Threat Assessment Procedure

Policy

To protect persons and property and to minimize the disruption of college operations, all bomb threats and similar threats involving the Pierce College District will be assessed and evaluated to determine the most appropriate course of action. Following best practices and guidance from the Department of Justice and Department of Education, a Threat Assessment Team will methodically evaluate each incident to determine its threat level (low, medium or high). The response to any threat will be commensurate with the assessed threat level.

Purpose

To protect persons and property and to minimize the disruption of college operations, establish a systematic response to bomb threats and similar threats involving the Pierce College District.

Background

This procedure is based on best practices and guidance from the United States Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools. Making a false bomb threat is a federal offense punishable under United States Code 18-844e, with a penalty of up to ten years in prison, $250,000 fine, or both. These penalties also apply to juvenile offenders.

Threat Assessment Team

The Threat Assessment Team (TAT) is a group of trained professionals who, together, know the school, the students, the staff and the community. The make up of these teams may vary based on the site of the threat, day of the week, time of day and individual accessibility.

TAT Representatives

Campus Safety

  1. Senior Campus Safety officer on site

Emergency Management

  1. District Director of Safety & Security
  2. Director of Facilities & Construction Management

Administration

  1. Chancellor
  2. President
  3. V.P. of Administrative Service
  4. V.P. of Learning & Student Success
  5. Director of Student Success or Director of Student Support Services and Student Life

Assessment and Evaluation

The threat will be assessed and evaluated by the TAT. The assessment criteria of the TAT must remain confidential to protect the integrity and effectiveness of the process. Individuals who may have a specific connection to the threat or knowledge pertinent to the assessment may be asked to provide information to the TAT.

The TAT will classify the threat risk level according to the following criteria:

  • Low Level of Threat: A threat which poses a minimal risk to persons or property.
  • Medium Level of Threat: A threat which could be carried out, although it may not appear entirely realistic.
  • High Level of Threat: A threat that appears to pose an imminent and serious danger to the safety of others.

Evacuation

The TAT has the authority to order an evacuation. Evacuations may also be ordered by external agencies such as police, fire or emergency management. If a campus wide evacuation is necessary, notification will be made via the fire alarm system and the emergency evacuation procedure will be followed by all persons. Evacuations may be limited to a single floor or building depending on the assessment of the threat. In this case notifications of evacuation will be made in person.

Reporting

If a bomb threat is received, it must be reported immediately to Campus Safety and then to 911. Campus Safety will gather all available information and notify the TAT.

  • Fort Steilacoom Campus Safety: 253-444-0325
  • Puyallup Campus Safety: 253-444-0325

Notification

Campus Safety will notify the Executive Team that a threat was received. This correspondence will include: date, time, location or individual referenced in threat, assigned risk threat level (low, medium or high) and action taken. Individuals or specific groups who have threats directed at them will be notified.

Information released to the public will be in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (classification, case number, date/time reported, date/time occurred, general location, disposition).