II. PURPOSE III. POLICY

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1 Effective Date: November 9, 2007 Subject BOMB THREAT RESPONSE Reference CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSE Distribution ALL Accreditation Standards: Reevaluation Date Number 4:103 Special Instructions No. Pages 18 Issued by: Charles W. Davall, Jr., Deputy Director I. BACKGROUND Bombs, explosive devices and the threat of their use have become the primary weapons of the terrorist. They are also used as a means of retaliation by employees with real or fancied grievances as well as by criminal extortionists. A bomb threat is an effective means of disrupting the day to day business of the University. Bomb threats are reported by various means including by telephone, mail or by . The person calling/sending a bomb threat typically wants to create an atmosphere of anxiety and panic which will in turn, result in a disruption of the normal activities at the facility where the device is purportedly located. Panic increases the potential of personal injury and property damage. Persons who have definite knowledge or believe that devices have been placed, sometimes report bomb threats and want to minimize personal injuries or prevent property damage. These callers may have been personally involved in placing such devices or have become aware of such information. 1

2 Terrorist or politically motivated bombers more often select targets according to potential publicity and political gain that may be achieved by bombings. Criminally motivated bombers more often select targets for reasons related to revenge, extortion, intimidation, etc. II. PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to describe the departmental procedure for handling bomb threats received directly by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) or made known to the department and provides guidance to officers in evaluating the threat to determine its authenticity. III. POLICY A. The primary concern in a bomb threat situation and/or actual bomb emergency (i.e., presence of an explosive device or an explosion) is the safety of everyone in close proximity to the emergency and those emergency personnel responding to the call. B. Personnel should never consider a bomb threat to be false or routine until all appropriate action has been taken to determine the authenticity of the threat. Responding personnel must initially treat each incident as though an actual bomb is present. C. The decision to evacuate a building(s) is a difficult decision because of the prevalence of bomb threat hoaxes and the disruption and panic that a building evacuation causes. This decision must be made after a careful and timely review of all relevant information. D. DPS officers will work closely with other University staff members (school deans, building managers, etc.) to take the most appropriate action given the case specific facts when making the decision whether to evacuate a building, conduct an appropriate search, and re-entry to the building. E. DPS and building management have a responsibility to notify building occupants if a bomb threat is received. This notification will occur after the DPS supervisor and the building supervisor confer and decide on the appropriate response. 2

3 IV. EVALUATING THREAT AUTHENTICITY: A. Each bomb threat should be evaluated on its own merit using the information in this policy and/or guidance from outside resources such as the FBI and the NJ State Police Bomb Squad. B. Specific bomb threats are less common, but more likely to involve actual explosive devices. Specific threats usually provide information regarding devices, placement, rationale for attacks, and the time when devices are scheduled to detonate. C. Non-specific bomb threats generally provide little additional information other than that devices have been placed in locations as stated by the person reporting the threat. D. Although bomb threats are more likely than not to be hoaxes, DPS staff members will not automatically conclude a threat is a hoax until a careful evaluation of the threat has been done. E. The presence of certain information generally and proportionally increases the likelihood that bomb threats are specific and credible. This information includes, but is not limited to the following: 1. Identifiable organizational involvement 2. Identifiable specific causes or reasons 3. Exact times when devices are to be detonated 4. Intimate knowledge of the type or nature of the reported device 5. Specific targets named have a high degree of sensitivity 6. Specific persons targeted because of notoriety 7. The existence of suspicious devices or packages F. Certain information generally and proportionally decreases the likelihood that bomb threats are specific and valid. This information includes but is not limited to: 1. Absence of specific threat information (generally the opposite of IV. E) 2. Previous reception of threats resulting in finding no devices 3. Threats that would disrupt educational activities such as testing or causing employee or student dismissal 4. Absence of suspicious devices or packages 3

4 5. Period of time between when the threat was sent and when it was received. (Note: Clock activated devices restrict the threat time to twelve (12) hours or less.) 6. Other universities or locations that have recently received similar bomb threat hoaxes. V. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER RESPONSIBLITIES: [Accreditation Standard ] A. When a telephoned threat is received by a communications officer (CO), the CO shall attempt to do/determine the following: 1. Complete a Bomb Threat Guide Card in the orange binder 2. Keep the caller on the line as long as possible 3. Exact location of the bomb 4. Type of bomb/explosive device 5. Time the bomb is set to detonate 6. Reason for the bomb threat 7. Ask him/her to repeat the message 8. Record every word spoken by the subject 9. Inform the caller that the building is occupied and the detonation of a bomb could result in death or serious injury to many innocent people 10. Pay particular attention to background noises which may give a clue as to the location of the caller 11. Listen closely to the voice (male/female), voice quality (calm, excited), accents, and speech impediments 12. Utilize any available technology at his disposal to identify the source of the call (i.e., caller ID, *57, *69) 13. Pull the building binder and ID the chemicals (if any) listed for the building. 14. Print a map of the building from GIS and map incident on the Map Board in the Communications Center. 4

5 B. Upon receiving a bomb threat on the phone or through another means of reporting, (i.e. , letter, message left on answering machine), the CO shall immediately do the following: [Accreditation Standard ] 1. Dispatch an officer to the scene to investigate; 2. Notify the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the shift; 3. Notify the Communications Center manager. VI. INITIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OIC: A. The OIC, upon notification of a bomb threat, will assess the situation and notify DPS command personnel, Communications Center Manager, investigative personnel, and/or specialized units. B. Respond to the scene, assume command (and announce over the radio), assure that other DPS resources are dispatched. C. Contact the building manager and inform him/her of the threat. D. Working with the building manager, discuss the relevant facts of the threat and make the appropriate decision about the course of action to follow (search/not search, evacuate/not evacuate, etc.) E. Ensure that the investigating officer has obtained all pertinent information that may lead to the discovery of the device and the caller. F. Due to the danger of possible bomb detonation from radio/cell phone transmissions, direct that all police radios/cell phones inside of the building are turned off. (NOTE: It is impossible to stop and impractical to attempt to stop all radio and cellular telephone messaging by building occupants. Use of cell phones and radios by DPS personnel is however discouraged. VII. COMMAND AND CONTROL: [Accreditation Standard ] A. In all incidents, Unified Command principals will be followed. B. If the incident is just a hoax or suspected hoax, the Incident Commander will be the ranking DPS officer or his/her designee. C. If there is an actual explosion, Incident Command will shift to the ranking officer from the local municipal police department. D. If the incident requires resources from outside of Princeton University, the Princeton Borough or Princeton Township Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Coordinator may take over coordinating the 5

6 incident response. This decision will be made after the IC discusses this issue with the borough or township OEM coordinator. E. In both municipalities, the OEM Coordinator serves in the police department. F. If there is a fire as a result of the explosion, the ranking officer from the Princeton Fire Department typically will be the IC until the fire is extinguished. The DPS commander shall work closely with the IC in a unified command structure. When the fire department response is over, command reverts back either to DPS or the local municipal police department as appropriate. VIII. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER: A. Upon arrival at the scene, the investigating officer will assume responsibility for conducting the preliminary investigation of the bomb threat. B. The investigating officer shall ascertain specific information from the communications operator/call taker, if applicable (i.e. caller's voice, background noises, and the time elements involved). C. If an actual explosion has occurred, the investigating officer shall complete an investigation report, however, the primary responsibility to investigate the incident resides with the local municipal police department. IX. DUTIES OF THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER MANAGER A. Assure that DPS command personnel are aware of the incident. B. Notify the Office of Communications. C. Initiate and maintain an incident log. D. Assure that the other emergency response personnel, as needed, have been notified. E. Act as the central point of communications between DPS and external and internal departments. F. Work with the Office of Communications to send out emergency notifications to community members. G. Coordinate communications with University personnel and outside agencies. 6

7 X. DECISION/AUTHORITY TO EVACUATE: A. Generally, there are several options available when responding to a bomb threat. Those options include the following: 1. Take no action and ignore the threat 2. Search with personnel without evacuation 3. Search with personnel and bomb detection dogs without evacuation 4. Initiate a partial evacuation (floors, sections of the building, voluntary evacuation) and search (with dogs/without dogs) 5. Conduct a complete evacuation and search (with dogs/without dogs) 6. While a blanket policy to evacuate upon receipt of any bomb threat could be established, such a policy would result in a considerable amount of lost time from work/classes; increase the risk of injury caused during evacuations; create traffic problems in/near the impacted area; exhaust DPS resources; increase the chance of the University receiving future bomb threats because causing evacuation and panic is exactly what the terrorist/person was trying to accomplish. B. Typically, whenever DPS responds to a facility in which a bomb threat has been made, the decision to evacuate rests with the DPS in consultation with facility management. 1. If during the course of the DPS investigation evidence is found that makes the threat credible, DPS shall order an evacuation. 2. If the DPS OIC identifies any situation that would lead him/her to believe that the occupants are exposed to a significant risk or the threats are reasonably confirmed, consistent with the DPS responsibility to protect the community from unnecessary risk, evacuation shall be ordered. 3. If the bomb threat is a specific threat that lists a detonation time, the building shall be evacuated one hour prior to and one hour after the detonation time. During that time-no one, including DPS officers, should be in the building. After the above time frame has past, the building should be searched by DPS officers, staff, and if available, bomb detection dogs. 7

8 XI. EVACUATION [Accreditation Standard ] A. In case of evacuation, DPS will assist building staff to ensure an orderly process. All persons will be kept at a distance of not less then 300 feet from the building and behind cover. B. If evacuation is initiated, DPS shall be cognizant of the risk of secondary devices and plan appropriately, both in terms of the actual evacuation as well as identifying an evacuee staging area. C. The following methods should be considered to notify building occupants to evacuate: 1. In person-room by room 2. PTENS (PU mass communication system) 3. Campus Safety Alert D. Building occupants should be instructed to do the following: 1. Look for suspicious items in their work area and if a suspicious package is found-not to touch the item but to contact a search team member. 2. Remove their personal items, particularly bags, with them when they leave. 3. Do not lock their office doors. E. The DPS supervisor or other officer assigned shall attempt to secure a building occupant manifest to assist in assuring that all building occupants have indeed been evacuated and accounted for. F. Post alert posters on all entrances advising that facility is closed. XII. SEARCHING [Accreditation Standard ] A. Since building employees/area occupants are most familiar with the buildings and its contents, utilizing these individuals to assist in the search is the best method for conducting a rapid, thorough and efficient search. B. The decision to search a building will be made by DPS personnel. Whenever there is a bomb threat, at minimum, an exterior search of the building will be conducted and an interior search of the areas that the public has access to. 8

9 C. The building manager is responsible to provide personnel to DPS officers to conduct the building search. D. Persons conducting the search are to search with their eyes not their hands. Searchers are not to touch, cover or move any suspicious item or suspected explosive device. E. As a general rule, the exterior of the building should be searched first and the inside of the building second. F. Once it is decided to search the premises, the DPS OIC will designate who will participate/assist in the search, taking into account the size of the building to be searched. G. DO NOT UTILIZE RADIOS OR CELL PHONES when approaching or working in or near the search area. A mere one tenth of a volt of electricity can detonate an explosive device. H. Exterior Search: 1. The exterior search should start at the edge of the street where the building is situated. The search team should assume the responsibility for searching the following areas: a. Unidentified vehicles parked on the street or within the parking area of the school. b. Sewer drainage ditches or runoffs in the street or sidewalk area. c. Mailboxes and any ornamental structures on the premises. d. Trash receptacles. e. Electrical generators and all other power sources on the exterior surface. f. Shrubbery on the grounds surrounding the building. g. Exterior building ledges, overhangs, exterior lighting fixtures, window boxes. 9

10 I. Interior Search: 1. When possible, each search team should consist of a minimum of two individuals-one building employee and one member of DPS or other law enforcement unit. 2. DPS personnel should coordinate the search so as to be thorough but not repetitious. 3. The interior search should focus immediately on areas where the general public has access beginning at the bottom level of the building and continue to the top floors. 4. The search must include the below listed areas: a. basement areas b. furnace rooms c. electrical closets d. lobbies e. restrooms f. cleaning and storage closets g. stairwells h. elevator shafts i. room-by-room search of the facility (done last) 5. Custodians, if available, should be instructed to check their closets and storage areas for any unusual/suspicious objects, and the facility supervisors should relate to their subordinates to check their work areas for unusual/suspicious objects. 6. If possible, each search team should be equipped with a flashlight and a copy of the building floor plan. A floor plan of the building (if available) will be utilized to identify areas of search responsibility to the search teams. 7. The DPS search team leader will provide the search team members with the following general search instructions: a. Their only mission is to search for and report suspicious objects. b. Upon entering and conducting the search, should stop, look and listen. c. Look for any item which is foreign to that particular area which could be considered suspect. 10

11 d. Listening for audible sounds may detect a timing device. e. Search teams should search a room in the following manner: 1. floor to hip area 2. hip to head area 3. head to ceiling area 4. search hidden and enclosed areas f. Once a room has been thoroughly searched, a designated mark should be placed on the door to indicate to other searchers that this room is clean. Post-it notes can be used for this. g. If a suspicious item is located in a particular room, the searcher should immediately notify the person in charge of the search team. The suspicious item should not be moved but a full description obtained and relayed to the Incident Commander. The other searchers should continue to quickly complete their search to determine if another suspected device is present. h. The search team locating a device shall communicate appropriate information to the supervisor (not via radio/cell phone), including the location where the object was found and a description of the object. Mark the room in which it was found, then continue to search for additional devices. J. If after completing the search no bomb/suspicious packages are found, the DPS OIC shall inform facility management and allow re-entry to the building. K. Notify the Communications Center about the results of the search and that re-entry to the building will commence. L. Re-entry notification can be made by the following methods: 1. PTENS a. Note: PTENS contacts persons through various means including cell phones. Even though there is constant cell phone use going on in a building at all times, the PTENS feature of contacting community members should not include the cell phone option. 2. DPS Alert Line 3. Campus Safety Alert 11

12 4. In-person M. The decision to re-enter the building should be made jointly by DPS personnel and building personnel. N. Using Bomb Detection Dogs 1. Bomb detection dogs may be used to assist in searching a building or area for bombs. 2. Bomb detection dogs are most effective when there is no one present in the building but can still be used when there are people present. 3. Bomb detection dogs should be used whenever there is a credible specific bomb threat and when a specific time frame is given for detonation. (Note: If a specific time is given, no one should be allowed in the building one hour prior to and one hour after the designated time.) 4. In non-specific, non-credible bomb threats, the Incident Commander should consider requesting bomb detection dogs, particularly in residential complexes. 5. Bomb detection dogs should be requested whenever suspicious package/item is found such as an abandoned backpack or box. If the suspicious package looks like it is possibly an explosive device, the building must be evacuated and package checked by bomb squad personnel-not a bomb detection dog. 6. The following agencies have bomb detection dogs that may be available for searching: a. Mercer County Sheriff s Department b. West Windsor Township PD c. Ewing Township PD d. Hopewell Township PD e. NJSP 12

13 XIII. OFFICER-IN-CHARGE RESPONSIBILITIES IF AN ACTUAL OR SUSPECTED DEVICE IS FOUND OR IF AN EXPLOSION OCCURS: A. Assure that DPS command personnel, including the Communications Center Manager, are aware of the situation; B. Ensure immediate evacuation of the facility; C. Request additional personnel, as appropriate (i.e., traffic control, perimeter control, etc.); D. Ensure that appropriate municipal agencies have been notified, (i.e. law enforcement, Princeton Fire Department, Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, local OEM (through the local police department); [Accreditation Standard ] E. Establish an outer perimeter for traffic control; [Accreditation Standard ] F. Establish an inner perimeter for security and pedestrian control at a distance of at least 300 from the building; G. Consider calling in on-coming shift to assist with the operation or regular patrol duties; H. Establish a Command Post (upwind, away from parked vehicles/trash receptacles (see XV); I. Direct that the following additional resources are contacted: 1. NJSP Bomb Disposal Unit 2. Mercer County Prosecutor s Office Counter Terrorism Unit 3. FBI-Trenton Field Office 4. Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF); J. Designate a Staging Area for external resources to respond to and assign an officer to act as the Staging Manager. 13

14 XIV. PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTING THE N.J. STATE POLICE BOMB DISPOSAL UNIT: [Accreditation Standard ] A. Department personnel may request the NJ State Police Bomb Disposal Unit by calling the Regional Operations Intelligence Center (ROIC) at (609) or SAFENJ. Note: All other NJSP resources (bomb detection dogs, TEAMS, aviation) are also available through the ROIC) B. When requesting the NJ State Police Bomb Disposal Unit, the requesting individual shall provide the following information to the NJSP call taker: a. Name b. Name of the Department c. The type of incident (i.e., suspected device, item that already exploded, etc.), and d. The exact location of where the NJSP Bomb Squad is needed (directly to the scene; staging area) C. Upon their arrival, the NJSP Bomb Squad will assume authority over how to proceed, render safe, and/or detonate the suspicious object. However, the Incident Commander shall retain authority over the scene. D. The DPS supervisor at the scene shall continue to offer assistance (i.e., perimeter control, crowd control, etc.) to the NJSP Bomb Disposal Unit. XV. ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMAND POST:[Accreditation Standard ] A. In some cases, establishing a forward command post for bomb threats is not practical or possible because of staffing issues and the need for tasks to be performed. Even if a command post is not established, a person must be in charge and establish command. Typically the senior ranking officer will assume command. B. A forward command post will be established if outside resources are requested. Typically, these resources could include bomb detection dogs, fire department, first aid squad, NJSP Bomb Detection Unit and other police agencies. 14

15 C. If a suspected explosive device is found requiring the assistance of the NJSP Bomb Squad, the OIC shall designate an area for a command post and request command personnel from all outside agencies respond directly to the command post site. The command post should be strategically located as to minimize the chances of being a victim of a secondary device. D. The types of agencies represented within the Command Post, as well as the Command Post chain of command itself, needs to remain flexible as it may change as the dynamics of the scene changes (i.e., bomb threat vs. located device vs. device detonated with active fire vs. follow-up investigation). The Command Post may include representatives from some or all of the following: 1. DPS 2. Local Municipal Police 3. Local Office of Emergency Management 4. Princeton Fire Department 5. Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad 6. Mercer County Prosecutor s Office 7. FBI 8. NJSP Bomb Squad XVI. BUILDING NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES: A. The Communications Center Manager or her/his designee is responsible to contact the Princeton University Office of Communications to send out a Connect-Ed message or other message delivery system that is appropriate to the building occupants and/or the University community. B. The P-TENS cell phone notification option should not be used as it could detonate a bomb. C. Contact to the University community can also be done by use of a Campus Crime Alert notification system or Tiger TV. D. When the all clear is given, this announcement should be placed on the DPS Alert Line by the Communications Center Manager. 15

16 XVII. SCENE PROTECTION/EVIDENCE COLLECTION: A. If an explosive device has been detonated, the scene shall be treated as a crime scene and will remain protected (via perimeter security area) until appropriate specialized units arrive to begin a coordinated scene processing. These specialized units include the Bomb Squad, the Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit, and ATF. XVIII. NEWS MEDIA: [Accreditation Standard ] A. In bomb hoax situations, the Princeton University Office of Communications is responsible for all media contact unless otherwise designated. B. If an explosion occurs, the Princeton University Office of Communications will coordinate media contact with the Mercer County Prosecutor s Office. The DPS will issue no press releases and will not grant any interviews with the media. C. Access to the scene will be restricted to emergency personnel. The news media, upon scene stabilization, may be allowed access to the scene for photo opportunities. However, said access shall be restricted and controlled by law enforcement. The decision as to authorize access as well as the degree of access will be made by the highest ranking on-scene member of the lead investigatory agency. D. Media access to investigative personnel for interview purposes shall be arranged for at a secured off-site location, preferably one that gives law enforcement the ability to screen persons entering the press area by screening them for proper State of NJ Press Credentials. XIX. UNIVERSITY NOTIFICATIONS: A. Upon receipt of a bomb threat, the following University officials must be notified: 1. Mark Burstein, Executive Vice President (by admin) 2. Laurel Harvey, General Manager of Safety and Administration (by admin) 3. Lauren Robinson-Brown, Director-Office of Communications 4. Cass Cliatt, Director of Media Relations-Office of Communications 5. Kathleen Deignan, Dean of Undergraduate Students 16

17 6. Joy Montero, Dean of the Graduate School (if in graduate housing or in a facility where graduate students work 7. Garth Walters, Director-Environmental Health and Safety (if in a laboratory or place where chemicals are stored) 8. Chad Klaus, General Manager of Services-Facilities Department 9. Registrar s office if classes need to be cancelled. B. The above persons must also be notified when thee are significant changes in the situation such as a building evacuation being ordered, a suspicious package found, an explosion, building re-entry authorized. C. The Communications Center Manager or her/his designee is responsible to make the above notifications. XX. TACTICAL FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS (TFR) A. A TFR is a regulatory action issued via the U.S. Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) system to restrict certain aircraft from operating within a defined area on a temporary basis, to protect persons or property in the air or on the ground. Should an event occur (e.g., Active Shooter, explosion) whereby tactical operations are in progress and there is a real concern that the suspect(s) may possess the capabilities of observing said real-time operations on television, thereby putting at risk the safety of emergency response personnel and/or innocent victims, or that such broadcast may impede/interfere with law enforcement operations at an on-going event. B. The lead law enforcement agency may pursue a TFR by contacting the Operations Manager in Charge of either the NY Center (Ronkonkoma, Long Island, NY has jurisdiction over most of New Jersey) or the Washington Center (Washington D.C. has jurisdiction over the southern portion of New Jersey) and requesting a TFR. 17

18 AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION Agency Telephone Number(s) Contacted/By Whom Princeton Borough PD (609) Princeton Township PD (609) Mercer County Sheriff s (609) Department West Windsor PD (K-9) (609) Ewing PD (K-9) (609) Hopewell PD (K-9) (609) Princeton Fire Department (609) / Princeton First Aid & (609) / Rescue Squad NJSP Bomb Squad (609) Regional Intelligence (609) Operations Center (ROIC) Mercer County (609) Prosecutor s Office FBI-Trenton 1 st : (862) SSA Bill Evanina 2 nd : (609) Mercer County (609) (Casey Prosecutor s Office-Public DeBlasio) Information Office United States Army Bomb Squad EOD Unit (609) or 6156 Fax: (609) Laurel Harvey Office: (609) Home: (609) Cell: (609) Office of Communications (609) ODUS (609)