In the wake of all school shootings, our political leaders, the public, schools, and law enforcement always meet the situation with emotional false promises of action. The city we protect is no different. The finger-pointing that followed the East School shooting in Denver is unhelpful and symptomatic of a more significant problem: intentional misdirection, lack of accountability, and inaction that has followed every school shooting in recent years. We must recognize that this issue extends beyond Denver; our leaders grandstand and make false promises to pacify the masses until it all blows over.
Sadly, that only takes two weeks, and then the public forgets and goes about their complacent lives.
As the CEO/Founder of HCCI Protection, an industry-leading security company, I believe we must cut through the grandstanding and focus on real, tangible solutions that provide true safety in our schools.
The situation is dire, and the time for action is NOW.
The Harsh Realities
The harsh fact is that Denver, like every city in the US, is suffering from law enforcement staffing issues. From extreme ideologies like “defund the police” to officers resigning due to age or not being allowed to do their job to low recruitment numbers, our law enforcement professionals cannot staff schools and the streets while being the emergency response force.
Denver is short close to 200 officers to meet their everyday needs, and they cannot staff schools. This is why the necessity for private security and law enforcement collaboration is so crucial to the safety of our communities and schools.
False Solutions
It’s not enough to vow to put School Resource Officers back in schools or fall back on ineffective measures. The following are NOT answers:
- Avoiding armed security: Saying “I don’t want guns around my children” is misguided when the bad guy is going to be armed.
- Complacency: Thinking “it will never happen here” or relying solely on lockdown procedures or locked doors is a fatal error.
- Undercover volunteers: This risky approach lacks liability coverage and often the necessary training and certification. Most people have at most training geared around personal and family safety and defense, not security training focused on broader protection. This narrow focus can lead to significant gaps in security, placing lives at risk and potentially leading to legal and financial liabilities.
- Only relying on locked doors and lockdown procedures: This approach is only as effective as those who follow the procedures. In many recent shootings, the assailant shot through glass, broke the lock, or simply walked through a propped-open door to wreak havoc. Locked doors are essential but are not the sole solution; they must be part of a broader, more comprehensive security strategy.
The Marine Corps Wisdom: Complacency Kills
A propped open door at a school in Colorado- A state ridden with school shootings. Sent to us from an EP client’s children’s school
The refusal to act, or the failure to adequately prepare, simply because “it has never happened here and it won’t happen here,” leads to tragedy. These false measures and complacent attitudes can lull us into a dangerous sense of security, leaving our children at risk. The time for real, substantive action is now, and we must rise to meet the challenge with rigor, responsibility, and resolve.
The Call for Real Security
The answer to the complex issue of school security is not found in half-measures or complacency. The solution must be comprehensive, involving properly trained, professional, and armed individuals. It’s not about lethal force for its own sake but equipping security personnel with the necessary tools and training to protect lives through effective prevention and responsible use of force.
Uniformed Presence: A visible presence of professional, uniformed security serves as a deterrent, not just a reaction. A uniform represents authority that can’t be ignored. It symbolizes understanding urban environment tactics beyond personal, law enforcement, or military training. The tactics required to secure a school or urban environment differ from war or law enforcement, and those skills may not translate to these unique challenges.
The Right Tools:
The assailants in these scenarios will be armed with something—a gun, a sharp object, a bomb, or other weapons. Stopping an armed person requires properly trained professionals equipped to match and neutralize the threat. This isn’t a call to violence; it’s a plea for preparedness.
A Commitment to Excellence:
At HCCI Protection, we’re committed to transforming the security industry with actual armed protective services tailored to our client’s unique needs. We understand that shunning armed security is not an option when the stakes are so high. Instead, we must embrace it, ensuring it’s properly trained and equipped. Only the highest standards can protect our most precious asset—our children.
Conclusion
The situation in Denver, and indeed across our nation, is a wake-up call that echoes through the hallways of every school. Complacency kills, and the time for action is not tomorrow or in the distant future but NOW. Our children’s safety and ability to learn and grow without fear hinges on our decisions today.
This urgent need demands more than grandstanding or empty promises that gamble with our children’s lives. Saying “it will never happen here” or relying on flawed measures is not just irresponsible; it’s a betrayal of our duty to protect.
At HCCI Protection, we stand ready to lead this transformative mission. With professional, armed protective services tailored to our school’s unique needs, we are committed to cutting through the noise and prioritizing our children’s lives over politics and appearances.
The challenge is great, but the resolve is greater. Together, we can create genuine security for Denver, our nation, and our children. We invite you to join us in this critical mission, to make a steadfast commitment to our future and our children.
Will you answer the call? We stand ready, and the time is now. Let’s not just talk about change; embrace it and ensure our children can thrive without fear. Let’s make this a reality. For our children, for our future. Let’s make real security happen. Now.
If you’re ready to prioritize the safety and well-being of our children, if you believe in taking tangible, decisive steps toward real security, sign up to read our informational article ‘Is Your Child SAFE? What You Don't Know About School Security’ to learn some of the dangerous holes in your child’s school security, and then email me at shane@hcciprotection.com to schedule a call to learn more.
