ACTIVE KILLER - WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Since the beginning of time, man has thought of ways of killing his fellow man. It started with a rock, then a club, knife, spear, bow & arrow, and finally firearms. The definition of an “Active Shooter/Active Killer” according to the Department of Justice is “…an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined area, and will continue to do so while having unrestricted access to additional victims”

A look at history in the United States and the world some of the more notable killings.

1966:  University of Texas when a male climbed a tower and shot and killed 17 and wounded 31. This is one of the first recorded in the U.S.

1984:  San Diego, California, a male walks into the San Ysidro McDonalds  where he killed 29 and wounded 19.

1999:  Columbine, Colorado, two students enter Columbine High School where they killed 15 and wounded 24. The aftermath of the shooting forever changed how law enforcement responds to “Active Shooter” incidents.

2007:  Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, Virginia, a male student chains the doors to a school building and killed 33 and wounded 17. The suspect studied the Columbine High School shooting and chained the doors to prevent the police from entering the building.

2016:  Pulse Night Club, Orlando, Florida , a male entered the night club and killed 49 and wounded 53. This attack was directed at the LGBTQ community.

2016:  Promenade des Anglais, Nice, France,  a male drove a large truck through the crowd celebrating Bastille Day, killing 86 and injuring 458 others. This caused police to re-assess the types of barricades used for special events.

2017:  Las Vegas, Nevada, a male kills 58, wounds over 400 and another 450 were injured in the ensuing panic. This is the highest mass killing death toll in the U.S.

2018:  Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida. A former student entered a school building and killed 17 and wounded 17. The former student was taken into custody a short while later off school grounds.

So, what do you do if you are at a movie theater, a mall, a school or a venue where a large crowd has gathered and you hear what sounds like gunshots, people screaming or people running away.  What can you do to help increase your odds of survival?
You can “RUN, HIDE or FIGHT”



 Run – Running away from the incident is your first option.

• Stay calm and take a couple of deep breaths.
• Don’t run in a straight line, try and run in a zig-zag, it's harder to hit a moving target.
• Leave your belongings behind; they will only slow you down.
• Try and run from cover to cover, (cover is something that will stop bullets) large trees, concrete poles, etc.

If you can't run, your next option is to hide.

• Find a location out of view of the shooter. Take as many people with you, but don’t let them slow you down.
• Lock the door if possible or barricade the door with what furniture  is available
• Stay away from windows, stay low to the floor.
• Hide behind desks, bookcases, file cabinets, etc.
• Remain quiet and silence your cell phone.
• Call 911 with information about wha is occurring, the suspect(s), their location, and the location of the wounded. 

Your final option to save your life or others is to fight.

• Look around for improvised weapons, scissors, chairs, spray cleaners, fire extinguishers (spray them in the face and then use it as an impact weapon) or any other object that can be used as a weapon.
• Attack the shooter in groups of people if possible.
• Keep attacking until the suspect is incapacitated or no longer a threat.
• Stay aggressive and win the fight!

Remember law enforcement is only minutes away.  When officers arrive at the scene remember to.

• Keep calm and obey instructions given by law enforcement.  
• Keep your hands visible at all times
• Don’t make any sudden movements toward the officers.
• Leave purses, backpacks and large bags behind. 

Remember an “Active Killer” incident can happen anywhere, any time and in any place so you have to always be mentally prepared to “Run, Hide, or Fight”.

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                      FREE WI-FI - USE WITH CARE!

 
While you are in your favorite coffee shop or bookstore using the “free Wi-Fi” there is a good chance that fraudsters are there too “working overtime” to steal your personal information.  Here are ten (10) tips Money-wise suggests you use to avoid the nightmare of identity theft.

1. Choose a secure network, meaning one that requires registration and a password.
2. HTTPS is better than HTTP because it is a website which is more secure, hence the “S” in HTTPS
3. Ask before you connect – ask an employee for the correct Wi-Fi name and connecting information so you are truly connecting to the correct network; not a sham network.
4. Hide your password as you enter it into your device.  Someone with sharp eyes may be watching you.
5. Inoculate your device.  Public Wi-Fi is vulnerable to viruses and malware.  Be sure your device is ready to defend against this “invasion”!
6. Use a digital security fence to protect your data.  Thus, even when entry is made into your device, the fence can protect your data.
7. Do not use an “automatic” connectivity option.  Instead, go through the work of joining a Wi-Fi network only when YOU decide to join; not when someone else makes the decision for you and without your knowledge.
8. Vet your apps!  This means cleaning out the old and keeping only those apps which you use on a regular basis.  Only use apps which require a 2-factor authentication.
9. Surf with care – avoid accessing your banking, investment and personal materials in a public Wi-Fi area.  Save that for a more secure environment!
10. If you can, purchase a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.  This would be money well spent to avoid the nightmare which comes with identity theft and the hours of work to repair your name and your credit.

As always, the Wilton Manors Police Department is at your service day or night, 24/7.  Feel free to visit us in person at our Front Desk in City Hall, 2020 Wilton Drive.  The LOBBY hours are Monday-Friday 7am-10pm and Saturday 10am-5pm; the lobby is closed on Sunday.