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Quinsigamond's Campus Police Offer valuable information to the QCC Community

March 2018
  • QCC’s Community Outreach Officer, Catherine Dixon and Deputy Chief of Operations Stephen DiGiovanni
    QCC’s Community Outreach Officer, Catherine Dixon and Deputy Chief of Operations Stephen DiGiovanni
  • Deputy Chief of Operations Stephen DiGiovanni explains safety techniques.
    Deputy Chief of Operations Stephen DiGiovanni explains safety techniques.

Today, active shooter threats seem to permeate the news. At Quinsigamond Community College, the school’s Campus Police have taken a proactive approach to educating the public and offered numerous educational sessions throughout the month of March. These sessions are geared to offer tangible approaches to help you, should you ever be faced an active shooter situation.

QCC’s Community Outreach Officer, Catherine Dixon and Deputy Chief of Operations Stephen DiGiovanni explained some of the key factors that can help you in the event of an active shooter situation.

The officers showed the video, “Run, Fight, Hide,” which was produced by the City of Houston, TX under a Department of Homeland Security grant, stopping it periodically to explain a particular section.

Officer Dixon noted that your safety should be first and foremost, and in the event of a situation, seconds count. It’s imperative to remain calm and to use your best judgment.

“Leave your belongings and get safe first, then call 911 or 4444 (the QCC Campus Police emergency number) if you have a phone, “Officer Dixon said. “Tell the officers what’s going on, what you heard and the location.”

Should you decide to hide, act quickly and quietly, closing and locking any doors if possible and placing heavy objects in front of them; turn out lights and shut off all cell phone ringers/vibrators. You should hide behind heavy objects or in the corners of the room getting out of view of the shooter, Officer Dixon continued.

The officers stressed that if you commit to fighting, you are fighting for your life.  You should fight with full force and use what is available to you to help immobilize the attacker. Items such as a fire extinguisher, keys or any heavy object that will assist you.

“Improvise anything,” Deputy Chief DiGiovanni said, adding that generally these physical aggressions last approximately 30 seconds.

They also discussed the hierarchy in situations such as these where multiple law enforcement groups will be assisting the campus police.

“Four or more officers will come in first and their number one priority is to take the threat out,” Officer Dixon said. “The next team will deal with the injured and other teams will go room by room. When they get to your room, you must put your hands up and obey all directions that are given.”

Deputy Chief DiGiovanni reminded those in the audience that QCC Campus Police are fully trained for any situation that could arise on campus. In Fall of 2017, the Quinsigamond Community College Police Department received state Accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.

 “We are the only community college that is an accredited police department. This means this police department has the best practices to keep you safe,” Deputy Chief Stephen DiGiovanni said, adding that QCC Campus police train multiple times a year with their counterparts.

“We are considered special state police officers,” he continued. “There’s a very intense process to work at QCC and be a QCC police officer.”

The officers also addressed fire safety procedures and protocol, in the event of a fire.  Officer Dixon added that if you hear a fire alarm do not wait to act, immediately leave the building. Campus evacuation maps are in every room and show first and secondary evacuation routes out of the buildings.

QCC Campus Police are open 24-hours-a-day, seven-days –a week, 365 days of the year. They are located on the first floor in the rear of the Athletic Center in room 136AC.

The department also has an anonymous text-a-tip app that can be downloaded for free or a person can go online to the Campus Police webpage to text a tip.

“Everything is on the website if you have any questions,” Officer Dixon added.

Visit Campus Police for more information. 

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