Bomb threats should always be taken very seriously. Such threats may be made via emails, texts, handwritten notes or, most often, by phone. The two most important things to remember in every bomb threat scenario are to (1) stay calm and (2) call, or have someone call, the Amherst College Police Department (ACPD) immediately at 413.542.2111. If a threat is made via email, do not delete the message; forward it to the ACPD. If it is made via handwritten note, call the ACPD immediately and handle the paper as little as possible while waiting for the ACPD to arrive.

  • If a bomb threat is made on the phone, a different course is in order. You should have someone else contact the ACPD at 413.542.2111 from another phone. If this is not possible, call the ACPD from another phone after the caller hangs up. While the caller is on the phone, keep them on the line for as long as possible. Do not hang up, even if the caller does. Wait for a police officer to arrive.
  • If possible, try to remain unemotional and “interested” and try to keep the caller talking in order to gather and supply authorities with as much information as possible.
  • If your phone has a display, write down or copy the number and/or letters that appear on the display.
  • Try to remember as much about the call/caller as possible and provide that information to the police.

Download a PDF of the Amherst College Emergency Response Handbook.