Belle Johnson
Troy University’s active shooter protocol is a simple three-word process: run, hide, fight.
In the case of a shooter on campus, students should run. If it’s not safe to do so, hide – a shooter cannot hurt someone they cannot find. In the worst-case scenario, fight to protect yourself and others.
One way to help law enforcement prevent tragedies is to report any suspicious behavior, in-person or on social media. After the shooting that took place three weeks ago at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, threats targeting other schools have been spreading online across the country.
“It puts parents in fear, [and] it puts faculty and staff in schools in fear,” said Troy University Police Chief George Beaudry. “School boards and principals, they have to decide, 'what are we going to do about this?'"
It's easy to believe online threats have no meaning behind them, but there are times when ignoring threatening comments can have tragic outcomes. Beaudry said it is always the best option to come forward after hearing or seeing something online or in person.
“If anybody sees anything at all, whether it be in writing on social media, whether it be something they hear in a classroom, whether it be something they hear at the grocery store – don't assume it's nothing,” Beaudry said. “If you see something, say something."
Beaudry said to be aware of concerning changes in behavior. Another warning sign is being overdressed in thick clothes during warm weather. Oftentimes, people come forward with information too late.
“We find out after a mass shooting incident that there were warning signs,” Beaudry said. “There were things that were done that people thought were odd but didn't report."
Students may be hesitant to speak up because they are worried about what will happen to someone after reporting them. However, Beaudry said it is not always necessary to detain someone.
“We can do threat assessments without [them] ever knowing that we're looking at it, and we can determine in a lot of cases that we don't have to go pick [them] up, so, I encourage people not to be concerned about what might happen if they report,” Beaudry said.
Beaudry wants people to know any threat should not be taken lightly, no matter what the intention behind it was.
“At the end of the day, there is nothing funny about it,” Beaudry said. “I'd rather have a hundred incidents of nothing than have one incident of mass violence."
To report suspicious behavior to the TUPD, call (334) 670-3215. In an emergency, call 911.