the police.
d. When you encounter the police, keep your hands empty and in plain view at
all times. Listen to their instructions and do exactly what they say. If you are
evacuating, carry nothing that could be mistaken for a we apon.
e. Rescue teams will follow shortly after the first responding officers enter the
building. They will attend to the injured and remove everyone safely from
the area.
4. If the shooter is outside your building:
a. Turn off all the lights and close and lock all windows and doors. If you
cannot lock the door, try to block it with desks and chairs.
b. If you can do so safely, get all occupants down on the floor and out of the
line of fire.
c. If you can do so safely, move to the core area of the building and remain
there until the police tell you it is safe to leave. Do not respond to commands
until you are certain they are issued by a police officer.
5. If the shooter is inside your building:
a. If it is possible to escape the area safely and avoid danger, do so by the
nearest exit or window. Leave in the room books, backpacks, purses, etc.
b. As you exit the building, keep your hands above your head and listen for
instructions that may be given by police officers. If an officer points a
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
firearm at you, make no movement that may cause the officer to mistake your
actions for a threat. Try to stay calm.
c. If you get out of the building and do not see a police officer, attempt to call
the police by dialing 9 + 9 -1-1 from any campus ph one or use an emergency
call box if available and safe. From a non -campus or cell phone, call 415 -
476-6911. Tell the dispatcher your name and location and follow his/her
instructions.
d. If you are unable to escape the building, move out of hallways and into an
office or classroom and try to lock the door. If the door will not lock, try to
barricade the door with desks and chairs. Lie on the floor and/or under a desk
and remain silent. Wait for the police to come and find you.
6. If the shooter enters your offi ce or classroom:
a. There is no set procedure in this situation. If possible call 9 + 9 -1-1 using a
campus phone or 415 -476-6911 from a non -campus or cell phone and speak
with a police dispatcher. If you cannot speak, leave the phone line open so
the police can hear what is going on.
b. Use common sense. If you are hiding and flight is impossible, attempts to
negotiate with the suspect may be successful. Playing dead may also be a
consideration.
c. Attempting to overcome the suspect with force is a last resort th at should
only be considered in the most extreme circumstances. Only you can decide
if this is something you should