MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Following the tragic Umpqua Community College shooting in Oregon, University of Memphis Police sent out a safety message to everyone on campus Friday.
It included safety tips in the event that a shooter opens fire.
WREG spoke with students on campus.
Not everyone had read the email, but those who had, said it got them thinking.
Chief of Police Bruce Harber sent the email to faculty, staff, and students.
“I don’t know why I think the worst in any situation,” said senior Muchir Abdo, thinking about emergency preparedness.
In the email, Harber said his officers have been through training with local police and federal law enforcement.
It included recommendations from the Department of Homeland Security, regarding active shooters.
The tips suggested finding a way to run or escape, which means one ought to have an escape route and plan in mind.
They also listed tips for hiding, such as going some place out of the shooter’s view and blocking the entry to the hiding place.
Only as a last resort, the tips discussed trying to fight the shooter in an effort to incapacitate him or her.
“That’s against natural instinct to run towards the shooter, you know, but I think we should go over some drills,” said freshman Justin May.
“Just in case something like that happened on campus, we would be very informed,” said junior Amber Parker.
No one with University of Memphis Police was free to interview Friday.
The email said it is important that students sign up for the TigerText service to receive alerts.