The challenge of effectively preparing for and addressing active assailant incidents is pervasive across the United States. This presentation delves into these complexities by examining the root causes of shortcomings, shedding light on planning and response failures, and proposing measures to enhance preparedness.
Chief Pustizzi, drawing from his pivotal role as one of the commanding officers present during the tragic events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14, 2018, aims to shed light on the critical aspects of these incidents. On that fateful day, a former student unleashed violence within the school, resulting in the tragic loss of 17 lives and injuries to 17 others.
This training proposes essential modifications in planning, policies, training procedures and infrastructure, addressing active assailant incidents in both the school environment and the workplace. The objective is to significantly reduce both the occurrence of such incidents and the number of victims in future attacks, underscoring the importance of proactive measures for overall safety and response capabilities.
On February 14, 2018, a former student entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, shot and killed 17 innocent people and wounded another 17 students. Tony, along with members of his command staff from the Coral Springs Police Department, arrived on scene within minutes. A complex law enforcement approach, including stopping the shooter and extracting victims from within the school, was initiated.
Attendees will gain an understanding of the events that occurred that day as well as in the year following this tragic event from Tony's unique perspective as one of the on-scene commanders. He will review his department's response to the shooting and provide an analysis of the lessons learned. Attendees will leave with an understanding of the circumstances that contributed to the overall response and communication issues.
Some of the many topics covered include mass casualties and violent attacks, policies and procedures, active killer training and officer preparedness, dispatch and multi-jurisdictional issues, leadership during and after critical incidents, the importance of Rescue Task Force training, tactical medicine, critical incident stress management, and police/media relations.
The time to discover whether someone is a leader is before a situation occurs where success is the only option. Administrators must keep this in mind when selecting top-level staff members and front line supervisors. Leadership failures can prove devastating and have far-reaching effects on both the individuals involved and on the entire organization moving forward. This can occur, not only during a critical incident, but also in the course of daily operations.
This program focuses on leadership and the reasons, from both theoretical and practical perspectives, that it is essential to an organization. Specifically tailored to the impact that high-stress situations have on organizations, the core foundation of this course is based on the experiences of leaders within various professions during significant events including, but not limited to, active killers, mass casualty events, tactical operations and natural disasters. An overview of the relationship between leadership and management theories will be covered with an overall emphasis on their relevance to how they translate in a crisis environment. Whether from a law enforcement agency, an educational institution, government agency, or private business, attendees will be provided with the practical information that is so vital to the successful operation of any organization.
In times of disasters, emergencies, or large-scale crises, it is crucial to establish smooth coordination and collaboration among elected and appointed officials and staff to implement an effective response and recovery plan. These officials play distinct roles and carry specific responsibilities, all aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.
Elected officials are entrusted with high-level decision-making, public communication, and policy direction, while appointed officials manage the day-to-day resources, coordinate response efforts, and execute plans efficiently. Local government staff are essential contributors to the disaster response and recovery initiative, utilizing their coordination, expertise, and unwavering dedication to minimize the impact of disasters and assist communities in rebuilding and recovery.
This course emphasizes the roles and responsibilities of elected and appointed officials and provides a framework to ensure that successful responses to disasters, emergencies, and large-scale events rely on the effective collaboration between these two groups.