Ed Goldberg, DM, PE, CBCP, CBCA Director of Education Association of Contingency Planners Ed Schlichtenmyer Business Continuity Programs Manager, ImpactWeather,

Ed Goldberg, DM, PE, CBCP, CBCADirector of Education

Association of Contingency Planners

Ed SchlichtenmyerBusiness ContinuityPrograms Manager,ImpactWeather, Inc.

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Optimizing Your Response to Bomb Threats and Workplace Violence

ACP Proprietary (Internal Use Only) Not for use or disclosure outside the ACP Corporation except under written agreement

Topics

MotivationsResponse Planning


MOTIVATIONS


Behavior Continuum

NegativeUnproductiveUnsafe UnhealthyDisruptiveThreatening to:

- Self- Others- Facilities

PositiveProductiveSafeStableHealthyResilient

ThinkingFeelingBehaving


Individual Violence Process

NEGATIVE SITUATIONSPersonal, social, political, religious, etc.

INTENSE FEELINGSAnger, hostility, retaliation, vengeance

IDEAS“Change is not possible in peaceful way”“Violence is necessary and justified”

PLANNING Weeks/Months/Years

VIOLENT BEHAVIORACP Proprietary (Internal Use Only) Not for use or disclosure outside the ACP Corporation except under written agreement

Thinking Problems

SuspicionsDelusionsOff-track ideasEasily distractedFocus on negativeBlowing things out of

proportion Illogical conclusionsPoor decisions for work

actions

Strong biases and opinionsObsessingNot considering

alternatives or implications of actions

Poor concentration Impaired memoryResentful of coworkers


Negative Feelings

Intense angerHostile emotionsFeeling arrogant or

supremeFeeling powerlessIntense, dramatic and

unstable moodsAnxiety and panicDepression

Chronic fatigueJealousyEnvyIntense guiltExtremely stressedWorthlessHelpless

Negative Behaviors

ArgumentativeRefusal to cooperate

with supervisorsRage reactionsImpulsiveInsomniaActing like a victim and

blaming othersAccidentsManipulative

Exploiting othersWithdrawing/avoiding

coworkersMaking mistakesNot compliant with

work policiesBullyingThreatening violenceCommitting violence

Types of Shooters

Workplace and School Shooters

Criminal Terrorists

Ideological Terrorists


Workplace and SchoolShooters

Concern is about current and specific problems; i.e., job termination, conflict with someone, financial difficulty, marital problems, bullying, etc.

Other-centeredShooter believes the violence will “solve the

current problem”Persons or company/school assets are

specifically targeted


Workplace and SchoolPlanning & Preparatory Acts

Specific relationship with person(s) at the target site

Brief planning with limited detail; often only approach plan, weapons and ammunition

Variation in type of weapons and expertise


Criminal Terrorists,No Major Ideological Issue

Hostile reaction to some frustration, loss or damage to ego

Self-centered Desire for vengeance “justifies violence”Seeks psychological reward through terrorismThrilled by power of firearms, bombs, killing and

chaos


Criminal Terrorists (Cont.),No Major Ideological Issue

Use soft and opportunistic targets—malls, theaters, retail stores, office buildings, health clubs, etc.

Lack discipline and training of the ideological terrorist, but more expert weapons use

Lack of specific goals results in mass murder and often suicide or death by law enforcement


Criminal TerroristsPlanning & Preparation

Extra ammunition carriedShooter often exhibits cold, calm and

expressionless appearanceMental rehearsals and practice firing prepare

shooterAvoidance and escape plans almost non-

existent


Ideological Terrorists

Use violent acts intended to create population fear (terror)

Perpetrated for an ideological goal, as opposed to a lone attack, for a specific contemporary issue

They deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants

Cause-oriented


Ideological Terrorists (Cont.)

Narrowly focusedHighly motivated & dedicated to a causeActs based on or driven by political, economic,

social, geographic or religious elementsDo not believe change can occur in a peaceful

way; therefore “violence is justified”Includes radical environmentalists, racists,

separatists, political groups and violent jihadists


Ideological TerroristsPlanning & Preparation

Determine maximum ROI (terror/impact per event vs. total cost/effort of the act)

Target selectionSurveillance & Intelligence gatheringFundraisingWeapons purchased or stolenBomb manufacturing


Connect the Dots

• Violent behavior or potential is rarely new for perpetrators

• Usually patterns of negative thinking, feeling and/or behavior are part of the history

• Triggers intensify the negative elements

• Planning for violent reaction usually takes place over some time

• During this time, signals, flags and sometimes threats exist but are rarely seen as serious or are not reported


RESPONSE PLANNING


Risk Assessment & Violence Prevention are Possible

Promote policies and train for monitoring potential risk

Set environment for confidential employee information sharing

Document even minor incidents of conflict, threat or harassment

Don’t wait to investigatePlan and manage layoffs, terminations, sensitive

evaluations, etc.Involve multi-disciplinary team


Problematic Conduct for Reporting & Intervention

History of threats or violence – employment or criminal

Using power to control others or as response to stress

Bullying, outbursts, excessive angerVerbal abuse or harassment by any means or

mediumHolding grudges, inability handling criticismMaking excuses, blaming others



Complaints of persecution or injustice Victim mindsetObsessive intrusion upon othersErratic, impulsive or bizarre behavior generating

fear among co-workers Homicidal or suicidal thoughts or ideasSevere emotional distressImpulsivity and/or low tolerance for frustration



Fascination with weaponsPreoccupied with violence themes of revenge or

recent violent events, if discussion creates discomfort or fear in co-workers

Any behavior or collection of behaviors that instill fear or concern that the person may act out violently


Motivations Summary

Risk of violence from many different types of persons. “Profiles” are not helpful and may be dangerous.

Knowledge of individual’s Thinking-Feeling-Behaving patterns and possible potential reactions to negative events is critical to prevention.

Mental illness sometimes contributes but is not a major risk driver.

Effective risk assessment and violence prevention requires “all hands on deck,” i.e., security, workers, supervisors, HR, family and friends.


Recommendations & Analysis for Risk Mitigation*

281 active shooter incidents from 1966 to 2010 (237 in U.S.) Significant variations among shooters and attack elements 96% male shooters Non-school shooters modal age group: 35 to 44 years old 98% carried out by a single attacker Planning tactics range from very little to extensive Average number of deaths is 3 Average number of wounded is 3.6 Location of attacks:

• 29% school• 23% open commercial• 22% “other”• 13% office building• 13% factory/warehouse

*NYPD January 2010


The Reality of Bombs

Bombings are very rare – only 65 incidents in past 3 years with actual explosive device placed in a school

To respond properly and consistently: create a bomb threat response plan

Even though bomb threats are frightening, remain calm and professional and stick to protocol

#1 priority is safety of personnel


Prevention

To combat threats- implement a two-part prevention initiative:– Improve the physical security of the facility– Improve relations among all personnel

Create an environment in which personnel feels comfortable and safe coming forward with information


Items can be hand-delivered or mailedSuspicious Items

– Be alert for suspicious items – If an item is suspicious:

• DO NOT TOUCH IT• Secure the Area• Notify the Crisis Manager on Duty

Suspicious Items


Suspicious Items

Things to look for and document:· Foreign postmark, airmail or special delivery markings· Postage irregularities, including excessive postage, no postage or

unusual stamps· Return address irregularities, including no return address, a return

address that does not match the postmark or a return address that is not familiar to the person the package is addressed to

· Delivery address irregularities, including a title with no name, the wrong title with a name

· Badly typed or poorly written addresses· Misspelled words· Restrictive markings or special handling instructions, such as

"Personal," "Confidential," "Special Delivery," "Open By Addressee Only"


· Suspicious package indicators (continued)· Visual distractions on the package such as drawings,

statements or handmade postage· A rigid or bulky envelope· An oddly shaped, unevenly-weighted, lopsided or lumpy

package· A strange odor coming from the package· Oily stains or discoloration on the package· Protruding wires or tinfoil· Over-wrapping with excessive securing material such as tape

or string· A package that is not expected by the addressee· A package left by unknown person

Suspicious Items


Response

Establish and train an incident management team– Responsible for determining and coordinating the response

to each threat, including interfacing emergency services

Establish and maintain a communications plan– Needs to be easily activated and adaptable to various

situations

Document threat decision tree– Addresses threat assessment and associated actions:

search, evacuate, etc.


Coordination with Emergency Services

Each situation will have its own set of interactions– Shooter– Bomb Threat– Explosion/Fire

Ideally, your Incident Management Team has exercised and drilled with local agencies


Communication Methods

Invest in a communication system that provides– Multiple devices– Escalation to multiple devices– Pre-developed messaging– Pre-assigned and dynamic recipient grouping– Personnel accountability

Rehearse and practice various messaging methods

Threat Assessment

Actions taken depend on the threat at hand– Shooter: run, hide, fight like hell– Bomb Threat: search, evacuate

Your planning process needs to thoroughly discuss the ramifications of each action


Searching

Utilize established communication method/codeSearch own areaSearch common areas

Authorities do not know what belongs and what doesn’t.


Evacuation


Utilize established communication method/codeAll staff should be practiced with evacuation

proceduresEnsure accountability

- Sweep Floors- Staffed Rally Points

Follow-Up

Cooperate with the investigationEncourage personnel to cooperate with the

investigationProvide support services for personnel following an

incidentThe Incident Management Team should debrief after

every threat response to improve its procedures


Summary

Profiling to prevent threats at the workplace is not effective: open communication is

Engage all departments in risk assessment, prevention and response to workplace violence

Training, Awareness and Planning improve everyone’s chances of survival

Ensure communication before, during and after an incident


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Ed Goldberg, DM, PE, CBCP, CBCA Director of Education Association of Contingency Planners Ed Schlichtenmyer Business Continuity Programs Manager, ImpactWeather,