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Home » University Police » Emergency

Workplace Violence

            Northwest Missouri State University is concerned about the safety of its employees and is committed to maintaining a work environment that is secure and free from incidents of violence or threats of violence. The University will not tolerate incidents of violence because such incidents are contrary to and interfere with University objectives. Acts of aggression are often precursors to actual violence so the University will give immediate attention and serious consideration to all reports of incidents of aggression and will initiate appropriate actions.

            Our policy defines aggression broadly as any of the following: unwelcome forceful physical touching; intimidating, threatening or hostile actions; intimidating, threatening or hostile communications, whether oral, written, or nonverbal, made in person or communicated by or any other means; vandalism; arson; sabotage; throwing objects; unauthorized possession or use of a weapon on University property; or any other acts or communications of a similar menacing nature. This policy also covers interpersonal conflicts occurring off campus that may create the risk of aggression resulting from such conflicts being carried out on campus.

            The Vice President of Human Recourses and Organizational Effectiveness (VPHROE) is responsible for the overall implementation and oversight of Northwest's work place aggression plan.  After University Police responds to a threat or act of aggression, the VPHROE will determine whether further investigation is required and if so the manner of that investigation and then will oversee any such investigation of the incident.  The VPHROE, the Counseling Center Director, and University Police Chief shall also be charged with reviewing incidents of aggression to identify ways in which similar incidents can be prevented.  The VPHROE shall also coordinate all critical incident debriefings of students, staff or faculty that are affected by the incident.

            All Northwest employees are required to immediately report any acts or threats of aggression occurring at Northwest:

• If urgent, call University Police at 562-1254 or call 911.
• For help with non-urgent threats, call:
• o HR at 562-1127
• o Counseling Center at 562-1220

All employees and students who apply for or obtain a protective or restraining order (Ex Parte, Full Order of Protection, Child Protection Order) which lists Northwest property as being a protected area must provide University Police with a copy of the order.

Recognizing Early Warning Signals

Recognizing early warning signals can help prevent acts of aggression from escalating to a more serious level or to actual acts of violence.  Such signals include but are not limited to the following:

• n Any threats of harm, verbal or nonverbal
• n Intimidation of others by word or actions
• n Carrying a concealed weapon or flashing a weapon to test reactions
• n Hypersensitivity or extreme suspiciousness
• n Extreme moral righteousness
• n Unable to take criticism of job performance
• n Holding a grudge, especially against a supervisor
• n Often verbalizing hope for something to happen to the person against whom the employee has the grudge
• n Expressions of extreme desperation over recent problems
• n History of violent behavior
• n Extreme interest in weapons and their destructive power to people
• n Fascination with incidents of workplace violence and approval of the use of violence under similar circumstances
• n Intentional disregard for the safety of others
• n Destruction of property

Each of the above could cause concern, but a combination of these items requires action.

Suggested Guidelines "Dos" and "Do Nots"

When confronted with an act of aggression consider the following guidelines:

• n DO project calmness: Move and speak slowly, quietly and confidently.
• n DO focus your attention on the person to demonstrate you are interested in what he or she has to say.
• n DO maintain a relaxed yet attentive posture and position yourself at a right angle to the person.
• n DO acknowledge the feelings of the other person. Indicate that you can see he or she is upset.
• n DO NOT use styles of communication, that generate hostility such as apathy, "brush off", coldness, going strictly by the rules, or giving the "run-around".
• n DO NOT reject all of the person's demands from the start.
• n DO NOT make sudden movements that can be seen as threatening. Notice the tone, volume, and rate of your speech.
• n DO NOT challenge, threaten, or dare the person. Never belittle the person or make him or her feel foolish.
• n DO NOT try to make the situation seem less serious than it is.
• n DO NOT invade the aggressor's personal space. Make sure there is a space of 3' to 6' between you and the other person.