Empowering Employees to Report Concerns for Proactive Active Assailant Intervention

The increasing worry regarding shooter incidents has typically been addressed with reactive training methods centered on response tactics. However recent patterns and data indicate a shift towards proactive prevention through situational awareness training. This article emphasizes the significance of these strategies and highlights their success with recent case studies where early intervention has stopped potential threats.

Exploring the Transition from Reactive to Proactive Approaches

While reactive training—knowing how to respond during an attack—remains crucial, a proactive approach that stops incidents before they happen is essential. Identifying warning signs and troubling behaviors through situational awareness can greatly mitigate these risks. This strategy aligns with FBI data showing a slight decrease in active shooter incidents, indicating that proactive measures are having an impact.

Situational awareness training plays a role in equipping individuals with the necessary skills to recognize and report early indications of potential violence. This type of training goes beyond observation; it provides comprehensive education to help people understand and interpret various behaviors and environmental cues that could precede violent acts. More than identifying a danger, situational awareness training enables individuals to accurately assess the seriousness and urgency of a threat ensuring appropriate and timely responses.

Real Life Examples of Acting Before It is Too Late

The following are recent situations where taking proactive steps successfully stopped potential disasters, underscoring the importance of being aware of one’s surroundings and taking action.

Murrieta, California (17 August 2024): A 13-year-old former student posted threats against Warm Springs Middle School on Instagram. Quick reporting by individuals who saw the threats resulted in a police response that averted a potential attack. The authorities apprehended the teenager, and a search of his home uncovered four firearms in a relative’s room.

Broward County, Florida (August 2024): Two students in Broward County were taken into custody for making threats against their schools on Snapchat. They were allegedly angry about issues at school, including new cell phone rules. The timely actions by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, driven by monitoring of social media activity, prevented potential incidents right before the start of the school year.

Liverpool, New York (26 February 2024): Todd Battin, a 53-year employee at Package Corporation of America was arrested after making multiple threats to harm his colleagues. Employees reported his alarming behavior and weapons display at work, which led to his arrest and the confiscation of several firearms and ammunition from his residence.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (22 February 2019): Authorities apprehended an individual following reports from coworkers that he repeatedly made threats about causing harm at the workplace. A search of his home uncovered a collection of firearms and ammunition.

Long Beach, California (12 January 2023): Law enforcement officers arrested a man in proximity to his workplace after receiving information about his possession of illegal firearms. The subsequent search of his residence revealed a variety of weapons, including assault rifles.

Advocating for Change

These incidents serve as reminders of the importance of being vigilant and reporting suspicious activities promptly. The reports lead directly to intervention from authorities, which helps ensure our public areas, workplaces, and schools are safe and secure. The proactive approach saves lives.

To successfully transition to a proactive security approach, organizations should nurture an atmosphere where employees and students feel both empowered and responsible for reporting concerning behaviors.

Here are steps institutions can take to establish such an environment.

Empower observers. Encourage individuals to report behaviors for their own safety as well as that of others. Support intervention efforts and equip organizations with the tools needed to handle these reports effectively by forming threat assessment teams. Teams should offer assistance and resources to address concerning behaviors, and, when necessary, involve law enforcement.

Ensure reporting safety and accessibility. Simplify the reporting process. Prioritize the privacy of both reporters and subjects. Maintain anonymity or confidentiality to encourage reporting. Provide reporting options and train threat assessment teams on handling reports effectively.

Transparent follow-up procedures. Establish a system for following up on reports. Be transparent about actions taken. Use communication to reduce uncertainty and build trust in the reporting process. Show that reports are handled promptly and share data publicly to highlight the impact of reporting.

Promote a positive environment. Create a culture that values and respects reporting. Reward those who report incidents emphasizing their role in promoting collective safety.

Looking Ahead

The decline in active shooter incidents shows that proactive prevention strategies can be effective. It is crucial to continue empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to intervene before a threat turns into an attack.

It is crucial for businesses, organizations and schools to prioritize training on situational awareness, creating a culture where safety is a shared concern. Instead of just responding to active shooter incidents, let’s shift our focus to preventing them. By doing we can save lives and prevent heartbreaking tragedies showcasing the success of this proactive approach.

Gene Petrino is cofounder of Survival Response LLC. He is a decorated law enforcement officer, former SWAT commander, and educator. For nearly 30 years, he has gained in-depth expertise in tactical command, security threat analysis, and active shooter instruction.