8430 - TELEPHONING OF BOMB THREATS

The following guidelines may be helpful when a telephone caller announces a bomb threat.

1. Be alert to any of the following background sounds that may give a clue to the location of the caller:
   
   radio playing, voices, sirens, construction noise, TV, whistles, traffic noise, bells
2. Ask the caller:
   
   Where is the bomb located?
   
   What time is it to go off?
   
   What kind of a bomb is it?
   
   What is your name?
   
   Where are you calling from?
3. Make a note about speech characteristics such as:
   
   male, female, low tone, high pitch, stutter or stammer, regional or foreign accent
4. Note impressions such as:
   
   Does the voice sound familiar?
   
   Does the caller sound sincere?
   
   Does the caller seem familiar with the school?
5.  Write down exactly what the caller says; ask him/her to repeat the message.
6. Try to signal someone about the nature of the conversation while you keep the caller on the line.