Our hearts go out to the community impacted by the recent tragic events in Wayne, Michigan, and to all faith-based organizations across the nation grappling with the increasing need for enhanced security. In these challenging times, the safety and well-being of your congregants, staff, and visitors remain paramount. We, the people of this world, inhabit this Earth, striving to live fulfilling lives, nurture our families, and strengthen our communities. In this pursuit of great goals and a prosperous way of life, we must also acknowledge the pervasive hatred that jeopardizes our safety. This manifests in active threat scenarios that occur too often in our country.
To secure our lives, we must understand that such threats exist and are unlikely to disappear soon. While we embrace the benefits the world offers, we must simultaneously work to mitigate life-threatening inconveniences like active shooter incidents. By doing so, we can continue to maintain, prosper, and grow on the positive trajectory of our lives. We cannot afford to neglect or disregard this threat, hoping it will simply vanish. The more resilience we cultivate and the greater our collective awareness of the challenges of the current era, the higher our chances of prevailing.
By protecting the lives of our families and communities, we ensure that goodness prospers. This inherent goodness will naturally overcome adversity, for indeed, good will overcome evil. This is the path forward: while striving for good, we must enhance our security and be prepared for the worst.
To effectively mitigate an active shooter incident, facilities should adopt a multi-layered approach encompassing comprehensive preparedness, robust physical enhancements, and rapid response capabilities:
1. Comprehensive Security Planning & Preparedness:
● Develop an Emergency Action Plan: Create a clear, written plan that outlines specific procedures for an active threat. This includes the implementation of “Prepare, Implement, Fight” strategies:
○ Prepare: Proactively plan and train in advance for the most effective actions against an active threat event.
○ Implement: Execute predefined actions such as following evacuation routes, moving to designated rally points, or barricading oneself when necessary, with clear roles for staff and volunteers. This is applying the best action taken, whether it’s an evacuation route or barricading.
○ Fight: As a last resort, if no other choice exists, be ready to confront and disrupt the attacker.
● Regular Training & Drills: Conduct consistent training for all staff, key volunteers, and congregants on active threat response tactics and basic emergency medical aid (e.g., Stop the Bleed). Practice these protocols through realistic drills.
● Establish Communication Protocols: Implement systems for rapid internal alerts (e.g., mass notification systems, secure radio communications) and direct, immediate communication with local law enforcement.
2. Physical Security Enhancements:
● Access Control & Visitor Management: Control entry points with robust systems, ensure doors are secured (not propped open), and implement a clear visitor check-in process.
● Entry Point Hardening: Evaluate and reinforce key entry doors, frames, and windows with materials designed to resist forced entry or ballistic impacts, creating “safe zones” where appropriate.
● Perimeter Security: Improve exterior lighting, clear sightlines, and secure fencing to deter unauthorized access and enhance surveillance capabilities.
● Advanced Surveillance Systems (CCTV): Install high-resolution cameras strategically to monitor key areas, provide real-time intelligence, and serve as crucial post-incident evidence.
● Rapid Lockdown Capabilities: Implement systems that allow for quick and effective lockdown of specific rooms, wings, or the entire facility.
3. Threat Detection & Rapid Response:
● Situational Awareness Training: Educate staff and congregants on how to recognize and report suspicious behavior or potential threats.
● Early Warning Systems: Consider technology such as gunshot detection systems that can immediately alert building occupants and law enforcement upon detecting gunfire, significantly reducing response time.
● Collaborate with Law Enforcement: Establish strong relationships with local police and first responders. Conduct joint site assessments, share facility layouts, and potentially involve them in drills.
Please share with us your thoughts about considering security improvements. Call us at 718-852-1000 or contact us here.
