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A Call for Real Security in Our Denver Schools - NOW

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A deep dive into the world of Security

The issue of security theater has become increasingly prevalent within the security industry, leading to heightened risks and even fatalities for security personnel. Security theater is characterized by maintaining the appearance of security without possessing the necessary training, resources, and equipment to effectively protect clients or the public. Regrettably, the security industry is saturated with companies engaging in security theater, which renders them ill-prepared for genuine threats or active shooter situations. I recently came across a tragic incident on LinkedIn involving a security guard who was killed in a mall during an active shooter situation. The guard courageously attempted to rush people to safety but was likely underpaid, unarmed, under-trained, and unequipped to handle such a threat, largely due to their company's reliance on security theater. Shockingly, I later read that another individual within the same company revealed that they had lost two employees in similar circumstances within a year. This ongoing sacrifice of security professionals' lives for the sake of cost-cutting and theatrics is unacceptable. The recent tragic loss of this security professional underscores the urgent need for effective security measures and highlights the importance of prioritizing high-quality, armed services over cost-effective, unarmed alternatives. In these challenging times,when law enforcement staffing faces difficulties, the role of security professionals becomes even more crucial. The St. Louis school shooting in October 2022 illustrates this point, as one of the seven unarmed security guards present saw the shooter before shots were fired but was ill-equipped to stop the attack, resulting in the loss of two innocent lives. As industry leaders, it is our responsibility to equip security professionals with the finest training, resources, and equipment, enabling them to effectively prevent, deter, secure, and neutralize threats as they arise. The question is not "if" but "when" such situations will occur, and we must ensure our personnel are well-prepared for these moments. Despite this, we continue to see prominent security companies within the industry prioritizing profits and contracts above the lives of their employees by engaging in security theater. Regardless of whether the public wants to admit it or not, private security is a form of law enforcement. While not government-run or employed, private security is hired to protect the lives, assets, and relationships of clients, the public, children, and other private individuals. As security providers, it is our job to educate the public about the real way to provide security services and how to adequately protect the public and our clients in the event of a real threat. If we choose to under-train, under-equip, and under-prepare our security professionals, we are opting to value money over the value of the security professionals’ lives. In light of these unfortunate events, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting both our clients and the public, while also increasing the likelihood of security professionals returning home safely after serving their communities.

Looking at the available resources and security planning that makes a difference when an emergency takes place.

Where do these recent events leave school security and worried parents?

Focusing on how to reduce risk with effective access control and security protocols.

Over the last decade, most people have been made acutely aware of the sharp increase in the amount mass shootings and their lethality in the US. By nature, these attacks can occur without obvious warning signs and are often perpetrated at work and school by the employees and students themselves. Many individuals and organizations remain unprepared to deal with these threats and don’t know what specific signs potential mass shooters exhibit. While these traits by themselves are not necessarily indications of a potential shooter, a combination of these factors clearly exhibited in an individual may be a cause for concern. Many of you will recognize that these factors, such as suicidal thoughts and feelings of isolation, are not something that can be easily observed in an individual. This is why getting to know the mental states of the people in your community, school, or work environment is absolutely crucial. Any effective security program will always make an effort to integrate into the community, be personable with individuals, and take these warning signs into account. Any mass shooter prevention plan has to revolve around keeping a pulse on the individuals within the group, and that starts by being able to recognize the following traits: 1. Most mass shooters are insiders at their workplace, university, or school. In fact, 91% are employees, 89% are college/university students, and 85% are K-12 students. The overwhelming majority are motivated by grievances that are often directed at specific individuals within the community. Recent life crises play a major role in shooting motivation, but fame-seeking is also an increasing reason, as many shooters who want to gain attention and make a statement know that they will garner significant media attention. Sadly, there is still a perception that a mass shooter is a purely external threat, which leads businesses and schools to focus their resources on strangers rather than their own community members. 2. 80% of mass shooters were in a notable crisis prior to their mass shooting. This life crisis can take place days, weeks, months, or even years before the shooting is committed. These crises are often unresolved and cause crisis signs such as increased agitation, abusive behavior, feelings of isolation, losing touch with reality, depressed moods or mood swings, and an inability to perform daily tasks. Over 80% of mass shooters exhibit one or more of these signs, and almost 38% show 5 or more of these signs. Increased agitation is the most common sign, with 67% of mass shooters showing increased agitation shortly before their mass shooting. An employee or student who is uncharacteristically showing one or more of these signs may be a cause for concern if their life crisis is unresolved. 3. Many mass shooters feel isolated and are suicidal before, during, and after the crime is committed. While most mass shooters don’t exhibit signs of psychosis, they are often suicidal, with 31% being suicidal before their mass shooting. Many view their mass shooting as a final exit while being able to get back at the people who, in their view, wronged them. In addition, it’s common for mass shooters to feel isolated, believing that the whole world is against them, which can motivate them to take action. At HCCI, one of our core strategies is community integration. We recognize that effective and professional security services need to account for not just external threats, but internal ones too. By taking steps to get to know community members, our security professionals are better able to detect and respond to internal disturbances, helping to prevent mass shootings and other crimes. This is just one of the many ways HCCI provides superior and professional security services. Reach out to HCCI if you want to explore extended security options. Ref: https://www.theviolenceproject.org/key-findings/ HCCI Professional Protective Services LLC 262 Havana St. Ste 222 Aurora, CO 80010 Phone: (720) 476-0312 Fax: 720-912-4224