How to handle a Bomb Threat
How explosive devices look
Explosive devices can be made to look like just about anything:
- pipes
- books
- video tapes
- radios
- box
- cameras
What to do if you receive notification of a bomb threat
Phone call
- Note the telephone line (inside or outside call)
- If the number is present, record it
- Write down the exact words used
- Note voice characteristics (age, gender, accent, temperament, disguised, muffled, etc)
- Note background sounds (machinery, traffic, children, music, voices, street noise, etc)
Receipt of a written bomb threat
- Remember the written document is physical evidence
- Do not allow the document to be handled by anyone but Campus Police Investigators
- The document may have latent finger prints
and will be used for handwriting analysis and/or typewriter and
printer comparisons
- Remember how you got the document (was it left on your desk, handed it to you, delivered in the mail, etc)
Evacuation
The decision to evacuate is a serious responsibility and shall rest
with the President, the Vice President for Business &
Administration or the head of the affected area
If there is a threat of an imminent explosion, and there is no time
for delay, the Police Chief or designated representative may make the
decision to evacuate. The decision to re-occupy a
building or area will be made by the President, the Vice President
for Business & Administration or the head of the affected area.
Evacuation may be of the entire complex, a certain
building, or a particular section of the suspected area.
- Evacuation should be completed at least 15 minutes before the bomb is scheduled to explode (if detonation time is known)
- Evacuation should be completed using the closest evacuation route and exit
- Elevators can be used
- Desks, lockers, closets, etc. should be left open to lesson the impact of the explosion
- Evacuation of “a selected area” should be communicated by word of mouth by police personnel
- Evacuation should be done rapidly and in such a manner not to provoke panic
Search Operations Management
- The Chief of Police or the ranking officer at the Incident Command Center, has complete charge of the search operation.
- Employees should search their own areas prior to evacuation
- Search teams should include someone who works in the suspected area
- No radio communications or cell phones are to be used within the suspected area to prevent accidental detonation
- After searching an office space and
finding nothing out of the ordinary, close the door to the office
space and place a post it note.Do not lock the door.
Finding a suspicious object
- Do not touch or move it
- Do not move any equipment or furniture beside it
- Immediately notify Campus Police by using a runner or corded telephone.
- Do not use a cell phone, radio or other wireless device.
- Evacuate all persons