Campus Preparedness In The Wake Of Tragedy

Los Angeles, Calif. (June 15, 2007)—In response to the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech, college campuses across the nation must begin to address the issue of how can we prevent, minimize and/or eliminate injury in the face of danger.   

Andrews International, a full service provider of security and risk mitigation services, believes that campus officials need to begin addressing the issue of implementing initiatives that seek preventative measures instead of reactive ones.  Also, campus security must be trained to deal with a crisis situation, and ensure it does not result in an injury or death. Andrews International has partnered with The Center for Aggression Management® to provide consultation, training, and workshops to university faculty and staff across the country. 

According to Dr. John Byrnes, president and founder of The Center for Aggression Management®,   "Only when individuals learn how to measure aggression can they manage aggression, once they can manage aggression they learn how to prevent aggression.  By learning the human skills to respond to an escalating aggressor, campuses can properly train their staff and safety officials.  There really is a way to prevent aggression in our schools."   School districts around the nation are utilizing Aggression Management® Training to diminish aggression in their schools. 

Below is an outline of the skills that encompass Aggression Management® Training:

• Identifying the Emergence of Aggression
• Foreseeing the Possibility of Conflict
• Engaging the Aggressor….And Preventing Aggression Before it Becomes Conflict
• Conducting a Safe Escape

Dr. Byrnes goes on to say "…the first three skills are intended to prevent the emergence of aggression and violence, the fourth skill is utilized only when all else fails."  Dr. Byrnes also points out there are two types of aggression, primal and cognitive. 

"Primal aggression is based on the primal instincts of fight or flight. It is fueled by adrenaline and shows itself in identifiable body language and behavior. This type of aggression is demonstrated by an individual who loses control and attacks.  Cognitive aggression, on the other hand, is based on hostile/malicious intent.

It is fueled by determination and purpose, and is indicative of an individual who wishes to evoke terror.  Employees and human resources professionals must be taught how to recognize and measure both forms of aggression, and they must be equipped with the skills needed to move aggressors away from violence."

Don Anderson, a 28-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and Senior Vice President of Special Events and Training Programs for Andrews International, believes that law enforcement agencies and campus security need to address their current policies and methods for their ‘first responders’ in the event of crisis. 

While still with the Los Angeles Police Department SWAT team, Anderson and his tactical team had formulated a new approach he referred to as Rapid Deployment.  It entails that the first 4 officers, first responders, that respond to a situation (like that of the Columbine or Virginia Tech tragedies) first find and take down the perpetrator prior to assisting the injured.  As soon as the threat has been immobilized, second responders will be mobilized and integrated into the emergency response plans in order to supplement the capabilities of the first responders.  "It has become clear that when contending with a belligerent criminal or a cognitive aggressor, time is of the essence.  The longer it takes law enforcement officials to locate and stop a perpetrator, the longer the period of time that the perpetrator has to kill more innocent victims," says Don Anderson. 

Anderson’s strategy is currently implemented by law enforcement agencies worldwide. Training is provided to law enforcement personnel from municipalities across the nation, private and corporate security personnel, and other professionals in the field. A rigorous curriculum includes firearms training, emergency management, and a host of other areas, including academic training, field operations, and simulated situations.

About Andrews International

Andrews International, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, is a full service provider of security and risk mitigation services with operations throughout the United States and internationally. As one of the largest privately-held, American-owned security firms, Andrews International employs nearly 4,000 security personnel providing uniformed security, consulting and investigative services, personal protection, special event security, training and alarm monitoring and response, and disaster emergency response services. The company is owned by executive and management team members with investment backing from DFW Capital Partners, Meridian Venture Partners, Theo Capital Partners and affiliates of New York Life.

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