Rising to the Challenge: A Deep Dive into Workplace Violence and Active Shooter Strategies
As incidents of workplace violence and mass shootings grow increasingly common, organizations across sectors face the urgent need to reevaluate their readiness and prevention strategies. In a recent webinar hosted by SecurityInfoWatch and sponsored by Omnilert, a distinguished panel of experts came together to unpack the latest trends, technologies, and tactical responses that can help mitigate modern threats.
Moderated by Steve Lasky, Editorial Director at SecurityInfoWatch, the panel featured three seasoned professionals: Lisa Terry, Senior Security Consultant at Vizient with decades of healthcare security leadership; Gerald Wilkins, a private investigator and active shooter preparedness expert; and Eric Polovich, Director of Sales Operations at Omnilert and specialist in AI-driven threat detection technologies. Below, we will review some of the key themes for the webinar.
Alarming Trends Behind the Headlines
The discussion opened with sobering gun violence statistics. According to Lisa Terry, while the FBI reported a 50% decrease in active shooter incidents in 2024, the number of mass shootings remains alarmingly high. Terry noted the emergence of new trends—such as a slight uptick in female shooters and a continued pattern of attackers having personal connections to their victims.
Eric Polovich pointed out that definitions matter: while FBI data focuses on narrow classifications, broader tracking, such as from the Gun Violence Archive, logged over 500 mass shooting events in 2024 alone. “The numbers are still astronomical compared to 5, 10, 15 years ago,” he emphasized.
Gerald Wilkins added that the line between “workplace violence” and “active shooter” events often comes down to fatality count. “It only takes four deaths for an event to be classified as an active shooter situation,” he said, underscoring that many deadly threats fly under the radar. He also pointed out that homicide is now the leading cause of workplace death for women—a staggering reality.
The Shift from Reactive to Proactive
A central theme of the webinar was the transition organizations must make from reactive to proactive threat management. Polovich stressed that preparedness must become a baseline assumption, not a reaction to tragedy. “We used to hear ‘It can’t happen here.’ Now, the mindset has to be ‘We need to be ready when it does.’”
That readiness, all agreed, requires more than policies on a shelf—it must involve active training, integrated technology, and cultural buy-in. “You can’t just rely on tech,” Polovich said. “You need procedures, drills, and a commitment from leadership to act quickly.”
Wilkins echoed the sentiment, emphasizing legal liability as a motivator. He pointed to OSHA’s General Duty Clause and other guidelines as clear indicators that employers have a legal and moral responsibility to provide a safe workplace. “If you’re not planning for this, you're opening the door to negligence claims,” he warned.
Culture and Communication
Terry brought invaluable insight from her healthcare background, where threats can emerge from both patients and staff. She highlighted the importance of behavioral cues—such as sudden mood shifts or over-corrected behavior following disciplinary action—as early warning signs. But, she emphasized, none of it matters without a respectful workplace culture. “The room either gets safer or less safe when you walk in,” she said, urging leaders to model the emotional tone they want their teams to emulate.
The group agreed that culture and communication go hand-in-hand. “Many incidents begin with how someone is treated,” Terry said. “Respect, dignity, and trust are fundamental parts of a safer workplace.”
Duty of Care and the Legal Stakes
The legal and ethical principle of “duty of care” came up repeatedly. Wilkins explained that OSHA mandates organizations provide a workplace “free of recognized hazards.” That includes foreseeable threats like violence. He warned that after an incident, failure to plan is practically an admission of guilt.
Polovich compared the gun violence crisis to how schools tackled fire safety in the 20th century—through proactive drills, design improvements, and integrated systems. “AI-based gun detection, integrated notifications, and rapid access control are the modern equivalents,” he said. “Failing to adopt them could soon be considered negligent.”
Technology, Integration, and Human Oversight
Despite their enthusiasm for advanced tools like AI-powered gun detection, all panelists agreed on one thing: technology must be paired with human judgment. “AI can detect threats, but it can’t determine intent,” Polovich said. “A human must always be in the loop.”
Lisa Terry added that even the best systems are only as effective as their users. “It comes down to prompt training, smart inputs, and continuous learning,” she said.
Perhaps most importantly, the webinar emphasized the need for true integration. “Many organizations have all the right tools—surveillance, access control, communications—but they’re siloed,” Polovich noted. “You need them working together, triggered by a unified plan.”
Building Readiness at Every Level
From implementing threat assessment teams to conducting daily huddles, the panelists offered clear, actionable strategies for organizations of all sizes. Wilkins stressed the importance of tailoring plans to each environment—whether it’s a sprawling corporate campus or a single church building. “There’s no one-size-fits-all,” he said. “You have to consider layout, response times, and regulations.”
For small organizations with limited resources, the advice was encouraging. “You don’t need a huge budget,” Polovich said. “You need smart tools and a clear plan.” He and Terry both recommended starting with free government resources (like those from FEMA and OSHA) and building from there.
Conclusion: Prevention as a Practice
Ultimately, the webinar made one thing clear: workplace violence is not an isolated phenomenon—it’s a growing threat that requires sustained, coordinated prevention. Technology helps, but people, policy, training, and leadership culture are what truly drive readiness.
As Lisa Terry said, “Nothing replaces the human touch when it comes to prevention. How we treat each other, how we train, how we respond—that’s what builds safety.”