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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*

San Bernardino, Paris and a growing number of terror and violent acts prove over and over again why a new and better PREVENTION strategy is needed…and it is needed right now! Would you rather PREVENT violence and terror acts or REACT to them?? Using lessons learned from San Bernardino, Paris and hundreds of other attacks and tragedies, the new PREVENTION strategy requires a change in focus and it requires the right tools. Let’s start with focus – terrorism, mass shootings and others acts of evil are committed by evil people, so the new PREVENTION strategy needs to focus on identifying people who may be planningRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Campus Safety, Human Resources, Incident Reporting, Risk Management, School Safety

  Already in 2011, tragedies in Tucson and Omaha have reminded each of us about the consequences of missed opportunities involving red flags and warning signs.  Lives were lost and lives will be changed forever because of these and many other tragic incidents. We are now learning numerous red flags and warning signs existed involving the gunman in each tragedy, which has many people asking why these two tragedies were not prevented and how can we prevent future incidents like these from occurring? Some people are suggesting new gun control laws in Arizona or new laws that do not allow guns within 1000 feet ofRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Emergency Management, Incident Reporting, Information Security, Legal, Regulatory Compliance, Risk Management

  How is your incident reporting system working for you?  Or perhaps the question should be – Is your incident reporting system working against you? Lessons learned continue to show that organizations find themselves in ‘reaction mode’ more than they are in ‘prevention mode’.  How can this be when most every organization claims to have an incident reporting system in place? Are traditional incident reporting systems obsolete? Multiple surveys reveal that 90% of bystanders who witness a bullying incident DO NOT report the incident.  So why aren’t bystanders not reporting incidents? Perhaps bystanders are not reporting because of one or more of the following reasons:Read More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Business Continuity, Emergency Management, Legal, Regulatory Compliance

  Most everyone has heard or muttered these words at some time or another: If I Knew Then What I Know Now…                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The saying is most often used when we look back at our life and we realize that if I knew then (when I was younger) what I know now (with more experience and wisdom), I may have made some different decisions. The saying also came to mind recently as we were reminded of the 9year anniversary of September 11th and the 5 year anniversary of Katrina and numerous other incidents that have provided experience and wisdom that we could have used before these eventsRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Emergency Management, Incident Reporting, Risk Management

  Most everyone has heard or muttered these words at some time or another: If I Knew Then What I Know Now…                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The saying is most often used when we look back at our life and we realize that if I knew then (when I was younger) what I know now (with more experience and wisdom), I may have made some different decisions. The saying also came to mind recently as we were reminded of the 9year anniversary of September 11th and the 5 year anniversary of Katrina and numerous other incidents that have provided experience and wisdom that we could have used before these eventsRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Emergency Management, Incident Reporting, Risk Management, School Safety, Workplace Violence

  A recent report from the University of Maryland’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) has revealed that since 1995, a much higher percentage (33%) of terrorist attacks in the United States were conducted by unaffiliated individuals, rather than by organized groups. From the Oklahoma City bombing to more recent attacks like Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, and the University of Alabama, another commonality has also been revealed; in 80% of the incidents, red flags and warning signs exist, but are often not identified. There are many reasons red flags go unreported.  Victims or bystanders may fear retaliation or theyRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Education, Human Resources, Incident Reporting, Legal, Regulatory Compliance, School Safety

  I blogged a few weeks ago about the parent suing the Ottawa Catholic School Bard for $325,000, alleging the school failed to protect her child from repeated acts of bullying.  Two more lawsuits have recently made the headlines and school leaders are probably wondering, “Will we be next?” In Australia, a teenage girl was awarded $290,000 in compensation by the Education Department after years of harassment and bullying at school left her a physical and emotional wreck. The girl’s parents had pleaded with the school principal to protect their daughter, and held regular discussions with teachers and the school chaplain.  But the school failedRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Campus Safety, Emergency Management, Incident Reporting, Legal, Workplace Violence

  Have you noticed recently how the media, safety experts and government leaders are focusing on the failure of organizations to connect-the-dots and the failure to identify red flags prior to emergency and crisis situations occurring? And have you noticed these failures have been going on for years?  Virginia Tech administrators received warnings of Cho’s mental instability prior to the tragic shooting that left 23 students dead.    The Fort Hood shooter revealed multiple red flags ignored in a failure to share critical information.  Most recently, the University of Alabama professor revealed a past full of violent tendencies, mental illness and criminal activities. Why are soRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Emergency Management, Incident Reporting, Legal, School Safety, Workplace Violence

Could stabbing have been prevented? A recent article discussing the brutal stabbing of a UCLA student in chemistry lab has raised difficult questions asking why disturbed students are allowed to remain at school despite red flags and obvious warning signs.  Since Virginia Tech, campuses across the Nation have been working to identify troubled students and potential warning signs of mental illness, violence or other problems.  However, identifying red flags and connecting the dots across multiple people (students, faculty, dorm advisors, mental health, law enforcement, etc.) can be extremely difficult and seemingly very complex.  Students and faculty members said that the UCLA attacker had exhibited erraticRead More →