10-13 Threats to School Safety Flashcards
What is the Supervision?
- Supervisory Officer attendance mandatory upon becoming aware of an incident that might necessitate a school Lockdown, Hold and Secure or Shelter in Place
- Supervisory Officer notification mandatory for all threats to school safety
- Officer in Charge notification mandatory upon becoming aware of an incident that might necessitate a school Lockdown, Hold and Secure or Shelter in Place
Procedure
If there is an immediate threat to life, officers may initiate an ______.
Except in exigent circumstances, the details of which must later be explained to the principal, police officers SHALL _____
Immediate Rapid Response
report to the main school office prior to commencing any investigation in a school (as defined in the Police / School Board Protocol). When conducting an investigation, police officers SHALL make every effort to minimize disruption to school routines.
Categories of Movement Restriction within a School
There are three (3) categories of movement restriction that may be implemented at a school:
- Lockdown
- Hold and Secure; and
- Shelter in Place.
Below are examples of situations that may initiate a school Lockdown, Hold and Secure, or Shelter in Place:
Lockdown:
- immediate threat to life in a school and/or on school property
- a person attacking a person with a knife in a school and/or on school property
- a person using or threatening to use a gun in a school and/or on school property
Hold and Secure:
- a suspect with a weapon in the vicinity of a school
- a search near a school for a suspect wanted for a violent offence
- a serious motor vehicle accident in the area of a school, requiring temporary control of pedestrian and vehicle traffic
Shelter in Place:
- when there may be hazardous material in the vicinity of a school and evacuation may not be safe
- A Shelter in Place would normally be recommended by Toronto Fire Services.
Communication Strategy
In order to ensure the safety of the public, emergency responders and Service members, an effective communication strategy is vital to impart crucial information to all involved at the beginning, during and at the completion of an emergency. When developing a communication strategy, the Incident Commander SHALL ensure Corporate Communications is consulted, and that the following are considered:
- the intended audience (general public, other agencies, Service members)
- the information to include in the communication
- the form of communication (public address, radio/television, telephone, news releases; and
- if the communication will be accessible to the intended audience
Police Officer
- When attending on school premises to conduct an investigation SHALL
- report to the main school office prior to commencing the investigation
- in exigent circumstances, initiate an Immediate Rapid Response
Police Officer
- Upon becoming aware of an incident that might necessitate a school Lockdown, Hold and Secure or Shelter in Place SHALL
- inform the principal or designate of the circumstances of the incident
- make a recommendation to the principal and/or designate to initiate a school Lockdown, Hold and Secure, or Shelter in Place, as necessary
- When there is a report of a person carrying a concealed firearm or other concealed weapon on school property, and there is no indication that the person poses an immediate threat, members SHALL not advise the school to initiate a Lockdown or Hold and Secure. This will reduce the possibility of creating a hostage situation or provoking a violent response in the suspect.
- The principal and/or designate makes the decision to initiate a Lockdown, Hold and Secure, or Shelter in Place.
- notify
o the supervisory officer
o the Officer in Charge - notify the Communications Operator – Communications Services (Communications Operator) which, if any, nearby schools should be advised to consider commencing a Lockdown, Hold and Secure or Shelter in Place
Police Officer
- Upon becoming aware of an incident that might necessitate a school Lockdown in addition to complying with item 2 SHALL
- identify a parent staging area
- advise the Communications Operator
- request the Communications Operator to notify
o the Officer in Charge
o the Toronto Police Operations Centre (TPOC
- Upon completion of the incident SHALL notify the principal or designate of the involved school(s) that the incident has concluded so that the school(s) can resume normal operations.
Supervisory Officer
- Upon being notified of a school Lockdown, Hold and Secure or Shelter in Place SHALL
- be mindful of the circumstances that led to the involvement of the police and ensure the original investigation continues
- attend the school
- assess the need to assume the role of Incident Commander and if necessary, become the Incident Commander until relieved of this function
Supervisory Officer
- Upon being notified of a Hold and Secure that police have recommended, SHALL
assign a police officer to attend that school if operationally feasible
Supervisory Officer
- Upon being notified of a school Lockdown
- assign an officer to attend that school
- assign an officer to the parent staging area and ensure the officer keeps parents informed of the status of the Lockdown in compliance with the Communication Strategy
Incident Commander
- Upon conclusion of the incident, SHALL
- notify the Operations Supervisor – Communications Services (Operations Supervisor)
- request the Operations Supervisor to notify
o the Officer in Charge
o Emergency Management & Public Order
o the TPOC
Officer in Charge
- During a Lockdown, Hold and Secure or Shelter in Place SHALL
- provide information and updates on the situation when inquiries are made by a school principal or designate in the area of the threat
Definitions 10-13
Exigent Circumstances means,
urgent, pressing and/or emergency circumstances. In reference to an emergency or hazardous incident, exigent circumstances may include a bomb threat, a person possessing or using a weapon, or a fire on school property. [Source: Police / School Board Protocol]
Immediate Rapid Response means
that if there is an immediate threat to life in a school, officers SHALL enter the school to stop the threat in accordance with training.
Parent Staging Area means
a location where parents can initially report to and await details. Usually positioned off-site from the immediate emergency or threat. Ideally separate and exclusive from the emergency responders, equipment and media.
