Active Shooter Strategy - One Bite at a Time

Several years ago, I conducted an Active Shooter training for a client’s employees. The Director of Security was a friend and newly in his position. He indicated he had inherited very little, and he seemed overwhelmed. As we discussed the current facility’s strategy for an Active Shooter event, he looked at me and said, “Your training is the strategy.” I was happy to hear that he knew the value of the training and explained that you do not eat an elephant all at once – it is one bite at a time until you get it done.

The idea of implementing an Active Shooter mitigation plan for a business or other institution can be daunting. Only California requires it and unfortunately, it still lacks the seriousness needed in the United States. Many Directors of Security punt the responsibility completely. Some make a half-hearted effort to check a box. Some, like my friend, fully tackle it.

The process starts with the humility to ask for assistance; it requires intelligence to balance the needs of the organization and the safety of the employees and requires courage to implement the needed mitigation steps. The Director of Security listened to my training a number of times, made recommendations, and asked very smart questions. He came up with a two-year plan to slowly implement various physical security protocols, and he showed tremendous courage to fight for the money from his organization – which is not as easy as it sounds.

Last month, I returned to the client’s headquarters and was impressed by the security posture of the facility. As I entered the lobby, I noticed a uniform police officer standing in a tactical position, observing everyone in the lobby, not on his phone and not sitting down – awesome.

Why is having an armed deterrent in the lobby so important? Because data from an FBI study of 12 years of Active Shooter events indicates 74% of assailants enter through the front door. Some are outsiders, some are insiders, and some are recently terminated – so please stop calling it “Active Intruder” training.

An intruder is a stranger, and the assailant could be John from accounting……

As I continued to assess the physical security, I saw a strong access control procedure that did not exist before and watched as visitors were entered into a visitor notification system with a picture identification. As I made my way to the auditorium for the presentation, I noticed the bathrooms had turn bolt locks inside so an employee can barricade/lockdown vs. “hide.”

During the training I asked the employees if they were using a mass notification system – so they can be made aware of an incident and take steps to save themselves. The employees told me they all had the system on their phones, and they knew where the lockdown rooms were – on each floor of the building. I was so proud.

Can an Active Shooter event still happen at the facility? Sure. But the building is favorably positioned to mitigate the damage and end the event quickly - as opposed to other similarly situated businesses who are using hope as a protective strategy. I cannot publicly thank the Director of Security, as I never discuss clients, but he knows who he is and how proud I am of his efforts.

Live with Courage -