Don’t Live In Regret, Report a Threat

Could the tragic movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., this summer been prevented? An investigation following the incident revealed that the University of Colorado, where alleged shooter James Holmes had previously attended, was contacted by Holmes’s psychiatrist with concerns of his behavior. According to media reports no follow-up action was taken.

Skully knows the TAT motto, do you?

Millersville University established its Threat Assessment Team, otherwise known as TAT@MU, after the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech, when investigations there revealed Virginia Tech did not have a specific office, team or person where isolated warning signs could be reported, aggregated and analyzed.

“Although there are no guarantees that any of us will be safe from accidents or intentional harm wherever we may be, the University believes deeply in the TAT motto ‘Don’t live in regret, report a threat’ and the principle of prevention that the motto embodies,” said Dr. James McCollum, executive deputy to the president, chief of staff and TAT@MU chair.

It is a shared responsibility of faculty, staff and students to immediately report any situation that could possibly result in harm to anyone at the University. Incidents of violence, threatening behavior, unwanted pursuit, harassment and behavior indicating a student, faculty or staff member posing a risk to self or others should be reported to the TAT@MU.

The TAT team consists of University faculty and staff with expertise in human resources/employee assistance, law enforcement/threat assessment/tactical applications, University operations, medical knowledge, social equity and student affairs. The TAT team will assess reports concerning disruptive, inappropriate and/or threatening behavior. Other individuals may also be consulted as needed such as a faculty member who has a concern about a student or a supervisor who has information concerning an employee.

Any member of the campus community who becomes aware of a person or troubling situation that is causing serious anxiety, stress or fear should call the TAT@MU at 717-872-3717. In cases where a person may pose an immediate risk of violence to self or others, call 911.

For more information, visit the TAT@MU website.