School Threat Procedures PDF

12.300 12.300 INVESTIGATION OF SCHOOL THREATS, BOMB THREATS AND BOMBS, DISPOSAL OF DANGEROUS WAR SOUVENIRS AND EXPLOSIVES Reference: Procedure 12.140, Canine Operations Procedure 14.205, Social Media Procedure 14.210, Real Time Crime Center Information Requests Ohio Revised Code 2917...

12.300 12.300 INVESTIGATION OF SCHOOL THREATS, BOMB THREATS AND BOMBS, DISPOSAL OF DANGEROUS WAR SOUVENIRS AND EXPLOSIVES Reference: Procedure 12.140, Canine Operations Procedure 14.205, Social Media Procedure 14.210, Real Time Crime Center Information Requests Ohio Revised Code 2917.31, Inducing Panic Ohio Revised Code 2917.32, Making False Alarms Definitions: School Threat – Threats made by any means of communication to any person or groups of persons to commit an act of mass violence on educational property o r at a curricular or extracurricular activity sponsored by a school. ALICE - Alert is your first notification of danger. Lockdown: Barricade the room. Prepare to EVACUATE or COUNTER if needed. Inform: Communicate the violent intruder’s location and direction in real time. Counter: Create Noise, Movement, Distance and Distraction with the intent of reducing the shooter’s abilit y to shoot accurately. Counter is NOT fighting. Evacuate: When safe to do so, remove yourself from the danger zone. Lockdown – Any scenario that can be interpreted as a credible threat or Inducing Panic to the school, will enact such an alert. Cincinnati Public Schools uses this terminology to alert students and staff there will be NO MOVEMENT about the school. No person may enter or exit the school until the Lockdown is lifted. Lock In – Any scenario that is a possible threat in the vicinity of the school and not a direct threat to the school. Cincinnati Public Schools uses this terminology to alert students and staff there will be no entering or exiting of the school premises however business as usual inside the school until alert is lifted. Terrorism –The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. Terrorist Incident - A violent act, or an act dangerous to human life, in violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State, to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social objectives. Purpose: To ensure the safety of all citizens and public safety personnel in the area of suspected explosive devices. Revised 11/10/23, Replaces 01/07/16 1  12.300 Enhance the mobilization of personnel and resources to address any threat. Provide proper documentation and follow-up of school threats. Policy: Officers will immediately respond and thoroughly investigate threats of bomb and explosive devices, and threats to any school. Explosive Ordnance Detection (EOD) canines will conduct a thorough search of the premises when deemed necessary. Information: RTCC has the ability to search numerous databases simultaneously and can find a vast amount of intelligence with very limited information. It is recommended that personnel contact RTCC to determine if RTCC may be able to assist in all investigations. All Youth Services Unit (YSU), School Resource Officers (SRO), are trained by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO). Officers attend a basic training course to prepare school resource officers, and safety professionals in establishing and maintaining successful relationships with diverse students, trauma informed practices, red flag students, and supporting students with disabilities to develop and maintain positive relationships with all students. YSU is responsible for all Cincinnati Public Schools, all Parochial schools, and all the Charter schools within Cincinnati city limits. Parochial schools and Charter schools may not follow the same lockdown, lock-in or evacuation guidelines as Cincinnati Public Schools. Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) has no specific requirement on how police respond to a school threat. CPS relies on the knowledge and skills of the school resource officer and the Police Department. Lockdowns and Lock-In’s are determined by SRO’s in consultation with school officials. SRO’s are usually on scene or enroute when making that decision. The Greater Cincinnati Fusion Center (GCFC) tracks, monitors, and documents all threats locally, regionally, and nationally. During large public events, e.g., Riverfest, stadium sporting events, etc., police officers should pay particular attention to unattended packages or packages in suspicious areas. Procedure: A. School Threats 1. If police personnel receive information regarding a threat, immediately advise Emergency Communications Center (ECC) after receiving a threat. a. ECC will dispatch a School Resource Officer (SRO), a cover car and a Youth Services Unit (YSU) supervisor to the scene. ECC will notify Real-Time Crime Center to monitor event. Revised 11/10/23, Replaces 01/07/16 2  12.300 b. The SRO will contact the school by phone or on-scene arrival to gather more information and to consult with the person in charge of the property regarding lockdown, lock-in, or evacuation. The person (School Administrator) in charge of the property determines whether to lockdown, lock-in, evacuate immediately or wait for a search before evacuation. c. The first officer on the scene will assess the situation and determine the need to enter the premises immediately or wait for additional resources. B. Bomb Threats 1. If police personnel receive information regarding a threat, immediately advise Emergency Communications Center (ECC) after receiving a bomb threat. a. ECC will dispatch a beat car and a supervisor to the scene. 2. Officers should leave radios, mobile phones, and Mobile Data Computers on while responding to the scene. 3. The first officer on the scene will consult with the person in charge of the property regarding evacuation. The person in charge of the property determine whether to evacuate immediately or wait for a search before evacuation. 4. The on-scene supervisor will evaluate the situation and determine whether an EOD canine team should respond. A search of the premises can occur with or without evacuation. a. When possible, use citizen volunteers familiar with the premises to assist in the search. b. The EOD canine handler may assemble a search team consisting of other police officers and/or citizen volunteers. There will be a maximum of three persons on a team. c. When possible, place officers at entrances and exits of buildings to stop and investigate suspicious individuals leaving the building and advise individuals entering the building of the situation. d. Instruct personnel involved in the search not to touch suspicious objects or anything attached to them. Also instruct them not to interfere with the EOD canine and handler during the search and remain behind the handler. e. Officers should leave their radios, phones, and MDC’s on during a search. If a suspicious item is located, move away from the item to a safe location (600 feet away) prior to transmitting on the radio. C. Locating Suspicious Items or Bombs 1. If a police officer or a citizen identifies a suspicious package or explosive device, a police supervisor will determine if an EOD canine is to be utilized. Revised 11/10/23, Replaces 01/07/16 3  12.300 2. When finding suspicious items or possible explosive devices, the on-scene supervisor directs an evacuation of all civilians 600 to 1000 feet away from the suspicious object when possible. a. Officers should be aware there is always a possibility of secondary explosive devices. 1) Supervisors should consider requesting an EOD canine team respond to sweep and clear the operational area of potential secondary devices. 3. Call ECC supervisor at 513-263-8119 from a telephone/cellphone at least 600 feet away from the object and request the Fire Department Bomb Unit. a. ECC will notify the following: 1) Create a CAD incident for response by the Cincinnati Fire Department Bomb Unit. 2) Initiate Situational Notification in Rave to notify: City Manager’s Office, CPD Command Staff, CFD Command Staff, ECC Command Staff, CPD Public Information Office, SWAT and CDRT supervisors. a) The Special Investigations Section Commander will notify the Greater Cincinnati Fusion Center and Intelligence Unit supervisors if necessary. b) The Criminal Investigations Section Commander will notify the CIS personnel if necessary. 3) Initiate a CincyAlert Public Alert-Initial Action Message for citizens in the area of the device. 4) The Night Inspector, when applicable. 5) Utility services: Duke Energy, Cincinnati Water Works, Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company, if necessary. 4. Keep the media at least 1000 feet away from the object and advise them not to broadcast. 5. Seal off the perimeter with an adequate number of police officers. 6. Wait for the Fire Department Bomb Unit. a. Once the Fire Department Bomb Unit is on scene, a designated team member will direct them to the location of the object. b. The Fire Department Engine 14B is responsible for notifying the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives if an actual explosive device is located or an explosion occurs. Revised 11/10/23, Replaces 01/07/16 4  12.300 D. Bomb Disposal 1. Upon arrival, the ranking Fire Department supervisor will assume command of the operation and responsibility for the disposal of suspicious items or explosive devices. a. Only Fire Department Bomb Unit personnel will operate within 300 feet of the object. They may request a larger or smaller evacuation area and will determine if military aid is necessary. 2. The Police Department will provide support personnel for area security and marked police vehicles for escorting the bomb disposal vehicle. a. The Fire Department Bomb Unit will determine the proper number and order of vehicles for bomb escorts. 3. Upon determination the area is safe for the public, the on-scene supervisor will call ECC supervisor: a. The ECC will initiate a CincyAlert Public Alert-All Clear message to citizens in the area of the incident. E. Reports 1. The on-scene supervisor will ensure a RMS Case Report is completed for either: a. Making False Alarms, ORC 2917.32 (Bomb Threat) when there is no evacuation. b. Inducing Panic, ORC 2917.31 (Bomb Threat) when evacuation occurs. c. If a search is completed, the areas searched must be listed in the 311G tab of the Case Report. d. YSU supervisors will ensure RMS reports are completed when a threat is made at a school. Reporting officers must include in the investigative notes the name of the school. e. YSU supervisors will enter information regarding the school threat on the tracking spreadsheet located in the H:Drive, titled SCHOOL THREATS. f. YSU supervisors will ensure the Greater Cincinnati Fusion Center (GCFC) is emailed the information to disperse to the appropriate partners at [email protected] 2. The on-scene supervisor will submit a Form 17 to the Police Chief whenever an explosive device is found or an explosion occurs. Revised 11/10/23, Replaces 01/07/16 5  12.300 F. Follow up Investigation 1. The Fusion Center will investigate threats of terrorism. 2. District Investigative Units investigate Making False Alarms and Inducing Panic offenses. 3. If an actual explosive device is located or an explosion occurs, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives will investigate the incident. G. Dangerous War Souvenirs & Explosives 1. Whenever a police officer discovers or a citizen turns over any war souvenirs, live ammunition, dynamite, percussion caps, fuses, or other explosives and devices, the following applies: a. Citizens will be advised they are relinquishing all property rights to the items surrendered, so as to prevent requests for the Department to deactivate and return souvenirs. b. Each item will be considered potentially dangerous. Do not handle any explosive devices found. c. An inquiry will be made as to whether anyone has attempted to deactivate the device, and this information will be forwarded to the Fire Department upon arrival. d. If an officer discovers an explosive device onscene, follow Sections A. through C. of this procedure. e. If a citizen brings an explosive device to a police facility: 1) If an item appears to be a bomb or is suspicious, immediately evacuate the building. 2) Notify ECC to request the Fire Department Bomb Unit respond to the scene. 3) If the item is a war souvenir, it is safer to get the item outside and limit access to it until the Fire Department Bomb Unit arrives. An alternative is to evacuate the building and wait for the Bomb Unit to respond. 4) Upon arrival, the ranking Fire Department supervisor will assume command of the operation and the responsibility for the disposal of suspicious items or bombs. Revised 11/10/23, Replaces 01/07/16 6