Mitigate the risks of campus incidents by being prepared
Preparedness Saves Lives
The threat of an active shooter is no longer an abstract possibility. It is, unfortunately, an ongoing reality across all levels of educational instruction.
Over the last two decades, the number of incidents has steadily increased, affecting communities both large and small.
Preparedness saves lives. Institutions that invest in training, adopt strong best practices, and foster a culture of engagement significantly improve their ability to prevent, mitigate, and respond to active shooter incidents.
Building the Foundation
1. Training and Exercising for Reality
- Scenario-based, repeatable drills
- Run-Hide-Fight protocols adapted for the environment
- Table-top exercises for leadership teams
- De-escalation and behavioral awareness training
2. Establishing Best Practices and Technological Enhancements
- Emergency Operations Plans
- Access control and visitor management systems
- Mass notification technology
- Regular audits and plan updates
3. Fostering Community Engagement
- Anonymous reporting systems
- Partnerships with local law enforcement
- Awareness campaigns to normalize vigilance
- Wellness and behavioral health programs
Preparedness is not a one-time checklist; it’s a culture that must be built and reinforced.
The Benefits of Leveraging Partnerships and Consultants
While many organizations attempt to build preparedness programs internally, relying solely on in-house staff and personnel can cause blind spots, untested assumptions, and inconsistencies in execution. Strong partnerships with local law enforcement and security consultants alike provide critical advantages that strengthen both planning and outcomes:
1. Objective Assessment
Internal teams can be too close to the organization to recognize weaknesses. An external review can provide an impartial review of security policies, procedures, and physical infrastructure. This objectivity helps uncover risks that may otherwise go unnoticed.
2. Specialized Expertise
Consultants bring knowledge of current best practices, evolving threat patterns, and compliance standards. Working across multiple industries and environments can give a broader perspective on what works—and what fails—when preparing for active shooter incidents.
3. Realistic Training & Exercises
Independent experts design and facilitate training that mirrors real-world scenarios, ensuring staff practice decision-making under pressure. From table-top exercises for leadership to full-scale drills for frontline personnel, consultants and public safety partners provide the kind of structured realism that internal teams may not be equipped to deliver.
4. Facilitation of Difficult Conversations
Preparedness often requires transparent discussions about resources, vulnerabilities, and roles. Outside facilitators can guide these conversations in a constructive way, building alignment among administrators, employees, and community partners.
5. Customized Continuous Improvement
Every institution is different, and cookie-cutter approaches often fail. Tailored recommendations to the specific culture, size, and risk profile of the campus community are essential.
Because relevant threat profiles evolve, so must preparedness. Independent security audits provide an ongoing review, refresher training, and plan updates to ensure organizations remain resilient and not just compliant.
Case for Action: Why Now?
- Incidents continue to increase year over year, underscoring the urgency of preparedness
- Communities expect protection. Parents, employees, and stakeholders demand safety assurances
- Proactive organizations gain trust. Preparedness strengthens reputation and resilience
- Failure to prepare creates liability. Legal, financial, and reputational damage compounds after a tragedy
Bottom Line: Every day without a plan tailored to reflect the existing operational infrastructure and relevant vulnerabilities is a day of unnecessary risk.
Conclusion
Active shooter preparedness is not optional—it is a moral and operational imperative. The statistics are sobering, but they also provide a roadmap: invest in training, best practices, and engagement to save lives.
By leveraging the perspective of independent and third-party strategists, institutions can ensure their plans are realistic, inclusive, and continually improved upon to turn generic safety plans into living, actionable strategies that save lives.
Authors
Brian Calame, Director | Petrone Risk
Nicole Petrone, Esq., Chief Legal Officer | Petrone Risk
