Camden County Police Chiefs Association Camden County Department of Public Safety Camden County Superintendant of Schools Camden County Prosecutors Office Camden County Fire Chiefs and Fire Officers Association

Securing Schools During an Emergency News Conference

Media Packet

Initiative Explanation and Statement – Chief Harry Earle

This past December 14, 2013 marked the one year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in which twenty students and six adults were killed. The tragedy in Newtown was the second worst mass school killing ever, but it was also one of six mass killings with five or more deaths in the United States in 2012. Mass killing plots or actual attacks has begun to increase. In the year since the tragedy at Sandy Hook there were twenty-two mass killing plots or attacks at schools in the United States. While knowing this information it is imperative that all agencies and individuals responsible for the protection of their communities constantly evaluate their protocols.

In November of 2007 the Camden County Chiefs of Police Association partnered with the Camden County Department of Public Safety, Camden County Fire Chiefs and Fire Officers Association, Camden County Tactical Officers Association, New Jersey Department of Education, and many others in establishing common language and procedures in responding to critical incidents at schools within Camden County.

The committee understood that unanticipated tragic events can quickly escalate into a school catastrophe if not dealt with immediately and effectively. It is well understood that knowing what to do when a crisis occurs can minimize the chaos, rumors, and the impact of the event on students, staff and community. The guidelines established in 2007 ensured there were a common set of policies and actions available for utilization by every school and first responder in Camden County so all entities could act in unison regardless of jurisdiction. It is essential that school administrators, school staff, and all first responders are prepared to respond uniformly and appropriately to any emergency at a school and when possible do so in the least disruptive manner to students and the community.

The standard and uniformed guidelines created in 2007 established a Three Tier System in which students and staff reacted to an emergency in one of three ways which ranged from minimal educational disruption to a full “” where students and staff take pre-determined measures to protect themselves. The 2007 standards have served the schools, students, first responders, and residents of Camden County very well. Numerous Tier I and Tier II Lockdown Events were implemented in many communities over the past seven years as well as many Tier III Lockdown drills.

Fortunately, all first responders are always constantly seeking new and more effective operational methods. The Camden County Chiefs of Police Association recognized the need in early 2012 that moving from a system where numbered codes were utilized such as “Tiers” to a “plain speech” system could serve to better prepare students and staff in reacting to an emergency. In early 2012 members of the Camden County Chiefs of Police Association attended various training programs regarding school security with some being administered by the Department of Education. It was at these training sessions that it was decided that a committee be formed to explore making changes to the existing 2007 standards.

The Camden County Chiefs of Police Association formed a School Security Committee in the summer of 2012 and then partnered with the New Jersey Department of Education, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, Camden County Superintendant of Schools, and Camden County Public Safety Officials in updating our school security terminology.

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The purpose of having three specific stages of securing a school is because some emergencies simply require little action by school students and staff; however, other incidents may require significant action by its occupants including immediate relocation within the building or securing themselves in a specific area of the school. Without such a three phase system, school officials would have only one option which would be a “lockdown” when an emergency exists. Such a reaction simply causes unnecessary hardship on the students and staff and also greatly minimizes the importance of a true lockdown when the need arises.

All schools in Camden County have been required to implement these new guidelines for securing a school in an emergency effective this school year. This news conference event is being held to inform both the parents of school children and the media about these changes. It is important for parents to understand that schools may be placed in three different security levels during various types of incidents. For example, a school may be placed in a “Lockout” when officers are searching areas near the school for someone who has fled from the police. Such an incident would only require the schools bring all students inside and post an official at a single designated entrance. Throughout some schools in the United States this may be called a “Lockdown” and doing this causes unnecessary concern for parents and students which also creates a false sense of urgency when overused.

Prior to the changes of this year, a Lockout was entitled a Tier I Lockdown. The Camden County Chiefs of Police Association School Security Committee learned quickly that the word “lockdown” in all of the previous Three Tier System’s security titles could create confusion and lead to complacency. The committee believed it was important to reserve use of the word “lockdown” for only those emergencies that require such significant action.

The 2007 guidelines contained a term entitled a “Tier II Lockdown” which is now called a “Shelter In Place”. A Shelter In Place event is similar to a “Lockout” Event except students and staff are not permitted in the hallways. An example of a when a Shelter In Place may take place is when police are conducting an investigation in the school and preventing the students moving from class to class is most appropriate.

What was once called a “Tier III Lockdown” in the 2007 Guidelines is now simply called a “Lockdown”. A lockdown event is declared when there is a significant threat to the safety of the students and staff. A lockdown requires all occupants to seek safety, cover, and concealment to protect them from harm. It is quite simple – when the occupants or first responders hear “Lockdown” it is clear that a significant emergency exists.

The term “Room Clear” was added to our new and revised protocols. A room clear may be announced by a staff member or first responder and directs all of the occupants of a specific classroom to immediately leave the room. An example of when a Room Clear may be utilized is when a student or staff member has a significant medical emergency.

The table below details the new Securing Schools during an Emergency terminology and also highlights the previous terminology from the 2007 protocol. In addition to updating the new

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terms, a fourth item or action was added entitled a “Room Clear” which can assist in quickly clearing a room of students during a an emergency.

DEFINITIONS

New 2013-2014 Term Basic Definition/Example Previous 2007 Protocol Terminology Recovers all persons from outside of the building and secures the building perimeter. A lockout Lockout would be utilized when police are actively Tier I Lockdown searching an area near a school. Students and staff continue to function as normally in the school. Recovers all persons from outside of the building. All persons are to remain in classrooms/instructional areas. No movement in hallways or other common areas including the changing of classes. A Shelter In Place may be utilized when a hazardous condition has occurred Shelter In Place in a part of the school and keeping students Tier II Lockdown isolated is necessary. A Shelter In Place may also be utilized when police are conducting an investigation in a school and keeping the students from moving from class to class assists in the investigation. Classroom instruction may continue at the discretion of the school principal. Significant threat to the safety of the students and staff. All occupants seek cover and concealment to Lockdown Tier III Lockdown protect from active assailant imminent threat of harm. Directs all of the occupants of a specific classroom or area to immediately leave the room or area and relocate to another location under the care of a Room Clear New – N/A staff member. An example of when a Room Clear may be utilized when a student or staff member has a significant medical emergency.

Contact Information

Dan Keashen Harry Earle Chief of Police, Gloucester [email protected] Office: 856- Township Police Department 374-3505 Camden County Chiefs of Cell: 609- Police Association 820-9047 Prosecutor Warren Faulk Prosecutor, Camden County Office: 856- 225-8400

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Freeholder Scott McCray Camden County Freeholder 856-816- 1374 Jack Knoll Chief of Police, Waterford [email protected] Work: 856- Township Police Department 767-2134 President, Camden County Ext. 204 Chiefs of Police Association Cell: 609- 820-0916 Ann Volk Interim Executive County [email protected] 856-401- Superintendent 2400 Ex.2408 Camden County Chiefs of Police Association School Security Committee Harry Earle Same as above [email protected] Office: 856- 374-3505 Cell: 609- 820-9047 Chris Winters [email protected] 856-783- 1549 Randy Freiling Ra.freiling@clementon- Office: 856- nj.com 783-2271 Cell: 609- 820-0003

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