Virginia Tech Police Department

Bomb Threat 

A bomb threat may come to the attention of the receiver in various ways. It is important to compile as much information as possible. Please DO NOT attempt to notify or evacuate an entire building as this could consume valuable time that would be better used to gather important information. Please keep in mind that the vast majority of bomb threats are false and are primarily intended to elicit a response from the building occupants. In the case of a written threat, it is vital that the document be handled by as few people as possible, as this is evidence that should be turned over to the Virginia Tech Police. If the threat should come via e-mail, make sure to save the information on your computer. Most bomb threats are transmitted over the telephone; thus, the following instructions are provided with that assumption.

Immediate Action

1.    Remain calm and immediately refer to the attached Telephone Bomb Threat Checklist. If applicable, pay attention to your telephone display and record the information shown in the display window.

2.    The objective is to keep the caller on the line as long as possible to attempt to gather as much information as possible. Try not to anger the caller at any time.

3.    While engaging the caller, pay attention to any background noise and distinctive sounds (machinery, traffic, other voices, music, television, etc.).

4.    Note any characteristics of the caller’s voice (gender, age, education, accent, etc.).

5.    Attempt to obtain information on the location of a device (building, floor, room, etc.).

6.    Attempt to obtain information on the time of detonation and type of detonator.

7.    Immediately after the caller has ended the call, notify the Virginia Tech Police at 911.  If calling from a cell phone please inform the 911 operator you are on the Virginia Tech campus so they may transfer you.  If the threat was left on your voice mail, do not erase.

8.    Notify the immediate supervisor within your work area.

Decision

The decision to evacuate a university facility shall be made after a thorough evaluation of the information available, including but not limited to:

·                           the nature of the threat

·                           the specificity of location and time of detonation

·                           circumstances related to the threat (i.e. political climate, series of events leading to the threat, etc.)

·                           discovery of a device or unusual package, luggage, etc.

The Virginia Tech Police will dispatch a search team and will organize the search. Other emergency units will be alerted to the threat and asked to stand by for further instructions. Persons leaving the building should report to a specified location for further instructions.

Subsequent Procedures/Information

Staff can be of assistance to the Virginia Tech Police in several ways. Staff will be more familiar with their work area than the police officers. As the search is conducted, staff may be asked to identify boxes or objects in their work area. If an evacuation of an academic building is necessary, classes will be dismissed or relocated. If a suspicious device, package, bag, etc. is discovered, the Virginia Tech Police will notify the local bomb squad for assistance. The decision to resume normal activities in the building will be made.

Telephone Bomb Threat Checklist

Time: Call received ___________am/pm   Terminated __________am/pm

Date: ______/______/______

Exact Wording of the Threat

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Gender of Caller: _____________   Race: _____________________________

Age: ___________________   Length of Call: ___________________________

Number at which call is received: __________________________________________

Questions you should ask:

A.       When is the bomb going to explode?

B.       Where is the bomb right now?

C.       What does it look like?

D.       What kind of bomb is it?

E.        What will cause it to explode?

F.        Did you place the bomb?

G.       Why?

H.       What is your address?

I.          What is your name?

Voice Description:

___   Calm   

___   Nasal

___   Angry   

___   Stutter

___   Excited   

___   Lisp

___   Slow   

___   Raspy

___   Rapid   

___   Deep

___   Soft   

___   Ragged

___   Loud   

___   Clearing Throat

___   Laughter   

___   Deep Breathing

___   Crying   

___   Cracking Voice

___   Normal   

___   Disguised

___   Distinct   

___   Accent

___   Slurred   

___   Familiar

___   Whispered

 

Recognize Voice? If so, who do you think it was? _______________________

Background sounds:

___   Street noises   

___   Factory Machinery

___   Television   

___   Animal noises

___   Voices   

___   Clear

___   PA System    

___   Static

___   Music   

___   Local

___   House noises    

___   Long Distance

___   Motor   

___   Booth

___   Office machinery    

___   Other __________________________

Threat Language:

___   Well spoken   

___   Incoherent

___   Foul   

___   Taped

___   Irrational   

___   Message read by threat maker

Name: _________________________________

Position: _______________________________

Phone Number: _________________________

 

 

 

 

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     Last updated October 20, 2009
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