EAST LANSING, Mich. — How sure should campus police be before sending out an alert about an active shooter? It's a question FOX 47 News asked MSU Police after a false alarm at the University of Michigan Saturday.
According to MSU Police, the moment they receive information about mass violence or harm, they send out an alert via text, email, and/or voice message.
"It's important to think about it, have a plan, and if it did occur, we want people to be prepared," said Michigan State University Police Capt. Doug Monette.
MSU Police subscribe to a program called "Run, Hide and Fight."
First, police advise people to run if they can get out safely, if not, hide behind some type of barricade.
The third option, Monette said, "and the subject then comes into the room and you have to fight, by all means necessary, fight. You are potentially fighting for your survival," said Monette.
U-M didn't wait for confirmation on Saturday. U-M first told students to run, hide or fight. Then followed up by telling them there were reports of an active shooter.
Police gave the all clear after confirming it was a false alarm caused by balloons popping near a vigil for the New Zealand mosque shooting victims.MSU Police told us that they would do something similar rather than take a chance."When we send out an alert, we will later send out an additional, with potentially some additional information or update on what has transpired," said Monette.
Even an alert can trigger trauma. MSU Police said the university is set up for when comfort is needed.
"Through the counseling center and through various other outlets to help people get a better understanding and to feel better," said Monette.
MSU offers information to the "run, hide and fight," active shooting protocol online [police.msu.edu], as well as hosting a variety of programs in the community and campus.
University of Michigan police said there were more than 10 phone calls made of possible shots fired in Mason Hall, an academic building on campus.
An alert was sent out just before 5 p.m., and the official all clear wasn't given out until nearly three hours later just before 8 p.m.
