lockdown drill procedure - shades

[DrPizza]

Not sure if many companies have them, but most schools do.

Let's say, it's known that there's an armed intruder on the school's campus.
Do you think the shades should be down? Or should the shades be up?
And, why?

I'm amazed that in one district - on recommendations from the police, shades are down. And, a few districts over, on recommendations from the police, shades are up.

As far as I can see, shades up makes the police's job easier (once they arrive). But, with shades up, particularly on the first floor, I'd think it makes classrooms more vulnerable.

 

[skyking]

1) shades up.
a) perp can look in and shoot with accuracy.
b) police can look in and verify safety.
c) police can look in, find perp and take action.

2) shades down.
a) perp can still shoot in randomly.
b) police can operate around school presumably without being observed.
c) police cannot look in and verify security or occupancy.
d) perp cannot either.
e) cannot see out to observe safe conditions to exit via window.

Feel free to add to the points here.
I have only one observation. If I were looking for an armed intruder, going up to a window and looking in is a very good way to get shot in the face. If conditions are bad for distance observing you will be at a huge disadvantage.

 

[randomrogue]

Shades down makes little sense. That tells the intruder there are targets inside. Keep them up and stay down on the floor hidden. Personally I'd want the police to be able to see in and more importantly to be able to see out so I could make a run for it if needed. I can't remember which school shooting it was but they were all jumping out the windows to escape.

 

[skyking]

Added point 2e above.

 

[randomrogue]

Looking it up they jumped out of the windows both at Columbine and Virginia Tech.

 

[cwjerome]

There's probably no real right or wrong answer to this. If you know about where a shooter is, go the other way. If you're stuck or don't know where he is, lock things down as tight as possible, pray for help, and wish you had a firearm.