If you are on duty & receive a bomb threat by phone, you should attempt to engage in which of the following?

If you are on duty & receive a bomb threat by phone, you should attempt to engage in which of the following?

• A. Hang up immediately and notify police
• B. Record everything that is said, then hang up and notify 911
• C. Keep the caller talking as long as possible and record everything that is said, and then notify 911 and the FLS Director
• D. Immediately rush the caller to reveal details

Answer: (C)

When a bomb threat comes in by phone, the priority is to gather actionable information while keeping people safe. Engaging the caller and keeping them on the line serves two crucial purposes: it buys time for responders and it allows you to extract details that will guide evacuation and containment efforts. By staying calm and asking clear, focused questions, you can learn important specifics such as where a device might be located, the estimated time of detonation, what the device looks like, and any other details the caller provides. Recording everything that is said creates an accurate, verifiable account for authorities and investigators, which helps ensure the right actions are taken and communications are precise. Once you have captured these essential details, you should immediately notify 911 and the FLS Director so safety protocols can be activated and coordinated. Rushing the caller to reveal details or hanging up right away often reduces the quality of information and can increase risk, so this approach—keep them talking, document everything, then escalate to emergency responders—is the safest and most effective course.

When a bomb threat comes in by phone, the priority is to gather actionable information while keeping people safe. Engaging the caller and keeping them on the line serves two crucial purposes: it buys time for responders and it allows you to extract details that will guide evacuation and containment efforts. By staying calm and asking clear, focused questions, you can learn important specifics such as where a device might be located, the estimated time of detonation, what the device looks like, and any other details the caller provides. Recording everything that is said creates an accurate, verifiable account for authorities and investigators, which helps ensure the right actions are taken and communications are precise. Once you have captured these essential details, you should immediately notify 911 and the FLS Director so safety protocols can be activated and coordinated. Rushing the caller to reveal details or hanging up right away often reduces the quality of information and can increase risk, so this approach—keep them talking, document everything, then escalate to emergency responders—is the safest and most effective course.