Pasco Sheriff's Office School Crisis Response PDF (2023)

PASCO SHERIFF’S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER TITLE: SCHOOL CRISIS RESPONSE GENERAL ORDER: 44.9 EFFECTIVE: MARCH 10, 2023 SUPERSEDES: AUGUST 31, 2022 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS: CFA NONE PAGES: 8...

PASCO SHERIFF’S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER TITLE: SCHOOL CRISIS RESPONSE GENERAL ORDER: 44.9 EFFECTIVE: MARCH 10, 2023 SUPERSEDES: AUGUST 31, 2022 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS: CFA NONE PAGES: 8 CONTENTS: This order consists of the following numbered sections: I. PREVENTION AND PLANNING II. INCIDENT RESPONSE PROCEDURES III. AFTER ACTION PROCEDURES IV. GLOSSARY PURPOSE: To establish guidelines for the effective and efficient handling of school crisis inci- dents including prevention, planning, response and review. SCOPE: This order applies to all members. DISCUSSION: Although serious incidents of school violence are rare, they require substantial resources and cooperation among various agencies and units of the Sheriff’s Office. This order pro- vides a basic framework for an effective, organized and planned response to campus-wide emergen- cies. POLICY: All school crises and campus-wide emergencies will be handled in accordance with this general order. PROCEDURE: I. PREVENTION AND PLANNING: A. The School Resource Unit will maintain primary responsibility for school safety planning and school violence prevention. 1  G.O. 44.9 B. The School Safety Lieutenant will: 1. Ensure that Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers (SROs) are actively involved in crisis planning at their assigned schools and that each school served by the Sheriff’s Office has an up-to-date crisis response plan. 2. Facilitate effective crisis response planning and training between the Sheriff’s Office, school district, and other appropriate agencies. 3. Update information and/or materials regarding school facilities and response procedures and provide to all applicable members as needed. C. The Training Division will collaborate with the School Resource Unit, Pasco Schools (as ap- propriate), and other relevant agency divisions to develop and administer training that reflects tactics, strategies, and responses to modern school threat paradigms, current information and trends on threats and incidents of violence in public schools. 1. The Training Division will provide relevant and practical school crisis response training to all sworn members of the School Resource Unit annually, or more frequently as deemed necessary. 2. The PSO will invite SROs and law enforcement officers from partnering law enforce- ment agencies within municipalities to participate in school crisis response training. 3. Training may include but is not limited to the following: a. Single Officer Response to Active Threat and Shooter Incidents, b. Reunification, c. Emergency Operations Planning, d. Basic Tactical Medic Training, and e. Tabletop exercises, drills, functional and/or full-scale exercises. 4. The Training Division will facilitate in-service training for all certified members as need- ed regarding school crisis response and related topics. 5. PSO New-Hire Orientation will include training on the Pasco School’s Active Threat Plan (ATP) and crisis response plan. II. INCIDENT RESPONSE PROCEDURES: A. Crisis or dangerous situations occurring off campus, but in the immediate vicinity of schools or child daycare centers: 2  G.O. 44.9 1. Special consideration should be given when the following types of incidents occur near a public or private school, or a children’s daycare center while school is in session or anytime that students are on campus: a. Armed or dangerous fleeing felons; b. Incidents involving weapons of any kind; c. Air or ground searches for suspects or missing persons; d. Prisoner escapes; e. Any other dangerous situation deemed a safety concern by the appropriate law en- forcement supervisor. 2. When such conditions exist, Field Operations supervisors will notify the school(s) and the assigned SRO or School Safety Guard of the situation, either in person, or via Depart- ment of Emergency Services (911). 3. Department of Emergency Services (911) or the Field Operations supervisor will notify the appropriate SRO Supervisor of the incident. 4. Adequate personnel will be assigned to help ensure the safety of an occupied school campus. 5. A law enforcement supervisor will collaborate with school administration and the as- signed SRO/SSG in order to determine the most appropriate crisis response level warranted by the campus based on existing circumstances. The school principal has the final authority to determine the level and scope of crisis response warranted during a school incident, unless exigent circumstances exist that requires immediate law enforcement response to protect life. When exigent circumstances exist, the responding shift commander will have full authority over the scene and will determine the level of resources needed to address any threats. Patrol Operations will maintain control of the location until the matter has been fully resolved and the scene is returned to the control of the school principal and/or school district staff. B. Pasco Schools Site Threat Continuum (STC): The STC provides guidance for incident man- agement and offers a preplanned specific response to incidents occurring on or nearby campus- es. (See Annex B) 1. Alert Campus – an alert campus is initiated whenever suspicious persons or circumstanc- es need to be vetted or investigated and potentially pose a safety concern for a site. Alert campus is used to raise the level of personal awareness among school staff, and the SRO or SSG of potential threats or hazards. It should be used to prompt an exchange of real-time in- telligence between school staff and law enforcement about a perceived threat and in deter- mining the appropriate level of response warranted. Law enforcement should share pertinent information, BOLOs, photos or videos (as appropriate) with school personnel at the site. 3  G.O. 44.9 2. Controlled Campus – a Controlled Campus is used to secure the site against a potential threat on campus or within the vicinity of a campus, or when there is a safety concern against the site that requires a greater degree of control, but does NOT create an imminent danger re- quiring activation of the Active Threat Plan (ATP). a. The objective is to lock-in students and staff and lock-out everyone else from a cam- pus or site, take a cautionary approach to the threat and strictly control the move- ments of persons on site; b. Outdoor activities are discontinued; c. Doors are locked, windows are covered; and d. Visitors are not allowed on campus. Visitors already on campus at the time of activa- tion will be redirected to the administrative office. 3. Active Threat Plan (ATP) – the ATP is only activated when there is an incident occur- ring on campus that by its deliberate nature creates an IMMEDIATE THREAT or presents an IMMINENT DANGER of BODILY HARM, SERIOUS INJURY, or DEATH to the campus community (e.g., active shooter, or other dangerous acts of violence). a. The ATP is a proactive, options based response strategy utilized in the event of an active shooter or other active threat on campus. b. The ATP operational concept consists of three primary concepts which are situa- tional, and based on the nature of an active threat and one’s proximity to the threat on campus: 1) Rapid evacuation; 2) Reinforced lockdown with a barricade; and 3) Countering, a self-defense measure of last resort. 4. A law enforcement supervisor may request for the Real Time Information Center (RTIC) to access the school based camera systems for monitoring whenever necessary to ensure campus safety from a potential threat. 5. Controlled Dismissal is used to release students following a crisis or whenever there is a safety concern on campus or in the nearby community that requires a greater degree of con- trol. Examples include but are not limited to: inclement weather, criminal activity nearby, a hazardous materials incident, threats or rumors of fights or violence on campus. The school administration in consultation with law enforcement (SRO), and/or SSG may implement a plan that outlines a plan for altering standard dismissal protocols on campus. This may in- 4  G.O. 44.9 clude restricting, altering, or otherwise halting specified modes of transportation into the community e.g., walking, bicycle, car-rider, bus riders. C. Bomb Threats: Bomb threats involving schools will be handled in accordance with G.O. 46.5. In addition: 1. In those schools with an assigned SRO, the SRO will be responsible for immediately notifying an SRO supervisor regarding any bomb threat. 2. The SRO supervisor will notify Department of Emergency Services (911) of the threat and will ensure that the appropriate law enforcement supervisor is notified as well. 3. Department of Emergency Services (911) personnel will proceed according to the ap- propriate section of the School Incident Checklist. 4. The investigation of the threat will be the responsibility of the law enforcement incident commander at the scene. Subsequent searches and/or evacuations are the responsibility of the incident commander in collaboration with the school administrator. D. Fires, Fire Alarm Activations, Explosions, Accidental Injuries: Fires, explosions, and acci- dental injuries at school facilities will be handled according to agency policy. In addition: 1. In those schools with an assigned SRO, the SRO will be responsible for immediately notifying Department of Emergency Services (911) regarding any on-campus fire, explosion, or injury requiring emergency medical treatment. In all other public K-12 and charter schools, a PSO radio has been assigned for use by the designated school safety guard/officer for emergency communications. 2. Department of Emergency Services (911) personnel will proceed according to the ap- propriate section of the School Incident Checklist. 3. In schools with assigned SROs, if a law enforcement investigation or report is required regarding the incident, it will be the responsibility of the School Resource Unit unless other- wise directed by the supervisor in charge at the scene. In all other public K-12 and charter schools Field Operations is responsible for any law enforcement investigation or report(s), unless otherwise directed by the supervisor in charge at the scene. 4. In those schools with an assigned SRO, the SRO will be responsible for immediately notifying Department of Emergency Services (911) following ANY activation of a campus fire alarm. The SRO will confirm whether or not there is a fire, or any other emergency oc- curring on campus upon requiring emergency response. 6. The RTIC will access the school’s respective camera system upon any activation of any school fire alarm that is not associated with a known pre-announced drill. They will relay pertinent information to all responding units as outlined below. 5  G.O. 44.9 7. The RTIC will access the respective school’s camera system upon receipt of any elevated school security or panic alert activation initiated through the Pasco Schools Comprehensive School Emergency Alerting and Incident Management Safety System provided by CRISIS- GO. They will relay pertinent information to all responding units as outlined below. E. Large-scale fights and disturbances: Fights involving multiple subjects, and other types of large-scale disturbances at school facilities, will be handled according to agency policy. In addi- tion: 1. In those schools with an assigned SRO, the SRO will be responsible for immediately notifying Department of Emergency Services (911) regarding any large-scale fight or dis- turbance on campus. 2. Once order has been restored, in schools with assigned SROs, School Resource Unit personnel will be responsible for follow-up investigation and any added security unless oth- erwise directed by the supervisor in charge at the scene. F. Shootings and hostage situations: School shootings and/or hostage incidents will be handled in accordance with G.O. 46.3, In addition: 1. In those schools with an assigned SRO, the SRO should immediately notify Depart- ment of Emergency Services (911) for assistance, if possible, while school staff activate 9- 1-1 and the Active Threat Plan (ATP). 2. The SRO, SSG, or first responder’s primary responsibility is the preservation of life by confronting an active threat with the intention of reducing further injuries or death. 3. In all other public K-12 and charter schools, a PSO radio has been assigned for use by the designated school safety guard/officer for emergency communications. 4. The Real Time Information Center (RTIC) will access the live video feed (where possi- ble) from the school’s cameras in response to any shooting, or active threat incident. They will relay pertinent information to all responding units as outlined below. 5. Department of Emergency Services (911) personnel will proceed according to the ap- propriate section of the School Incident Checklist. In addition, Department of Emergency Services (911) personnel will accomplish the following: a. Remain on the line with the school designee and obtain the following information: 1) number and description of suspect(s); 2) type(s) of weapon(s) seen or used; 3) number and type of injuries, if known; 6  G.O. 44.9 4) current, specific locations of suspects, injured subjects, and SRO, if known; 5) location and description of designee who will meet responding law enforce- ment personnel, and/or location where entry can be gained into the school build- ing; 6) Relay the above information to all responding units. 6. During an active threat situation the school will likely be in a state of “lock-down.” This means that in addition to classroom doors which are locked on a daily basis as a matter of policy, classrooms which are occupied will also be barricaded from the inside. All other buildings access doors will also be locked and barricaded. In order to expedite access, arriv- ing units may obtain master building and gate keys by accessing the Knox-Box, and/or re- questing them from a school administrator if one is accessible. 7. Arriving units should also obtain a school radio if available to aid in communicating with school staff. Campus floor plans are accessible through the Visual MCT Terminal in CAD. 8. The SRO supervisor or a designee, will assign an arriving SRO (if available) or deputy to the school office or command post as soon as possible to facilitate effective communication between the school site and agency personnel, and to provide protection to school staff. 9. If the incident transitions to a hostage situation and violence is not likely to be employed by the suspect, or the delay in taking imminent law enforcement action will not result in fur- ther injury or death, arriving units may take a tactical pause to determine the safest and quickest way to neutralize the threat. Historical active shooter incidents reveal a prompt and timely resolution is often necessary to protect life, which should be highly considered in con- junction with all available information specific to the incident when determining the best course of action. 10. Once the Special Operations Commander or designee arrives on scene and establishes a tactical command post, the Joint Operations Bureau will direct all further activity until the threat has been neutralized. 11. The School Resource Unit will be primarily responsible for assisting the school in the execution of its crisis response plan and serving as liaison between the school, school district staff, and incident commanders. 12. Large-scale incidents will necessitate the implementation of a formal incident com- mand system and a unified command team to coordinate activities between the Sheriff’s Of- fice and other responding agencies. a) Incident Command procedures will be implemented according to G.O. 46.3; 7  G.O. 44.9 b) The Unified Command Team will function in accordance with the Pasco County School Crisis Response Procedures. III. AFTER ACTION PROCEDURES: A. The Incident Commander and Documentation Deputy, if any, will submit an After Action Report as outlined in General Order 46.1, Unusual Occurrences, Section III.J.3. B. Once a scene is secure, Incident Command will shift to the Major Crimes Division for follow- up by the School Resource Unit and/or Major Crimes investigators. C. Depending on the scope and impact of the incident, the Field Operations Bureau will assist the School Resource Unit in providing additional school security, substitute SROs, etc., as needed dur- ing the period immediately following the crisis. IV. GLOSSARY: PASCO COUNTY SCHOOL CRISIS RESPONSE PROCEDURE - A written procedure which guides a multi-agency response to a school crisis and outlines incident command protocol. SCHOOL CRISIS - A campus-wide emergency occurring at a public or private school that requires a law enforcement response. SCHOOL INCIDENT CHECKLIST - A written guideline utilized by the Department of Emergency Services (911) to help direct the notifications, deployments and other agency responses related to a school emergency. UNIFIED COMMAND TEAM - A group composed of the highest-ranking supervisors on the scene for law enforcement, fire rescue, emergency management, and facilities. The designation of a com- mander is based upon the nature of the incident. INDEXING: SCHOOL CRISIS RESPONSE SCHOOL SAFETY DRAFTED: MJ / February 2, 2023 / Filed: G.O. 44.9, School Crisis Response APPROVED: CHRIS NOCCO, SHERIFF PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA 8