On April 11, a discussion on public safety led by Lieutenant Dave Stephenson, the Director of Public Safety, answered questions faculty had about WSUV safety. Public Safety is implementing a new system this year with the goal of helping students and faculty remember what to do in stressful situations. The new system focuses on alert, assess, and act. “Be alert to developing incidents, assess your situation, and act to ensure your own safety,” Stephenson said. When it comes to the act part of this statement, Stephenson reminded, “it will always look like run, hide or fight.”
Stephenson encourages everyone to take care of their own safety first. One guest at the discussion asked, “How do you run when you don’t know where the shooter is?” Stephenson recommended, “It’s an of-the-moment judgement, try to listen and see if that is safe before running.” In a school shooting situation, the WSU Vancouver police officers have received special training on how to handle a situation like that on campus. They train with regional police on active shooter events. The police use the national training model to ensure that any cop responding to such an event, knows all the same procedures, communication and techniques being used.
Stephenson said, “Running is always best. If running isn’t possible, hide. All classrooms have locks and stay away from windows. Try to stay invisible.” He also suggested that if it appears like you’re going to have to fight off an attacker, try throwing things at them and aim at their head. “The new system works for all situations, not just active shooters,” Stephenson stated.
When Stephenson asked the faculty of their safety concerns on campus, the conversation shifted to a lack of realistic practices when drills are in place. Whenever the campus performs a lockdown drill, Stephenson explained how professors should be stopping their lecture and talking about what would happen in a real situation. The faculty at the discussion said that they don’t know too many professors on campus that actually will walk through the drill with the students. Stephenson said something the WSU Vancouver community can do to feel safer about the recent school shootings is practicing drills as if the emergency was happening in real time.
WSU Vancouver police advise all students and faculty to remain alert when traveling to or from campus. Be aware of your surroundings, travel in groups and use safe transportation. Students can contact Public Safety for an escort at any time. Suspicious activity can be reported at (360) 546-9001 or by using a Blue Light emergency call box which goes directly to a 911 dispatcher. When reporting a crime, there are no “hours of operation”—you can call at any time. For crimes ranging from sexual misconduct to suspicious behavior, reach out to Public Safety at any time.
Pull out: Any questions regarding incidents or questions about public safety contact Dave Stephenson at dstephenson@wsu.edu or visit him in the Public Safety office in the Classroom Building.
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