Active Threat Response: Steps Toward Mitigation

1. Active Threat Response
STEPS TOWARDS MITIGATION
Brendan King, CEO and Founder
Crisis Consultant Group, LLC

2. KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Early Warning & Identification of Potential Threats
• Threat Zone Assessment & Response Options
• Breathe, Think, Act™ (BTA) Empowerment Model

3. 3
“Left of Bang”

4. 4
BRENDAN KING
CEO AND FOUNDER
Over 25 years experience in crisis
intervention & workplace violence
prevention in high risk environments and
settings
• Acute & residential setting with
adolescents, adults and children
• USMC - OIF/OEF
• Patrol, Corrections & SWAT

5. 5
BACKGROUND
• 2019 Is Our 15th Year In
Business
• 37 States; US, USVI, and
International

6. This presentation serves to inform, educate, and empower individuals
that may encounter an active threat event.
Any application of information provided is done at the participants own
risk.
No information provided in written, oral, or otherwise implied format
either directly or indirectly GUARANTEES an individuals safety during
such events.

7. DEFINITIONS
Active Threat:
An individual or group of individuals actively killing, harming, or
threatening random or targeted acts of violence
Active Threat Response:
Actions taken in order to prevent, stop, or mitigate harm from an
active threat

8. LESSONS LEARNED:
Tangiers Outlets, TN – April 2019
Shooting occurred outside in the parking lot
Employees & shoppers heard shots, and
immediately began to shelter in place
• Multiple calls to dispatch center
• Law enforcement reported it was challenging to respond
due to high traffic volume
• Employees decided to act based on where they were
located
• Sheltering in place inside the stores was effective

9. LESSONS LEARNED:
Northwoods Mall, SC --February 2019
“It was pretty much like a stampede, everybody coming
out of the back door,”
“They told us to get out and they said gun shots, and
everyone stormed out, people were falling on the ground”
• Shoppers and employees used an alternate exit out
the back door, away from the gunfire
• RUN HIDE FIGHT is most effective when you know
WHERE the threat is
• Employees will likely be viewed as “path-finders”

10. LESSONS LEARNED:
Westfield Century Mall --March 2019
Reports of a gunman in the mall
Witnesses inside stated there was a “mad dash” to get out of the
store
An employee was heard telling everyone that everything was
normal and not to worry.
• Just because no gunman was located immediately doesn’t mean
there was not a person with a weapon inside the mall.
• The employee made a statement without knowing all the facts
• Employees should adhere to their company’s policy and
procedures in dealing with an AT
• Employees will be looked upon for directions and support

11. A combination of situational awareness and situational
understanding placed into ACTION, resulting in an
increased ability to predict, avoid, and/or respond to
potential or actual violence
SITUATIONAL SAFETY

12. LOOK, LISTEN, TELL™ (LLT)
• Signals/behavioral signs/changes in normal patterns
• Changes in personality/attitude towards others
• Social Media posts, journals, blogs, written comments/political
viewpoints/positions against groups
• Obsession or preoccupation with combat gaming/violent
imagery/music/movies/music, etc.
• Prior history of violence (Domestic Abuse, Sexual Harassment, etc.)

13. LOOK, LISTEN, TELL™
• Statements, comments, jokes, disrespectful words regarding
harming others, themselves, specific groups of people,
government, law enforcement or authority/administration
• Ties to and/or support for extremist groups or known terrorist
groups, persons
• Specific comments about weapons/tactics/explosives
• Preoccupation with discussion of prior events and/or first
responder procedures and/or methodology

14. LOOK, LISTEN, TELL™
• “Risk of being wrong vs. Reward of being right”
• Risk = Offend someone/may be questioned
• Reward = You could save lives / prevent an attack
• Who to Tell?
• Coworker
• Manager
• HR / Admin
• Law Enforcement

15. 3 Zones
DTZ – Direct Threat Zone
ITZ – Indirect Threat Zone
ORZ – Out of Range Zone

17. BREATHE
TACTICAL
BREATHING
ACT
WOUND CARE &
HELP OTHERS
THINK
SURVIVAL
MINDSET

18. SURVIVAL MINDSET
Visualization
Expectation
Motivation

19. HARTFORD CONSENSUS THREAT MODEL
• Threat suppression
• Hemorrhage control
• Rapid Extrication to safety
• Assessment by medical
providers
• Transport to definitive care

20. TOURNIQUETS & WOUND CARE
IDEAL:
• CAT-Tourniquet
• Pressure Dressing / Gauze
• Bandages
ALTERNATIVES:
• Belt / Tie
• T-Shirt / Paper Towels
• Purse Straps (>1 inch wide preferred)

21. INTERACTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
Empty Hands | Obey Commands
Assist If Able
Shooter Location/Description
Medical treatment
Directions

22. REVIEW
• LEFT OF BANG
• LESSONS LEARNED
• SITUATIONAL SAFETY
• LLT
• ZONES
• RHF
• BTA
• VEM
• THREAT
• EHOC