In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Active Shooter Preparedness and Mitigation— Have You Done Enough?” presented by Kevin Davis, CPP, Assistant Director of Public Safety at Harding University Public Safety. Read on for what he had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2023!
Q: Tell us about your presentation and why should security professionals have this topic on their radar?
A: As all security professionals know, active shooter situations have become all too common. While the chances of an active shooter situation occurring at your place of business, no matter the industry, are relatively small, security professionals must be prepared if an incident were to occur at their place of business. My presentation covers all aspects of active shooter mitigation. I will cover threat assessment teams, physical security posture, active shooter preparedness training for both armed and unarmed personnel, communications, conducting drills and exercises, and lessons learned from active shooter incidents.
Q: What advice would you give security professionals interested in this topic?
A: Take a holistic approach when conducting an assessment of your security strategy to mitigate an active shooter threat. Do your research when it comes to investing in physical security measures for your facilities. Talk to other security professionals about best practices for active shooter mitigation.
Q: How do you see this issue evolving in the next 2-5 years?
A: Unfortunately, I believe that the number of active shooter incidents will continue to grow over the next 2-5 years. People are still experiencing social isolation post-pandemic. Social media and news outlets continue to give notariety to those who perpetrate violence against others. Discourse and division continue to polarize our population. All of these factors combine to create an atmosphere where active shooter incidents will continue to increase.
Q: Why do you attend GSX?
A: I attend GSX to spend time interacting with my peers, to learn from worldwide security experts, and to stay current on the latest trends and best practices.