Ottawa buildings unprepared for active shooter, report finds

The City of Ottawa has adopted a new policy to prepare for armed attackers after an internalOttawa police report found that office buildings need better security measures in the wake of the Oct. 22 shootings.

The police report, which will be finished in June, was undertaken after Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was gunned down at the National War Memorial and shooter Michael Zehaf-Bibeau stormed Parliament Hill's Centre Block.

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CBC News learned the report, which will not be released to the public,revealed the large-scale police response contributed to mass confusion around downtown Ottawa.

"Not everyone has a policy or procedure in the event of an active shooter in the building, or a threat in environment around your building," said Insp. Mark Ford, a member of the Ottawa police emergency operations directorate.

Ford said police learned about this gap when officers enacted a large safety zone on Oct. 22.

The perimeterstretched several blocks around the war monument and Parliament Hill, which pushed pedestrians away and kept people inside buildings within the perimeter.

Kids well-trained, parents aren't, police say

Officers discovered many people stood near windows watching the action outside, which could have been within the line of fire. Others had darted from their buildings before theofficial police lockdown was lifted.

"Our kids are well-trained, well-educated and well-rehearsed, but the parents in the community have a lot to learn," Ford said.

Ottawa City Hall has heeded the advice from police, by reviewing its security policies and reaching out to federal departments such as the Treasury Board, saidPierre Poirier, the city's chief of security and emergency management.

Working with Ottawa police, Poirier saidthe city now has an "active attacker" policy that closely mirrors how schools deal with nearby dangers.

"They use the idea of lockdown, secure and safe facility and safe zone," Poirier said.

"We align the language so parents know how their kids are taken care of, and so parents know what to expect in terms of procedures here at City Hall and Constellation Place."

Poirier said staff members are currently being educated on the proper procedure for different threat levels. That includes when doors should be locked, when and where people should hide and who is in charge of giving those orders.