Author Archives: Madeline Sloan

Crime Prevention Update March 05 2015

I hope everyone is enjoying their spring break. Here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

As a follow up from last semester’s sessions, Public Safety will be hosting several town hall meetings for the campus community. This is a great opportunity to meet your Public Safety officers, ask questions, and share suggestions, comments, and concerns. As always, I encourage you to actively participate in safety and security around campus, so I anticipate a good turnout! In an effort to accommodate students who left early for spring break, we will be hosting an additional town hall meeting on March 10^th. This will be held at 3:30pm in Stern 206.

This week, members of the Department of Public Safety met with the staff members of the North Campus to review response and procedures in emergency situations. Topics such as active shooter, gas leaks, and fire alarms were thoroughly addressed. Thank you to all who attended for your participation and contributions to the discussion. If you or your department is interested in hosting a similar session, please contact me.

This is your last chance to enroll in the R.A.D. classes being held this month. R.A.D. is a series of self-defense classes for women. This program will be open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Please stop by Public Safety headquarters or email RAD@cofc.edu to sign up. Below are the dates and times for the spring class:
- Tuesday, 3/17/2015, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Thursday, 3/19/2015, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Tuesday, 3/24/2015, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Thursday, 3/26/2015, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

In response to concerns voiced by the campus community, Public Safety Officers have increased enforcement of bicycle and skateboard violations since the start of the spring semester. This increased enforcement has raised several questions regarding the statutes, fines, and the judicial process. Please take a moment to review information relating to the bicycle and skateboard ordinances on our website.

If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.

Crime Prevention Tip:

Properly securing your valuables is one of the easiest ways to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of theft. Whether leaving your office or dorm room, always lock your door. Avoid leaving items on desks or in unsecure drawers. Lastly, if you get up from a table at the library, dining hall, or restaurant, always bring your items with you, even if you are gone “just for a minute.”

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Take Care and Be Safe,

PSO Madeline M. Sloan

Crime Prevention Specialist

Department of Public Safety

Office of the President

89 St. Philip Street

Charleston, SC 29424

(843)953-5609

Do you recognize this suspect?

Attached is a sketch of a suspect who groped a woman about 7:00 p.m. in the area of 149 Smith Street on Saturday, February 21, 2015. Although there appears to be a similar incident that occurred on February 25, 2015 where a man exposed himself to a woman in the area of 80 Pitt Street, that victim was unable to provide enough information to complete a sketch of a suspect.

The suspect is described as a black male, 30 – 40 years old, 5’10’’ to 6’ feet tall, large build. The suspect was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black jacket, and black prescription glasses.

If you have any information on the above crime, please contact College of Charleston Campus Police:

Emergencies: 953-5611
Non-Emergency: 953-5609 (Administrative Line)Crime Action Line: (Anonymous Reporting) 953-4998

Silent Witness: http://publicsafety.cofc.edu/conta…/silent-witness/index.php

Crime Prevention Update Feb 19 2015

I hope everyone is keeping warm today! Here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

As a follow up from last semester’s sessions, Public Safety will be hosting several town hall meetings for the campus community. This is a great opportunity to meet your Public Safety officers, ask questions, and share suggestions, comments, and concerns. As always, I encourage you to actively participate in safety and security around campus, so I anticipate a good turnout! All sessions will be held in Stern Center room 206. Refreshments and snacks will be served. Below are the date and times for the town hall meetings:
- 02/19/14 12pm Faculty session
- 02/24/14 2:30pm Staff session
- 02/27/14 3:30pm Student session

On February 20, 2015, the Student Government Association will be hosting a bike auction. The bike auction will be held at the Stern Center from 11am-3pm. Representatives from Public Safety will be on scene to register bicycles.
As a reminder, the first priority in any emergency situation is to get to a safe location. However, time-permitting, make an effort to have important items such as keys, medicine, and identification easily accessible. In the event of a fire alarm, weather emergency, or other evacuation, bring these items with you if possible.
Public Safety will be holding a R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) class this spring. R.A.D. is a series of self-defense classes for women. This program will be open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Please stop by Public Safety headquarters or email RAD@cofc.edu to sign up. Below are the dates and times for the spring class:
Tuesday, 3/17/2015, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Thursday, 3/19/2015, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Tuesday, 3/24/2015, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Thursday, 3/26/2015, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

For those living in electronic-access buildings, particularly Warren Place, Kelly House, and George Street Apartments, please be mindful when entering and exiting the residence hall. In order to ensure the safety of the residents, passing the door for others, also known as “piggy-backing” is prohibited. All residents must use their FOB to enter the building.

If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.

Crime Prevention Tip:

During the cold winter months, drivers may be tempted to warm up their cars while they stay warm inside. Cars left running, unlocked, and unattended are quick and easy targets for thieves. Never leave your car running or the keys in the ignition when are away from it, even for “just a minute.”

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Take Care and Be Safe,

PSO Madeline M. Sloan

Charleston Police to Wear Body Cameras

Check out this article from the Cistern Yard writtten by CofC student Sam Rodriguez.

Charleston police to wear body cameras

Police are wearing body cameras with increasing frequency, allowing them to playback scenes from their communal exchanges. While this is disturbing some civilians, others are being reassured. (Photo courtesy of West Midlands Police via flickr creative commons)

On Monday, Feb. 2, Police Chief Eddie Driggers, Jr. and South Carolina Sen. Marlon Kimpson announced that $275,000 of state funding will be going toward the acquisition of body cameras. The money was granted from the Obama Administration’s allocation of $75 million for the purchase of 50,000 cameras. In the City of North Charleston alone, 115 devices will be provided for officers to wear.

The two main purposes behind body cameras are to reduce complaints filed against officers and to rebuild relations between the community and police. Various agencies across the state currently employ the device, creating questions of concern as to whether certain rights are violated with the use of the cameras.

Issues with the device regard the possibility of secondhand party conversations getting picked up along with concerns for bystanders who are unaware they are being filmed. Controversy has incurred as to whether the new body cameras violate the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. Laws vary from state to state in regards of officer responsibility to inform citizens that they are on camera . In S.C., the process of filming operates on a one-party basis.

The Freedom of Information Act allows public records to be readily accessible to the general public, including footage that is taken by officers. Many feel that having this footage exposed could contravene with their intimate situation and expose many personal details to the public eye.

At The College, Public Safety’s desire is to keep up with the body camera trend. Funding opportunities for the cameras are available, however, a traditional law enforcement agency is more likely to receive the support before a college due to greater crime rates off campus. Since 2009, there has not been a citizen complaint filed against officers at The College for discrimination, bias-based policing or excessive use of force .

Officer Madeline Sloan, from the Department of Public Safety, said body cameras present a unique taboo. “I truly see both sides of the debate. As an officer, I am acting as an agent of the government, and am serving as a public employee. In this sense, I don’t have much of an expectation of privacy and can respect the public’s demands of transparency and increased accountability.”

Sloan continued, “As a citizen, however, I have privacy concerns. If I call the police because I am the victim of a crime, it is probably the worst day of my life. If my encounter with the police is recorded, it becomes public record and is readily accessible through the FOIA.”

While the Charleston City Police Department is in the process of attaining body cameras, the Department of Public Safety, on campus remains interested in purchasing them. This is something The College has been, and will continue to actively pursue.

Crime Prevention Update Feb 05 2015

Happy Homecoming week! I hope everyone has fun and remains safe while celebrating the Homecoming festivities. As we unmask our cougar pride, here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

As a follow up from last semester’s sessions, Public Safety will be hosting several town hall meetings for the campus community. This is a great opportunity to meet your Public Safety officers, ask questions, and share suggestions, comments, and concerns. As always, I encourage you to actively participate in safety and security around campus, so I anticipate a good turnout! All sessions will be held in Stern Center room 206. Refreshments and snacks will be served. Below are the date and times for the town hall meetings:
- 02/10/14 3:30pm Student session
- 02/19/14 12pm Faculty session
- 02/24/14 2:30pm Staff session

Have you ever had concerns about a student’s possible substance abuse, mental health, or worrisome/disruptive behavior? FAST is an online reporting tool available to facilitate reporting concerns about students so that specialized College staff may better provide help to students who are having academic, financial, or personal problems that will keep them from succeeding at the College. To make a referral using the FAST reporting system, please click here. Please be aware that the FAST system is not an emergency hotline. For an on-campus emergency, please call Public Safety.

In celebration of Homecoming week, the Department of Public Safety has launched a social media campaign in an attempt to actively engage the campus community. Throughout the week, there will be several opportunities to win prizes. If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.

With a large response from last semester, I will be extending this opportunity again for anyone who may be interested in safety training. Most CofC employees work in positions that require interaction with all types of people. Although a majority of these interactions are positive, there may be occasions where you are faced to deal with a disgruntled parent, student, or visitor. Public Safety is offering training on how to respond in these situations. This training will include: communication tactics; locating and properly using panic buttons; information to gather when reporting these incidents; and any specific concerns you may have. Please contact me if your department is interested in this training.

Crime Prevention Tip:

Campus Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Report suspicious activity to Public Safety by calling (843)953-5611. The dispatcher will need to know race, gender, height, weight, age, clothing description, the direction of flight of the suspect, and if he or she has a weapon.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Take Care and Be Safe,

PSO Madeline M. Sloan

Crime Prevention Update Jan 22 2015

It is great to see you all on campus, and I hope everyone has transitioned smoothly into the new semester. With the weather warming up outside, here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

The Department of Public Safety has been working with the Division of Marketing and Communications on producing a Campus Night Map. This map features the recommended route for night travel based on adequate lighting and access to emergency call boxes. In addition to this resource, safety escorts are available to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors 24/7.
With January being proclaimed as National Stalking Awareness month, now is a good time to review this widespread issue. “While stalking laws vary from state to state, certain elements remain the same. Stalking is not a one-time act, but typically defined as a pattern of behavior that would cause a reasonable person to fear bodily injury or death for himself/herself or a family member.” In the event that you are a victim of stalking, notify Public Safety or local law enforcement immediately. For more information, please visit The National Center for Campus Public Safety’s website.
Thank you to Aaron Holly with the Office of Sustainability for his continued efforts for the bicycling community on campus. Aaron has worked with the City of Charleston to clean up the existing bicycle storage area at the GG Garage on St. Philip Street. This space will serve as additional bicycle parking for College of Charleston students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
The Office of Victim Services and SCOPE will be hosting an information and recruitment event from 6pm-7:30pm this evening in Stern 201. Be sure to stop by for free food, prizes, and more. You can also catch them in the Stern Center lobby today from 11am-1pm.
Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.

Crime Prevention Tip:

Be cautious when giving out personal information such as your name, address, phone number or financial information on the Internet. Make sure that websites are secure (e.g. when making online purchases) or that you’ve enabled privacy settings (e.g. when accessing/using social networking sites).

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Take Care and Be Safe,

PSO Madeline M. Sloan

Crime Prevention Update Jan 08 2015

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday. As we kick off the spring semester, here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

As a reminder, Public Safety Officers are now issuing citations to bicyclists and skateboarders violating the City of Charleston’s bicycle and skateboard regulations. This includes: riding on a sidewalk, traveling the wrong way down a one way street, disregarding traffic control devices, etc. As a reminder, bicyclists and skateboarders should ride with the flow of traffic, and obey all traffic signs and signals. Please review the ordinances relating to bicycles and skateboards here.
Since the season of gift giving has just come to a close, now is an opportune time to remind everyone of Public Safety’s Operation ID and Computer registration program. For those of you returning to campus with computers, cell phones, and other electronics, please stop by Public Safety to register your items. We will keep serial numbers and other important information about your valuables on file. Having this information will assist with the recovery and return process in the event your item is lost or stolen. This service is available 24/7, so stop by anytime.
The Department of Public Safety will be hosting several events available to the campus community throughout the spring semester. Please keep an eye out for additional information on these programs. We look forward to your attendance and participation.
In response to the needs of the campus community, the Department of Public Safety, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability, has worked on placing additional bicycle racks around campus. Over winter break, racks have been added to McAlister, Berry, Liberty, McConnell, Fine Arts, Greenway/College Way, and the Bell building. In addition, the bicycle racks to the rear of Addlestone library have been relocated to a central location in River’s Green.
Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.

Crime Prevention Tip: Don’t advertise your valuables. Utilize blinds or curtains in your windows to decrease visibility inside the residence.

Bicycle and Skateboard Laws

The Department of Public Safety, in partnership with the Charleston Police Department and city officials, has been working diligently to raise awareness of bicycle and skateboard laws and ordinances. During the fall semester, the Department took many steps to help educate the public on the various ordinances and the stricter enforcement of them. As part of this educational campaign, information on bicycles and skateboards has been covered in all of the new student orientation sessions, handouts were given to those who registered bicycles, a preliminary email was sent out to all students, faculty, and staff, officers have been issuing warning citations, and similar messages have been posted to social media.

Beginning January 1, 2015, Public Safety Officers will begin issuing citations to bicyclists and skateboarders violating the City of Charleston’s bicycle and skateboard regulations. This includes: riding on a sidewalk, traveling the wrong way down a one way street, disregarding traffic control devices, etc. As a reminder, bicyclists and skateboarders should ride with the flow of traffic, and obey all traffic signs and signals. Please review the ordinances relating to bicycles and skateboards below:

Sec. 19-121 Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.

Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws of this state declaring rules of the road applicable to vehicles or by the traffic regulations of this city applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to those provisions of laws and regulations which by their nature can have no application.

Sec. 19-122. – Obedience to traffic control devices.

(a) Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of official traffic control signals, signs and other control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

(b) Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left or U-turn is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such sign, except where such person dismounts from the bicycle to make any such turn, in which event such person shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians.

Sec. 19-125. – Riding on sidewalks.

(a)No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any sidewalk in the city except:

(1)Children the age of twelve (12) and under may ride a bicycle having a wheel diameter of twenty-four (24) inches or less on any sidewalk except as otherwise herein prohibited.

(2)Where the sidewalk is designated by the traffic and transportation department as a shared-use path measuring at least eight (8) feet in width.

(3)Where the adjacent highway has a posted speed limit of thirty-five (35) miles per hour or more, adults and children may ride a bicycle on the adjacent sidewalk except as otherwise herein prohibited or if there is a dedicated bicycle lane on the adjacent highway.

(b)Unless designated otherwise, go upon any sidewalk in a school overlay zone or in commercially zoned area on the peninsula as delineated on the zoning map of the city and as the zoning map may hereafter be amended by the ordinances of the city.

(c)Bicycles shall not be operated in a reckless manner. Any person permitted in the above subsections to ride or operate a bicycle on a sidewalk shall at all times ride or operate the bicycle with due care and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians using the sidewalk.

(d)Where permitted on sidewalks, bicycles shall not be ridden or operated in a manner which causes damage to public or private property.

(e)A person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle as provided for by state law. The provisions of this section shall not diminish, detract from, or change state law regarding a bicyclist’s right to use all roadways in the city as permitted by state law.

(f)A police or code enforcement officer may operate a bicycle on the sidewalk when in the course and scope of their duties they determine in good faith that riding or operating a bicycle on the sidewalk is necessary to perform their official duties.

(g)No person shall ride or operate a motorized bicycle, a rickshaw, a pedicab, or similar device upon a sidewalk or a shared-use path.

(h)Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be subject to a maximum fine of fifty dollars ($50.00).

Sec. 19-91. – Regulation of use of roller skates, in-line skates, toy scooters, coasters and motorized toy vehicles.

(a)It shall be unlawful for any person upon roller skates, in-line skates, or any coaster, toy scooter, motorized toy vehicle or other similar device to:

(1)Go upon any roadway designed for vehicular traffic posted more than twenty-five (25) miles per hour except while crossing a street at a crosswalk;

(2)Use these devices in a city-owned or leased parking garage or surface lot;

(3)Unless designated otherwise, use these devices upon a city-owned or leased athletic field or tennis court;

(4)Unless designated otherwise, go upon any sidewalk or roadway in a school overlay zone or in a commercially zoned area on the peninsula as delineated on the zoning map of the city and as the zoning map may hereafter be amended by the ordinances of the city;

(5)Use these devices in a reckless manner. Persons operating these devices on a sidewalk shall exercise due care for the safety of others using the sidewalk and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians; or

(6)Operate these devices in a manner which causes damage to public or private property.

(b)For purposes of this section a motorized toy vehicle shall mean any toy vehicle which is powered by a twelve-volt battery and when operated at full throttle does not exceed fifteen (15) miles per hour. Any scooter, motorized toy vehicle, coaster, or other similar device which can be operated at a speed greater than fifteen (15) miles per hour shall not be operated on a public sidewalk.

(c)Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be subject to a maximum fine of fifty dollars ($50.00).

Sec. 19-92. – Skateboard regulations on the peninsula.

(a)The city shall create a committee containing community and neighborhood representatives affected by this section to study, review, and comment on this and any future skateboard ordinance amendments.

(b)The provisions of this section are applicable to the use of skateboards within the municipal limits of the city.

(c)Every person riding a skateboard upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws of this state declaring rules of the road applicable to vehicles or by the traffic regulations of this city applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to special regulations in this section and except as to those provisions of laws and regulations which by their nature can have no application.

(d)Every skateboarder operating a skateboard upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable. A skateboarder may, but is not required to, ride on the shoulder of the roadway in order to comply with the requirements of this subsection. A skateboarder may ride in a lane other than the right-hand lane if only one (1) lane is available that permits the skateboarder to continue on his intended route.

(e)A driver of a motor vehicle must at all times maintain a safe operating distance between the motor vehicle and a skateboard.

(f)A skateboard may not be used to carry more persons than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

(g)Footwear shall be worn at all times while operating a skateboard.

(h)A person may not operate a skateboard while intoxicated or consuming alcohol.

(i)It is unlawful to harass, taunt, or maliciously throw an object at or in the direction of any person riding a skateboard.

(j)A person riding upon a skateboard may not attach it or himself to a vehicle, or any device which is used or may be used for propulsion.

(k)Skateboarders must be visible from both a minimum distance of five hundred (500) feet and a height of at least three (3) feet through the use of reflective clothing, lights, or other visible gear.

(l)Hand signals. A skateboarder shall indicate a right turn by extending the left arm upward, by raising the left arm to the square. A skateboarder shall indicate a left turn by extending the left arm horizontally. A skateboarder shall indicate stopping or decreasing speed by extending the left arm or the right arm downward.

(m)A skateboarder must be able to brake within a five-foot stopping distance.

(n)It shall be unlawful for any person upon a skateboard or other similar device to:

(1)Use these devices in a city-owned or leased parking garage or surface lot;

(2)Unless designated otherwise, use these devices upon a city-owned or leased athletic field or tennis court; or

(3)Operate these devices in a manner which causes damage to public or private property.

(o)The use of skateboards is prohibited on the streets and sidewalks identified on Exhibit A to Ordinance No. 2014-43 which is set out below.

The break down for the fine as mandated by State Law is as follows:

Mandated State Assessment on fines is: 107.5% on fines (107.5 x $50 = $53.75)
Mandated Law Enforcement Fee is: $25.00
Mandated Criminal Justice Academy Fee is: $5.00
$53.75 + $50 + $25.00 + $5 = $133.75

The City of Charleston Municipal Court always rounds down to lowest whole dollar amount; accordingly the total fine is $133.00

Crime Prevention Update Dec 08 2015

Congratulations to everyone on wrapping up another successful semester! As we prepare for winter break, here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

While things quiet down around campus between semesters, please keep in mind the following safety tips:
- Be sure to secure all doors and windows to buildings, rooms, and office spaces.
- Unplug all electronics, appliances, and other miscellaneous items that will not be in use.
- Take all valuable items home. If you are unable to do so, make sure they are secured in a safe place, and are out of plain view.
- If you plan on leaving your bicycle on campus, it should be properly secured to a bike rack. Public Safety recommends using a U-lock, and securing the bicycle by the frame.
Starting January 1, 2015, Public Safety Officers will begin issuing citations to bicyclists and skateboarders violating the City of Charleston’s bicycle and skateboard regulations. This includes: riding on a sidewalk, traveling the wrong way down a one way street, disregarding traffic control devices, etc. As a reminder, bicyclists and skateboarders should ride with the flow of traffic, and follow all traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles. A copy of the Skateboard Ordinance and bicycle guidelines can be picked up at Public Safety Headquarters. If you would like additional information, feel free to contact me.
As we are entering winter break, now is the time to prepare your residence if you are planning on going out of town for the holiday. For those of you residing in the downtown area, particularly students living in off-campus housing, you can contact the Charleston Police Department ((843) 720-2426) if you would like an officer to keep an eye on your residence while you are away. Any faculty, staff, or students living outside the immediate area are encouraged to call their local police department, as most law enforcement agencies offer this service.
Thank you to all of the students, faculty, and staff who participated in our R.A.D. program this semester. We were pleased with the high turn-out and are looking forward to hosting more classes in the spring. For more information, please visit our website. Below are the class dates for next semester. To sign up, simply come by Public Safety, or email rad@cofc.edu.

Spring 2015

3/17 5pm- 8pm

3/19 5pm- 8pm

3/24 5pm- 8pm

3/26 5pm- 8pm

Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.

Crime Prevention Tip:

Shopping areas become more popular as the holiday season nears, not only for shoppers, but also for criminals intent on obtaining your valuables. Ladies should not let their purses dangle. Place one end of the purse in the palm of the hand and the other end in the bend of the elbow, keeping the purse close to the body. Cash and/or credit cards can be kept in a small purse with a long strap and worn under your coat or jacket. Men are advised never to keep their wallet in a rear pocket; carry it in the breast pocket of a jacket. If one needs to carry a wallet in a rear pocket, place a pocket comb inside it or wrap a rubber band around it to cause the wallet to cling to the inside of the pocket, deterring a pickpocket; the snugger the fit, the safer you are from thieves.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Active Shooter Response

In light of the recent events at Florida State University, it is an opportune time to review the appropriate procedures in the event of an active shooter scenario. In addition to reviewing the information below, I also encourage you to view the Department of Homeland Security’s Run. Hide. Fight. Video. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Crime Prevention Officer, PSO Madeline Sloan, or Director Reese.

Introduction

An active shooter is a person or persons who appear to be actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people, most often in populated areas. In most cases active shooters use firearm(s) and display no pattern or method for selection of their victims. In some cases active shooters use improvised explosive devices to cause additional victimization and act as an impediment to law enforcement and emergency services responders. These improvised explosive devices may detonate immediately, have delayed detonation fuses, or may detonate on contact. Active shooter situations are dynamic and evolve rapidly, demanding immediate response by the community and immediate deployment of law enforcement resources to stop the shooting and prevent further harm to the community. This document provides guidance to faculty, staff, and students who may be caught in an active shooter situation, and describes what to expect from responding law enforcement officers. Be aware that the 911 system may become overwhelmed.

For additional information see the Guidelines noted below and refer to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security “Active Shooter How to Respond” guide (pdf).

Guidelines

In general, how you respond to an active shooter will be dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter. If you find yourself involved in an active shooter situation, try to remain calm and call 911 as soon as possible.

If an active shooter is outside your building or inside the building you are in, you should:

Try to remain calm.
If you are able to evacuate that building, do so.
Try to warn other faculty, staff, students and visitors to take immediate shelter.
Proceed to a room that can be locked or barricaded.
Lock and barricade doors or windows.
Turn off lights.
Close blinds.
Turn off radios or other devices that emit sound.
Keep yourself out of sight, stay away from windows and take adequate cover/protection, i.e. concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets.
Silence cell phones.
Have one person Call 843-953-5611 or 911 and provide:
- “This is College of Charleston (give your location) we have an active shooter on campus, gunshots fired.”
- If you were able to see the offender(s), give a description of the persons(s) sex, race, clothing, type of weapon(s), location last observed, direction of travel, and identity – if known.
- If you observed any victims, give a description of the location and number of victims.
- If you observed any suspicious devices (improvised explosive devices), provide the location observed and a description.
- If you heard any explosions, provide a description and location.
Wait patiently until a uniformed police officer, or a university official known to you, provides an “all clear.”
Unfamiliar voices may be an active shooter trying to lure you from safety; do not respond to voice commands until you can verify with certainty that they are being issued by a police officer or university official.
Attempts to rescue people should only be attempted if it can be accomplished without further endangering the persons inside a secured area.
Depending on circumstances, consideration may also be given to exiting ground floor windows as safely and quietly as possible.

If an active shooter enters your office or classroom, you should:

Try to remain calm.
Try not to do anything that will provoke the active shooter.
If there is no possibility of escape or hiding, only as a last resort when it is imminent that your life is in danger should you make a personal choice to attempt to negotiate with or overpower the assailant(s).
Call 843-953-5611 or 911, if possible, and provide the information listed in the first guideline.
If the active shooter(s) leaves the area, barricade the room or proceed to a safer location.

If you are in an outside area and encounter an active shooter, you should:

Try to remain calm.
Move away from the active shooter or the sounds of gunshot(s) and/or explosion(s).
Look for appropriate locations for cover/protection, i.e. brick walls, retaining walls, large trees, parked vehicles, or any other object that may stop bullet penetration.
Try to warn other faculty, staff, students and visitors to take immediate shelter.
Call 843-953-5611 or 911 and provide the information listed in the first guideline.

What to expect from responding police officers

The objectives of responding police officers are:

Immediately engage or contain the active shooter(s) in order to stop life threatening behavior.
Identify threats such as improvised explosive devices.
Identify victims to facilitate medical care, interviews and counseling.
Investigation

Police officers responding to an active shooter are trained to proceed immediately to the area in which shots were last heard in order to stop the shooting as quickly as possible. The first responding officers may be in teams; they may be dressed in normal patrol uniforms, or they may be wearing external ballistic vests and Kevlar helmets or other tactical gear. The officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns or handguns. Do exactly as the officers instruct. The first responding officers will be focused on stopping the active shooter and creating a safe environment for medical assistance to be brought in to aid the injured.