Active Threat Response

Policy: Active Threat Response

Author: Chief Joseph M Hallman

WILEAG Standard: N/A

Issue Date: January 15, 2012

Reviewed Date: March 19, 2026

Revised Date: March 19, 2026

 

Purpose:

It is the responsibility of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Police Department to protect life by any legal means possible.  The safety of all individuals involved is paramount in an active threat situation.

Policy:

The application of force will consist of any legal means available to make contact and stop the active threat.  The primary objectives will be:

  • Apprehend the offender(s), or stop the active threat with the amount of force that is reasonable given the circumstances.
  • Minimize risk to all individuals present, including the rescue of victims or hostages.
  • Preserve the crime scene.
  • Provide medical assistance.

Definitions:

  1. Active Threat: Ongoing activity that is not contained and there is an immediate risk of death or serious bodily injury to potential victims.
  2. Dynamic Tactical Situation: A situation that is evolving rapidly along with offender’s actions requiring immediate action to prevent further loss of life or injuries.
  3. Static Tactical Situations: A situation that is not evolving or in motion.  The offender appears to be contained and no longer an immediate threat.
  4. Barricaded Person/Sniper: An incident which one or more persons takes refuge at a location, either using or threatening the use of force to repel attempts to apprehend. 
  5. Contact Team: The first responding police officers, up to four, with the primary responsibility to pursue the active threat.  The primary objective is to contain or terminate continued life-threatening actions of the offender(s).  Due to the primary objective/responsibility, the contact team will not be responsible for a thorough building clearing, or provide victim assistance.
  1. Hostage Situation: An incident which one or more persons take and unlawfully hold another person(s) against his/her will with either the use of or threats of force.
  2. Mass Shooting: An incident in which one or more persons inflict death or grievous bodily harm on multiple victims, in multiple consecutive acts, by means of firearms or other deadly weapons.  Incidents generally occur at a targeted physical location against multiple random victims.
  3. Rapid Response: Training in tactics and techniques related to patrol officers and supervisors responding to life threatening situations prior to the arrival of specialized emergency response teams.  Rapid response allows an immediate response to containment or termination of continued life-threatening actions of the offender(s).
  4. Rapid Response Team: Formation of police officers, into three-to-five-person response teams.  Ideally each team member is assigned a specific responsibility, with the purpose to contain or terminate the threat.
  5. Rescue Team: Formation of police officer into three-to-five-person rescue team.  The purpose of the team is to enter areas cleared by the response team to aid in evacuation of bystanders and allow for medical treatment of injured persons

Procedures:

  1. Ensure that the Platteville Police Communications Center has been notified.
    1. The Platteville Police Communications Center shall be informed that the University Police frequency is to be dedicated to emergency radio traffic only, until authorized to resume normal traffic.
  2. An immediate request for mutual aid to the Platteville Police Department, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Crisis Resolution Team, and the Wisconsin State Patrol units in the area, shall be issued.
  3. Officer(s) arriving should make personal safety a primary consideration, and select a location of cover, and if possible, a location that is suited to initial security of the perimeter.  The officer(s) should ensure that all responding officers are aware of the location in order to form the initial Contact Team.
    1. Actions should include:
      1. Obtain as much information as possible from witnesses/victims regarding the location/direction of travel, suspect(s) description/names if known, weapons, locations of injured, etc.
      2. Securing the area from vehicle and pedestrian traffic
      3. Evacuation of all bystanders
      4. Establishing a contact team
      5. The contact team should make entry at a location other than a main entrance or target area to avoid ambush or possible explosives
      6. If possible, at least one officer equipped with a rifle/carbine
      7. One officer will be directed to provide all radio communications, which will include locations cleared by the contact team, and reports of injured to the rescue team.
  4. Additional Officers arriving should be directed to form a rescue team with the primary purpose of evacuation of personnel.
  5. Actions of first response supervisor/senior officer
    1. Establish an inner perimeter
    2. Identify a staging area for responding emergency personnel.
    3. Ensure emergency medical staff has been contacted, including local hospitals.  (Maybe facilitated by activating Grant County Emergency Management.)
    4. Notification of University Administration
    5. Make arrangements for a hostage negotiator to be available
    6. Have a Facilities Management person on site for any questions regarding building security, updated floor plans, utilities, areas of concern (chemical, storage, etc.)
    7. Provide a secure area for all witnesses/victims to be debriefed, interviewed, and evaluation for post-traumatic stress concerns.  (Arrangements should be made to have counselors on site/available)
    8. Ensure the crime scene is protected after the threat has been eliminated
    9. Madison Crime Lab has been requested
  6. Follow Up
    1. All agencies involved will be requested to attend a debriefing of the incident
    2. Arrangements will be made for a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing for all emergency responders.
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