On Thursday, November 20th, 2025, the UIS Police Department held an Active Threat/Preparedness training at the Brookens Auditorium. The presentation was led by Chief of UIS Police Ross Owens and UIS Police Lieutenant Darric Miller and focused on active threat scenarios on campus and how members of the campus community can react and should behave in those situations.
“This training is essential to help our community recognize the importance of identifying concerning behavior and reporting it appropriately.” Said Chief Owens.
Owens noted that college campuses schools are unique targets because of their nature of being open and accessible by the public. The campuses, he said, “large with many buildings, open spaces, and foot traffic. The inherent nature of higher education promotes the respectful debate of opposing ideas, which can bring with it heightened tensions.”
The Run, Hide, Fight principals taught during the training give individuals a plan even before a situation occurs. Lt. Miller suggested evaluating new spaces when you encounter them.
Look for the exits and areas you can hide or barricade yourself inside. The UIS Police Department recommends contacting them for an Active Assailant Space Evaluation for offices or meeting places on campus.
Chief Owens stated that one of the most common misconceptions that students and campus employees have about active threat situations, is “The belief that police will immediately be at their location when police are called.”
He stressed that this is why its important to know how they can best respond in a dangerous situation, “Individuals must be prepared to make life-saving decisions in the first minutes.”
This is central to the Run, Hide, Fight principles taught during the training. According to Lt. Miller, individuals need to take the actions needed to survive the threat.
Chief Owens acknowledges that this critical information can provoke alarm in some individuals. “This is a scary topic for most people who don’t prepare for these scenarios, and we recognize that. The reality is that more rigorous training is going to be the most effective, but we offer other forms of lower intensity trainings for those who may be more sensitive. We also communicate with transparency to help avoid surprises.”
Communication during these situations is the key. Another resource presented was the Rave Guardian App. This app has several safety features including a Panic Button that sends your GPS location to campus police in case of an emergency. You can even anonymously text or call the campus police if you notice something unsafe or unusual.
The UIS Police Department suggests all students and staff on campus to install this useful app. Also, if a threat occurs on campus, the Police will send notifications out through the Rave Guardian App, texts, emails, and social media.
Anyone interested in request this type of training, an Active Assailant Space Evaluation or other related trainings can contact the UIS Police Department for more information.
