Safety

An active assailant is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined or populated area; in most cases, an active shooter will use firearm(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims.

Guidance to faculty, staff and students

In general, how you respond to an active assailant will be dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter, bearing in mind there could be more than one assailant involved in the same situation. Active assailant situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the assailant and mitigate harm to victims.  If you find yourself involved in an active assailant situation, try to remain calm and use these guidelines to help you plan a strategy for survival.  It is important for individuals to prepare both mentally and physically to deal with active assailant situations through training and education.

How to respond when an active assailant is in your vicinity:

Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life. Remember that students and visitors are likely to follow the lead of faculty and staff during emergency situations

• Call 911
  • When calling 911, state that you are calling from Florida Gulf Coast University, the building name, room number and reason for the call.
  • If you are in an office, stay there and secure the door. If you are in a hallway, get into a room and secure the door.
  • If you are outside, look for buildings, brick walls, vehicles or solid structures that will provide protection from bullets

Evacuate

If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises. Be sure to:

• Have an escape route and plan in mind, evacuate regardless whether others agree to follow or not
•  Leave your belongings behind
•  Follow the instructions of any police officers

Hide Out

If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active assailant is less likely to find you.

 Your hiding place should:

• Be out of the active assailant’s view
• Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (i.e., an office with a closed and locked door)

To prevent an active assailant from entering your hiding place:

• Lock the door
• Blockade the door with heavy furniture

If the active shooter is nearby:

• Lock the door
• Silence your cell phone
• Hide behind large items (furniture, cabinets, desks)
• Remain quiet

Take action against the active shooter

As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active assailant by:

• Acting as aggressively as possible against him/her
• Throwing items and improvising weapons
• Yelling
• Committing to your actions

How to respond when law enforcement arrives

Law enforcement’s purpose is to stop the active the active assailant as soon as possible. Police officers responding to an active assailant are trained to proceed immediately to the area in which shots were last heard; their purpose is to stop the shooting as quickly as possible.

• The first responding officers will normally be in teams of four (4)
• They may be dressed in regular patrol uniforms, or they may be wearing external bulletproof vests, Kevlar helmets, and other tactical equipment.
• The officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns or handguns, and might be using pepper spray or tear gas to control the situation.  
• Remain calm and follow officer’s instructions
• Put down any items in your hands (i.e., bags, jackets)
• Keep hands visible at all times
• Avoid making quick movements toward officers such as holding on to them for safety
• Exit in the direction the officers are entering the premises

The first officers to arrive will not stop to aid injured people; rescue teams composed of other officers and emergency medical personnel will follow the first officers into secured areas to treat and remove injured persons.

Keep in mind that even once you have escaped to a safer location, the entire area is still a crime scene; police will usually not let anyone leave until the situation is fully under control and all witnesses have been identified and questioned. Until you are released, remain at whatever assembly point authorities designate.

Active Shooter/Safety Downloads

Active Shooter Pocket Card
Active Shooter Pocket Card Spanish
Active Shooter How To Respond

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These emergency telephones are mounted on 9-foot steel columns, are wheelchair accessible, include instructions in Braille and have a highly visible push button on an illuminated telephone faceplate. A single touch on the push button summons campus officers, allows dispatchers to hear what is going on, pinpoints the exact location of the trouble, and triggers the bright blue police-type strobe light on top of the phone.

Code Blue Poles are located in all parking lots, student housing and in the academic core areas. If you experience an emergency, this is a way to call for assistance. When activated, you are immediately connected with the FGCU Police Department dispatcher.

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What to do if you are raped or sexually assaulted

• Get medical attention immediately. The primary purpose of a medical examination following a rape is to check for injuries and the presence of sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy (as a result of the rape). The secondary purpose of an examination is to aid the police investigation and legal proceedings through the recovery of evidence.
• Don’t bathe, douche or brush your teeth. Bathing or douching (brushing your teeth if oral sex is involved) is understandably the first thing you might what to do, but don’t. You might literally be washing away valuable evidence. Wait until after the medical examination.
• Save your clothing. It’s okay to change your clothes but save what you were wearing. Your clothing could also be valuable evidence. Place each item of clothing into separate paper bags if possible; if not, a single large bag will do. Don't use plastic bags. 
• Report the incident to the police. You can also report the incident to the Dean of Students in the Cohen Student Union.  It is up to you, but reporting a rape is not the same as prosecuting a rape. Rapists, even acquaintance rapists, are often repeat offenders. Law enforcement can only apprehend offenders when they know about the crime.
• “If you are the victim of a sexual assault and decide not to notify law enforcement, it is still important that you seek medical attention and contact a victim support resource.” 
  
• ARISE: Assault & Rape Information, Support, and Education https://www.fgcu.edu/wellness/arise/

Where to go for help

Victim Support Resources (On & Off Campus):

On Campus

Victim Advocate - Is also available to students who have been a victim of a crime. The Victim Advocate can provide student victims with their reporting options and may work with University officials to address students' concerns related to personal safety and connect student with internal and external resources. For more information, contact: Aisha Lewis, Victim Advocate at: alewis@fgcu.edu. 

Student Health Services (SHS) -Student Health Services does not perform forensic rape exams. However, SHS offers testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and Plan B emergency contraception. SHS can also direct you to other campus resources. SHS is at the Wellness Center and can be contacted at (239) 590-7966.

Student Health Information

Counseling and Psychological Services Office (CAPS) - Provides free confidential personal, emotional, and behavioral support services to all students dealing with trauma or victimization. CAPS can be reached at 239-745-3277 24 hours a day.

CAPS Information

Student Care Services - Is available to students who have been a victim of a crime. The Student Care Services Case Manager can provide student victims with help navigate campus and local processes. Student Care Services Email: care@fgcu.edu 

Student Care Services Information

Do you know someone in crisis, or in need of assistance navigating campus services? Submit a Care or Concern form: Concern Form

Student Conduct and Dean of Students - The Dean of Students can summarize the student conduct process if the accused is a student at FGCU.  You are encouraged to report so that we can look into the incident and do what we can to ensure this does not happen again to anyone else. The Dean will also provide information and resources available to assist you.  The Dean's office isin the Cohen Student Union, room 288 and can be contacted at 239-590-7900.

Student Conduct Information

File a Student Code of Conduct complaint:  File Report

Director of Equity, Ethics, Complaince and Title IX Coordinator - Precious Gunter, 239-745-4366, pgunter@fgcu.edu

Title IX Information

Contact the Title IX Coordinator if you:

1. Wish to understand your options if you think you may have encountered sex discrimination or sexual misconduct;
2. Learn of a situation that you feel may warrant a University investigation;
3. Need help on how to handle a situation by which you are indirectly affected;
4. Seek guidance on possible informal remedies or administrative measures to de-escalate or alleviate a difficult situation;
5. Have questions about FGCU’s policies and procedures.

File a Title IX complaint: File Report

Off Campus

ACT (Abuse Counseling and Treatment)- (Lee, Hendry, Glades Counties) A hotline counselor can speak to you about options, assist you in making a safety plan, identify resources and assist you in making an appointment for counseling. Services are free. 24-hour hotline is 239-939-3112. The forensic examination is completed at201 4th Street, Fort Myers, FL 33907. 

Project Help (Collier County) - The Hotline offers immediate crisis intervention, information, and referral services. 24hr hotline 239-262-7227.

C.A.R.E (Center for Abuse & Rape Emergencies) - (Charlotte County) - The Hotline offers immediate crisis intervention, information, and referral services. 24hr hotline 941-637-0404.

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The Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Act

In accordance to state statutes, registered sexual predators and sexual offenders must register with the Department of Law Enforcement. Convicted sex offenders from out of state must register in Florida with 48 hours of establishing residence.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has created a web tool for interested parties to search their database. This database may be used to find sex offenders and predators by name, address, city, county, or zip code. The main site is located at http://web2.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/sops/home.jsf, or you can call 1-888-357-7332, by email sexpred@fdle.state.fl.us, or by university specific search: https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/sops/universitySearch.jsf 

As part of the Jacob Wetterling Act, the Police and Safety Department at Florida Gulf Coast University will make notifications to the community of anyone who is enrolled or employed at the university.

Below are the current registered offenders that are students or employees at FGCU:

1. Joseph Anthony Saraceni Jr. W/M DOB: 07/08/1996- Sexual Offender (Released - Subject to Registration) 
Comments: Individual is not living on campus, but is registered for classes.

           

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Outdoor Siren:

As Part of the FGCU Alert System, the University has an outdoor warning siren for the main academic core of campus.

The siren is designed to be heard outdoors only. It is not intended to be heard within buildings. Although the primary purpose is the academic core, it is possible the siren will be heard in North Lake Village and South Village.

In the event of an emergency which threatens the safety of persons outdoors, the University may sound the siren. The alert tones are very loud and distinct and should be easily heard by anyone who is outdoors within the academic core.

Regardless of the reason for the siren, the course of action to be taken is to seek shelter in the nearest building and seek further information from other FGCU Alert components: text messaging, e-mails, Axis TV, FGCU homepage, RAVE Guardian App.

Examples of events which the siren may be activated include:

• Weather Emergencies
          Tornado Warning

• Other emergencies:
            Dangerous Situations

            Hazardous Conditions

• Administrative
            Testing- will be proceeded by text and e-mail announcement

Not all FGCU Alerts will require the use of the siren. The siren will be activated when the best course of action is for community members to seek shelter.

Law enforcement actions, such as the response to an active shooter, may or may not necessitate the sounding of the siren. Use of the siren or other components of the FGCU Alert System during any law enforcement activity will be at the direction of University Police.

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