Active Shooter Consultancy Services

Prediction, prevention, identification and avoidance, are far better ways of dealing with (potential) active shooter incidents, than trying to implement solutions as one is happening. Although, there are certain types of active shooter/killer incidents, which may be difficult for members of a school, college, business or group/organization to predict, in many where these crimes are committed by students, employees, ex-employees etc. there are many warning signs that can predict when an individual is planning such an incident. When Pat Sherrill, went on his shooting rampage, at the Edmonton Post Office, there had been several warning signs that he might become violent e.g. he was known as “Mad Pat”, He had a very public fascination with firearms, and co-workers had joked about him talking revenge on his supervisors etc. There were certainly actions and behaviors that could have acted as predictors and identifiers, and allowed processes and procedures to be put in place that could have possibly prevented and avoided such an event from happening, or at the least limiting its effects; 14 people were killed (15 including Pat Sherrill), and a further 6 seriously wounded.

Several school shootings have been prevented, because fellow students were told or had knowledge about a planned shooting – several students at Columbine had been shown Harris and Klebolds, collection of bombs and ammunition, and been told that they were planning something etc. This information never reached or wasn’t taken seriously by those who could have intervened. There were other warning signs, including a disturbing essay about a shooting spree written by Klebold two months before the shooting, along with an essay he’d written about the, “Mind and Motivations of Charles Manson” (a cult leader and serial murderer), along with other pieces. If the fascination and motivation to kill as shown in his essays, could have been tied to the information that he had the means to kill, then Klebold and Harris may have been stopped, and the Columbine shootings, prevented and avoided. Knowing what to look for and how to join up the “information” dots, requires training, as does understanding and managing risk.

Knowing the right questions to ask, rather than looking for answers, is a large part of threat identification and warning. This is something that we can help your company, educational facility, or organization learn to do. We can provide you with services that will help educate you as to what questions you should be asking, what potential warning signs look like etc. along with how to create an environment where information can be collated and shared, so other relevant parties can help build up an accurate profile of potentially violent, students and co-workers etc. To learn more, about how we can help you meet your security needs, please contact us by clicking here