Local law enforcement on active shooter/threat: “You need to have a plan in place”

Law enforcement in Mid-Missouri says it’s imperative to have a plan in place in the event of an active shooter or threat.

In light of the attack on the Ohio State University campus, ABC 17 News spoke with Major Brian Weimer with the University of Missouri Police Department and Sergeant Scott White with the Missouri State Highway Patrol about the best way for an individual to respond.

“The number one thing is your survival. You need to do what you need to do to stay alive,” Major Weimer says.

Ohio State University alerted students and staff about the attack on Twitter, adding that they should “run, hide or fight.” Those are the same guidelines the Department of Homeland Security provides, and it’s also the philosophy embraced by both the Missouri State Highway Patrol and University of Missouri Police Department.

“Run–it’s more than just running, it’s know where your exits are, visualize how to get out. Hide–blockade the door, block the door, lock the door shut off the lights, use your phone to get help. And fight, don’t fight fair at all, use anything you can,” Sergeant White explains.

While the attack at Ohio State happened on campus, Major Weimer says it’s crucial for all residents in Mid-Missouri to have a plan in place.

“It has nothing to do with campuses, period. It can happen in malls, it can happen anywhere so you need to have a plan in place,” Major Weimer says. “It’s critical that students have established protocols with their parents and loved ones of how they would notify them in an emergency that they’re safe and okay.”

There are a number of resources on the University of Missouri website, as well as an active shooter video created by the university.

In the event of an emergency, Major Weimer says all the information they know–at that moment–will be posted on the MU Alert website.