TARGETED VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE: Understand and Prevent

Understanding why attacks occur and how to prevent a catastrophe in your workplace is vital to keeping your workplace safe. At the 2017 CWC and Risk conference experts from Riverside Community College District and County of San Bernardino come together to discuss what an active shooter is and why they do what they do, how to train your employees, and how to recover its operations after an event. The speakers include:

· Michael Simmons, Director, Risk Management, Riverside Community College District

· Robert Gunzel, Chief of Police, Riverside Community College District

· Ken Hernandez, Director of Risk Management, County of San Bernardino

Quick facts

Most shooters are not crazy

Most incidents do not involve people who snap

Most incidents involve careful planning and commitment

Most shooters have at least one specific target in mind

Targets violence incidents can be prevented

Shooters often believe they are doing the right thing

Symptoms of shooter behavior surfaces before most attacks

What is the shooter mindset?

Shooters are ENRAGED

Shooters are focused and driven toward their goal

Shooters believe the victim is the threat

Shooters have a mandate to destroy the threat

Shooters may want to be stopped by family and friends

Shooters want to be acknowledged for the incident

Shooters may be depressed or have mental health issues

Why does the shooter want to kill us?

Low capability for coping with rejection/criticism

Interprets criticism as a form of bullying or an attack

Belief they are the victim and should protect themselves

Sees murder as justifiable homicide/self defense

Supports the notion of justice through the death penalty

Belief they are judge, jury and executioner

Feel they have a moral imperative to impose justice

They externalizations their depression/rage feelings

Connects their depression to the target refuses to seek out mental health help

Deteriorates and spirals into unrecoverable tailspin

Planning the death of the target relieves their anxiety

They take comfort in the violent end game

How does a shooter progress to violence?

Series of negative events creates depression and rage

Events can be broken romances, work problems etc

Lack of steps to resolve anger worsens the situation

Shooter gravitates to people with like mindsets

Catastrophic events may expedite the process

Planning starts by moving through path of decision gates

Target is “acquired” and the “roadmap” is activated

Shooter behavioral checklist

Increased use of alcohol and or illegal drugs

An unexplained increase in absenteeism

Depression or withdrawal

Unprovoked, explosive outbursts of anger or rage

Threats or verbal abuses of coworkers and supervisors

Frequent vague physical complaints

Behavior suggestive of paranoia

Increased mood swings

How can we stop the shooter?

Decision gates can take time to pass through each gate

Shooter may transition back and forth

Complex plans may take more time to execute

Behavioral differences mark the transition between gates

Changes in behavior are obvious to friends and family

Informing the changes and symptoms are a recipe for disaster

Friends of past shooters admitted seeing drastic changes

7 Minutes to Live!

Minute 7 – first shots fired

• was that a car backfire?
• where did that sound come from?
• could that have been a gunshot?
• what should I do?
• Don’t assume someone else is going to call 9-1-1. You do it.
• now is not the time for social media.

Minute 6- What is happening?

• what is going on?
• what should i use to secure the door?
• who is in this room that can help?
• does this door open inward or outward?
• is there anyone in distress?

Minute 5 Sensory overload

• Close your eyes and imagine:
• gunfire sounds
• chairs, desks, and equipment moving
• shadows and smoky haze
• smoke alarms, fire sprinklers, and strobe lights

Minute 4 Help is outside now

• law enforcement has arrived
• a group of officers are putting on additional protective equipment”
• “hot zones” are being determined
• incident command post being established in the area
• other public safety agencies responding quickly to assist
• officers are moving in to stop the shooter

Minute 3 Help is onsite and close

• officers are quickly moving toward the sound of gunfire
• do exactly what the police instruct you to do

Minute 2 Threat neutralized

• secondary teams begin to enter the building
• searching for secondary devices or “layoff suspect”
• evacuation process begins, wounded first
• some wounded will be treated in place

Minute 1 Evacuation

• EMS performing triage/treatment in secure location
• investigation portion begins
• questions will be asked to determine identification and or motive of shooter
• counseling services being

San Bernardino Mass Shooting

Two shooters armed with AR-15 style assault rifles enter the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino and open fire on a group of San Bernardino County employees that were gather for training meeting and holiday luncheon. 

14 people killed

22 people wounded

Determined to be a terrorist event

Suspects were killed by police

Police response was approximately 4 minutes

Crisis Communication Plan

The need to communicate is immediate (business operations interrupted, employees, family members, management, government officials, community outreach and news media). Employees accounted for by access to emergency contact information, office checklists, off-site event sign in sheets, employees in the field and employees out sick, on vacation, jury duty, etc