Workplace Violence Presented by: “Your” County Emergency Management Agency

Purpose To discuss the situation To discuss the situation To share survival concepts To share survival concepts To partner to improve emergency planning To partner to improve emergency planning

A New Reality “The reality of the situation is – it’s a sad reality, but it’s reality – there are no sanctuaries anymore. We’ve seen this happen in schools, in malls, playgrounds, parks, churches. No place is safe anymore.” Karl Kick, Washington Post

The purpose of the County Emergency Management Agency is to provide coordination and integration of all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the county’s capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, or mitigate against, threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other manmade disasters. The purpose of the County Emergency Management Agency is to provide coordination and integration of all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the county’s capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, or mitigate against, threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other manmade disasters.

THE SITUATION Shootings are happening in the workplace

No Place Immune Homes Homes Streets Streets Businesses Businesses Playgrounds Playgrounds Restaurants Restaurants Schools Schools Churches Churches Nursing Homes Nursing Homes Malls Malls Courthouses Courthouses

Department of Labor Statistics In 2007 – –5,657 Workplace Fatalities – –864 Assault or Violent Acts – –628 Homicides – –503 Shootings – –45 Stabbings – –251 Self Inflicted

Oklahoma (1986) Part-time letter carrier Reprimanded the day before for delivering mail late and other delivery errors. 14 Killed, 6 wounded Used two.45 caliber handguns

Alabama Tenure Issue Tenure Issue Biology Dept. meeting people present Killed 3 Wounded 3 Borrowed 9 mm

Georgia Day trader upset over trading loss of $105,000 Killed wife and 2 children with a hammer Went to 2 different trading firms 9 killed, 13 wounded Armed with 3 pistols and 1 revolver

Illinois Former employee fired for poor attendance.380 handgun Killed 6 former co- workers before being shot to death by police 12 previous arrests, including Domestic Violence and Aggravated Assault

Massachusetts Custodian Shot and killed machine operator Argument started inside and moved outside

New York Barricaded door Wore body armor Armed with 2 handguns Bag of ammo around his neck Everyone suffered gunshot wounds Fired 99 shots Killed 14 and himself

North Carolina Nursing Home Kills 7 patients and 1 nurse Estranged wife worked at nursing home Shooting stopped after Stewart was wounded by police

Texas

Hawaii Did not want to learn how to service a new copy machine Armed with 9mm handgun 7 co-workers killed before surrendering criminal arrests History of threatening behavior and criminal arrests

Columbus Ohio Custodian Armed with 2 handguns – –Killed supervisor – –Shot another boss – –Killed himself Probationary employee Work, Personal, Financial issues

Ohio State University March 9, 2010

Former Employer Supervised Brown for two years – –Had issues – –Tangled with co-workers – –Threatened that he would “cut” someone he didn’t agree with People quit because they couldn’t work under him “I wrote him up for it and he went off on me.” Columbus Dispatch 3/10/10

Toledo Ohio

West Chester Ohio Trucking Company Armed with 2 handguns 2 killed, 3 injured Arrested at truck stop

Andover Ohio Andover Industries Kills co-worker / himself Denied vacation Recent cancer diagnosis

RED FLAGS AND POSSIBLE INDICATORS Is there a Profile?

Red Flags The National Center for Victims of Violent Crime Obsession with weapons Obsession with weapons Direct or veiled threats Direct or veiled threats Intimidating / instilling fear in others Intimidating / instilling fear in others Obsession with one’s job Obsession with one’s job Little involvement with co-workers Little involvement with co-workers Displaying unwanted romantic interest in a co- worker Displaying unwanted romantic interest in a co- worker Holding a grudge Holding a grudge Exhibiting paranoid behavior Exhibiting paranoid behavior Unable to accept criticism Unable to accept criticism Recent family, financial, academic, social, legal, or other personal problems Recent family, financial, academic, social, legal, or other personal problems Interest in recently publicized violent acts Interest in recently publicized violent acts Testing the limits of acceptable behavior… extreme changes Testing the limits of acceptable behavior… extreme changes

Indicators of Potential Violence Department of Homeland Security Increased Alcohol or Illegal Drug Use Increased Absenteeism Increased Severe Mood Swings Increased Domestic Problems at Work Increased Policy Violations Resistance/Overreaction to Changes in Policy Decrease in Attention to Appearance Suicidal Comments Explosive Outbursts of Rage Talk of Previous Incidents of Violence Empathy with Individuals Committing Violence Increased Comments About Firearms/Weapons Noticeably Unstable Emotional Responses

HAVE A PLAN Shootings are happening in the workplace  What do we do…  What’s the plan…

Emergency Planning Plans for Crisis Plans for Crisis –Tornados –Power outages –Bomb threats –Fires Plan to Survive Plan to Survive –Have a plan –Practice the plan

PREPARATION NOT FEAR Goal: Not to live in fear or be paranoid But to be prepared

The Importance of Preparation Trained Response Survival Reaction Survival Mindset Recall Learned Info Survival Behavior Live / Win “WE CAN DO THIS!” Untrained Response Panic Reaction Denial / Disbelief Shock / Helplessness Do nothing / sheep “This can’t be happening to me.”

Have a “Survival Mindset” What do you want to get home for? – –Your significant other, – –your kids, – –your grandkids, – –Disney World? Would you fight to save your family? Wouldn’t they want you to fight for save yourself? Take responsibility for your survival!

Do’s and Don’ts Don’t use flawed thinking… – –“It won’t happen to me!” – –“It won’t happen here!” Don’t have a victim mentality… – –“There is nothing I can do!” – –“I can’t do that!” DO know the policy DO know the plan DO know your environment DO know escape routes DO know safe rooms DO report strangers DO report potential threats

TAKE ACTION Shootings are happening in the workplace  What do we do…

The “Traditional Lockdown” Has merit, but not a stand alone defense Strategy: –secure in room, –turn off lights, –cover windows, –retreat to a corner of the room, and –wait for the police to rescue

“Traditional Lockdown” Concerns Entire strategy depends on killer’s inability to get through door Hopes police will rescue everyone before the killer gets them Limits our natural instincts Trains everyone to “Freeze” To “Freeze” is the worst response to directed violence

Trust your Instincts! Options are a good thing! Options are a good thing! –Run –Hide –Attack

RUN   Run   Don’t wait for validation   Don’t take anything   Zigzag, if necessary   Communicate while running

Hide   Hide / Shelter in place   Call 911   Lock and barricade   Evaluate escape routes   Evaluate window escape   Gather weapons   Work your plan

Barricade the Door Goal: Buy Time Goal: Buy Time –Lock Doors –Cover Windows –Barricade Barricades are designed to slow – not stop

Window Escape Option   Open or break window   Evaluate the risk   Will fall kill or injure you?   Surface: concrete / grass mulch / shrubs   Hang from the ledge to limit fall   Use items to limit the fall; i.e. belts or clothing

ATTACK Last Resort:   Shooter is in your room and there is no escape   No better options

Attack Group Attack Option: – –YELL GUN – –THROW ITEMS AT HEAD – –CHARGE / SWARM – –GRAB WEAPON – –TAKE DOWN – –HOLD FOR POLICE Alone Option – –THROW AND GO

Secure the Killer Pile On: – –Lay on extremities – –Lay on core – –Control head & neck – –Toss the weapon, place in under a trash can

When the Killer is Restrained Maintain control of killer until police arrive Do not let him up Call 911 and advise Provide first aid to the injured Do not pick up the weapon… unless…

Law Enforcement’s Response Will Move Directly to Threat - Eliminate the threat immediately – –Will continue past injured – –Will likely engage perceived threats

Work with Law Enforcement Appear non-threatening Do not run at officers Stay in the room Maintain control of shooter Sit or kneel Hands up / empty Maintain communication

Remember The shooter wants to kill as many as possible, and will kill everyone in the room unless he is stopped! We have what it takes to survive Act as a team…one unit…one purpose Act without hesitation Do whatever is necessary to live

In Conclusion Prepare for the Worst Prepare for the Worst Have a Plan Have a Plan Practice the Plan Practice the Plan Have a Survival Mindset Have a Survival Mindset Remember this is another crisis to prepare for…not to fear

Questions?