RETHINKING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 71
tional response options include lockdown, partial evacu-
ation and complete evacuation. Fortunately, many school
districts are competent with implementing these actions as a
result of practicing with active shooter response procedures.
An important factor to keep in mind when determining
the appropriate response actions is:
Do not move anyone to or through a threat. Essentially,
prior to populating an evacuation route or assembly area,
each must be swept and secured. Schools can easily achieve
this by deploying internal search teams. It is much more
efficient for employees of the school to conduct a check of
their immediate work areas and hallways than to wait for law
enforcement to respond and walk through areas with which
they may not be familiar. In reality, school personnel con-
duct a check of their workspace subconsciously every day,
and they will most likely notice when something is out of
place.
The next factor to consider with respect to response ac-
tions is:
If you can see the bomb, it can see you. The concept be-
hind this phrase is that if a call for evacuation is made, and
there is a suspect bomb in the hallway, then no one can pop-
ulate that hallway. Consequently, staff and students who
would potentially be within the line of sight of a device must
shelter in place. Most, if not all, school buildings are brick
and mortar and offer sufficient shielding from potentially
lethal blast effects. Sheltering within a classroom is a much
better, and safer, option compared to being exposed to le-
72
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ JANUARY 2018