The information below answers commonly asked questions regarding the potential danger of an active shooter (i.e. person with a gun or other weapon) on campus.
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Active Shooter Protocol
Question: Are there plans in place to deal with someone who has a gun?
Answer: The responsibility for dealing with an incident of this nature falls upon the City of Santa Clara Police Department. The Chief of Police and Sheriff have adopted a county-wide protocol called the "Active Shooter Protocol," which is employed in the following situations:
- When ongoing acts of violence are taking place
- The situation is not conducive to negotiations
- Where the acts of violence are the objective
- Where the crime scene cannot be contained and lives continue to be threatened
The protocol was developed as a result of the Columbine High School shootings in Columbine, Colorado (1999), and a planned attack at nearby De Anza College in Cupertino, California (2001).
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Santa Clara Police Department
Question: If Santa Clara University is dependent upon the response of the City of Santa Clara Police Department, then how close is the Police Department to the campus?
Answer: The city's police headquarters are directly across the street from the main entrance to the University. In addition, mutual aid agreements with surrounding jurisdictions provide additional law enforcement and emergency resources to any situation at the University.
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SCU as an Open Campus
Question: Could the University be a possible target for such a tragedy?
Answer: Unfortunately, yes. Like nearly all college campuses, people can come and go freely. One preventative measure is for all campus members to be diligent in reporting activity and potential incidents to the proper authorities.
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Reporting Suspicious Persons & Activities
Question: Do students know the right person or organization to contact if they have suspicions about others?
Answer: If students are ever in doubt or suspicious, then they should contact the City of Santa Clara Police Department, Campus Safety Services, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and/or Office of Student Life.
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Campus Lock Down
Question: Are classrooms equipped for a "lock down" situation?
Answer: Not all classrooms can be locked from inside the room. Each classroom has a telephone, but most classroom doors have "panic bars" (required by code) which are "dogged down" with an allen wrench on a daily basis by Campus Safety Services. Our ability to "secure in place" during campus emergencies is one of the many items under review.
