Event Management
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SUMMER 2019 National Center for Spectator Sports Safety & Security 118 College Drive #5193 | Hattiesburg, MS (601) 266-6183
National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security Dr. Lou Marciani
Director
Lauren Cranford
SR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Daniel Ward
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM
Alison Crumpton
MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS, DIRECTOR OF gameday security
Alan Jones
MANAGER OF INTERNATIONAL TRAINING
William Adams
TRAINING MANAGER
Brooke Graves
TRAINING MANAGER
Dr. Kelley Gonzales
MANAGER OF EDUCATION
Christopher Kinnan
MANAGER, NATIONAL SPORT SECURITY LAB.
Tymika Rushing
BUSINESS MANAGER
Joslyn Zale
TECHNICAL WRITER & COMPLIANCE COOR.
Michelle Stringfellow INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN SPECIALIST Dr. Stacey Hall
RESEARCH FELLOW
Dr. Joshua Hill
RESEARCH FELLOW
Dr. Laura Gulledge
RESEARCH FELLOW
Jacob Neal
PROJECT ASSISTANT
Brayden Songe
WEBSITE DEVELOPER
Jonathon Evans
WEBSITE DEVELOPER
Contents FEATURES 4 6 8
NCS4 Update
12
TRAINING
15
MODERATOR SPOTLIGHT
17 20
POLICIES/PROCEDURES
etter from the Director L Update from Dr. Lou Marciani REFLECTIONS
NCS4 TIMELINE Milestones in the Center’s history
TECHNOLOGY
TECH SUPPORT Meet the sports world’s technological tools of tomorrow
BASIC TRAINING How training has improved to meet new emerging threats
ONE ON ONE Get to know Mike Hartnett, Vice President, Venue Security for Olympia Entertainment
NO TIME TO WAIT How school safety has changed over the last 20 years Public-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
LEAN ON ME Paving the way for greater collaboration and information sharing
NCS4 Update
A Note from the Director Dr. Lou Marciani
Welcome to our Summer Issue of Gameday Security! Our theme for this issue is “Lessons Learned” as we take a look inside the evolution of the sports safety and security industry. Since the 9/11 attacks, the threat environment surrounding high-profile sport and entertainment events has been constantly evolving, making the complex task of protecting people, property, information and infrastructure challenging. The safety and security profession in the post-9/11 era must continue to evolve and adapt to meet both current and future challenges. In order to prepare the future, we must learn from the past. In this issue, we will look back on major incidents impacting the sports and entertainment industry and identify gaps and solutions surrounding these events such as technology, training, policies/procedures, and private-public partnerships. Several of the incidents we will cover include: Columbine Shooting (1999), Boston Marathon Bombing (April 2013), and the Las Vegas Shooting (October 2017), among others. The topics we cover in this issue relate to the 10th anniversary of our National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition on July 9-11, 2019 in New Orleans as we “Learn from the Past to Prepare for the Future.” Sincerely,
Dr. Lou Marciani Director of NCS4
2019 NCS4 CONFERENCE EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS
24/7 Software 911 Security Aerial Armor Ameristar Perimeter Security Amika Mobile Corp AMK9 AMR Andy Frain ARX Perimeters AutoGate, Inc. Avigilon Corporation Axis Communications Babel Street CEIA USA ChemImage CLEAR Cleveland Electric Labs Cobalt Robotics ColorID Concentric Security, LLC Consolidated Glass Holdings Dallmeier Electronic USA, Ltd. Datamaxx Dell EMC
Delta Scientific Corp DetectaChem Detex Corporation DHS Office for Bombing Prevention Digital Ally, Inc Dimension Data FEI Workforce Resilience FLIR Systems, Inc Garrett Metal Detectors Genetec GeoComm Gresco Technology Solutions Hanwha Techwin America Idemia Johnson Controls K2 Solutions, Inc. KLD Engineering, P.C. Landmark Event Staffing Services LifeRaft Live Earth Metrasens North American Rescue, LLC
Nuctech Company Limited Observation Without Limits Off Duty Services Petrone Risk Red Hawk Fire & Security RiskBand LLC S2 Event Security Security Industry Association Smart CT Solutions Solutions Event Services, Inc Southern Software, Inc. SymbolArts TEEX/NERRTC The Toledo Ticket Co Thomas Barriers, LLC Thornton Tomasetti Tusco Perimeter Security Solutions Tyco Tymetal Corp. Unitex Direct, Inc Wanco Inc.
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Event Management
TIMELINE
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR SPECTATOR SPORTS SAFETY AND SECURITY T H E U N I V E RS I T Y OF S OUT H E R N M I S SISS IPPI
2006-2019 2014
THE STANDARD
First graduation class for Certified Sports Security Professional (CSSP) certification at National Conference
2007
THE START OF TRAINING
2011
First U.S. Department of Homeland Security FEMA grant to develop and deliver sports risk management training to intercollegiate athletics and local agencies
2006
THE BEGINNING
The establishment of National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security at The University Southern Mississippi funded by Office of Mississippi Homeland Security
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THE HOMEPLATE
First Marathon Safety and Security Summit and Interscholastic Athletics Safety and Security Summit, National Center
The National Center moves into permanent home at the University of Southern Mississippi's Trent Lott Center
2010
THE CENTER STAGE
First National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans, LA The establishment of the National Sports Security Laboratory at The Trent Lott National Center
2013
THE INSPIRATION
Establishment of the 9/11 Sport Security Memorial at the Trent Lott National Center. Three pieces of twisted steel from the World Trade Center Partnership Established with Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), a state agency and a member of the Texas A&M University System and the National Center to develop and deliver FEMA/DHS sports safety and security training courses
Event REFLECTIONS Management
2018
THE HOMEPLATE
2016
The University signs agreement with Qatar for World Cup 2022 training, Doha, Qatar
THE GLOBAL INITIATIVE
The University signs Project Stadia international training agreement with INTERPOL in Lyon, France
National Center a recipient of first endowed gift from the Gulf Resort Classic Foundation (Mississippi)
The National Center receives grant from the Office of Mississippi Homeland Security to re-validate the Certified Sport Venue Staff (CSVS) certification
2015
THE NEXT GENERATION
Master of Business Administration Degree with an emphasis in Sport Security Management established by The University of Southern Mississippi College of Business First Commercial Sport and Entertainment Facilities Safety and Security Summit, National Center
The University of Southern Mississippi receives project funding for the Domestic Preparedness Response Initiative
2017
THE CENTER STAGE
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA funds the National Center to provide Comprehensive training for sports
2019
THE FUTURE
The National Center reaches a milestone with recipient of 20 million dollar of federal and state grants The National Center launches School Safety Initiative First Project Stadia course taught in Doha, Qatar for World Cup 2022
TECH SUPPORT
From facial recognition to 5G, sports security professionals are embracing the technological tools of tomorrow. One of the most visible modern-day symbols of how sports security has changed might be walkthrough metal detectors, which have become a valuable screening tool utilized across all levels of security to varying degrees. But there are less visible technological advancements that have had an equally important impact on sports security today, and will help define what sports security looks like moving forward. “When you talk about technology, you have to look at probably the most essential element for security and that’s communications and the essentiality of interoperability,” says Commissioner William Bratton, Executive Chairman of Teneo Risk, a global CEO advisory firm. “Over the last number of decades, the ability to communicate has improved dramatically in so many ways, including voice, data and video. Those technology enhancements have been wonderful and they continue to grow exponentially.” “Over the last number of decades, the ability to communicate has improved dramatically in so many ways, including voice, data and video. Those technology enhancements have been wonderful and they continue to grow exponentially.” - Commisoner William Bratton The former New York City Police Commissioner, former Los Angeles Police Department Chief and Boston Police Chief has worked in some of the highest and most visible security leadership positions, which also includes Vice Chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council reporting to the Secretary of Homeland Security. As such, perhaps no one better understands the
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importance of critical state-of-the-art communications tools and the role they can play in providing a safe environment for those they are tasked with protecting. One of those critical technologies Bratton believes will have an enormous impact moving forward is 5G. “With the emergence of 5G technology, that’s going to be a phenomenal benefit to 21st century security and over the next couple of years, we’re going to see it everywhere,” he shares, comparing 3G technology to a two-lane country highway and 5G to a highway with 10 or 20 lanes. “It will allow the movement and analysis of data because of the rapid development of algorithms that allow you to analyze huge amounts of data and information and effectively put it into usable context.” John Bertsch, Director of Global Safety and Security for IRONMAN, agrees with Commissioner Bratton, revealing he has the sports security industry’s biggest technological breakthrough in the palm of his hand, literally. “From a technology standpoint, the smartphone has enabled us to engage not only public safety, but also event organizers and the public in leveraging our mass communication, and leveraging information at the fingertips of event organizers, coordination, collaboration and command and control with our public-private partnerships,” Bertsch shares. “From a technology standpoint, the smartphone has enabled us to engage not only public safety, but also event organizers and the public in leveraging our mass communication, and leveraging information at the fingertips of event organizers, coordination, collaboration and command and control with our public-private partnerships.” - John Bertsch
Caitlin Durkovich, Director at Toffler Associates, a future-focused strategic advisory firm based in Arlington, Virginia, echoes this sentiment, as well. “Technology not only has made the security professional’s life easier, but it has also helped in connecting multiple different functions and agencies that are a critical part of the overall security environment,” says Durkovich. “Technology not only has made the security professional’s life easier, but it has also helped in connecting multiple different functions and agencies that are a critical part of the overall security environment.” - Caitlin Durkovich “Technology helps create that common operating picture and common operating framework that is equally important in this complex threat environment and is helping with the overall threat detection capability to be more proactive as opposed to reactive.” Durkovich witnessed this firsthand recently when she attended a Washington Nationals baseball game and a fan nearby was creating a situation and, through social media and texting options, fans were able to notify Nationals security and the situation was quickly addressed. And identifying potential problem fans before they even enter a venue is now possible through the inclusion of biometrics. Last year, the New York Mets piloted a biometric ticketing program by CLEAR that grants fans access to the venue with simply the tap of their finger. The platform, which requires a one-time sign-up and is utilized to identify people and speed up security checks, is now being utilized by approximately one dozen professional sports teams. “Using biometrics and facial recognition technology allows security professionals to bounce names off a blacklist and prevent entry to individuals that may have violated a policy or gotten into trouble previously,” adds Durkovich. However, one of the challenges with the widespread implementation of facial recognition technology are there
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are multiple jurisdictions on the government level that want to place limits or restrictions on facial recognition. “Facial recognition could be viewed as controversial in the sense of concerns about privacy rights, but there are essential components of any facility security, and we are constantly trying to improve the scanning of attendees,” notes Commissioner Bratton, who recently viewed a device that attaches to a smartphone which would allow someone to aim their phone at a person and detect metal, virtually eliminating the need for a pat down. Vern Conaway Jr., Vice President of Safety and Security with the Maryland Stadium Authority, sees
VEHICULAR SCREENING
similar obstacles or challenges for the wider spread implementation of facial recognition technology. “It’s an evolving technology and by no means is it perfected, but venue operators are considering this technology as they try to identify the most effective technologies to utilize at their event,” Conaway shares. “But then it’s about ensuring that they can implement it and still be in compliance with state, local and federal laws.” Conaway is responsible for the overall planning and coordination of security for Oriole Park at Camden Yards as well as M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens. In this eight years in the position and previous 25 years as a member of the Maryland State Police, Conaway has seen dramatic technology improvements – some obvious
and some less obvious. “Some of the notable technology improvements we have in place today to protect venues include walkthrough metal detectors, standoff detection sensors for chemical biological agents and closed-circuit television,” Conaway says, noting the important role the video surveillance evolution has had, in particular. “The benefit of cameras is that it helps situational awareness and being able to observe situations and conditions, and there is an information sharing component, as well,” says Conaway, who will be part of a breakout session on Policies and Procedures at the NCS4 Conference. “You can share security camera footage with various stakeholders, local law enforcement, state and federal law enforcement, as well as private sector partners so that not only are you sharing information, you’re also sharing situational awareness.” Today, there are more than 350 million surveillance cameras worldwide. The rise in CCTV implementation goes back roughly 25 years when technology allowed several cameras to not only record at once, but also add new options such as time-lapse and motion-only recording. But today, not only are these cameras delivering high-definition quality images, but they are now incorporating machine learning, connectivity and artificial intelligence as part of this new Golden Age of Technology where the Internet of Things (IoT) rules above all others. Commissioner Bratton concludes, “We’re in the best of times and we’re in the worst of times. The threat level has never been higher but it is a wonderful time in the security profession to enhance public safety and focus on improving our capabilities and capacities to prevent an event from occurring, while understanding there is a strong likelihood that an event can and will occur. And this is where good communications, good collaboration and constant innovation come into play.” GS Caitlin Durkovich and Commissioner William Bratton will co-moderate the session, “Exclusive Insights on the Past and Present,” at the NCS4 Conference. Focusing on thought leadership, policy and evolving industry practices for managing risk and operational risk, the session will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10.
LeArning from The PAsT - PrePAring for The fuTure The tenth anniversary of the national sports safety and security Conference and exhibition will take place on July 9-11, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The safety and security profession in the post 9/11 era must continue to evolve and adapt to meet current and future challenges. During the conference, we will explore ways to effectively mitigate risk and increase organizational preparedness. Join us as we look back on major incidents impacting the sports and entertainment industry, share lessons learned, and pave the way forward.
Target Audience - Security directors and operators, facility and stadium managers, event planners/operators, law enforcement personnel, emergency managers, fire/hazmat, emergency medical/health services, athletic administrators, and governmental representatives These are individuals representing or supporting: professional sport leagues, intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, marathon/endurance events, and commercial sport and entertainment facilities (concerts, festivals, motocross, wrestling, etc.)
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BASIC TRAINING
How sports safety and security training has evolved in the face of emerging threats in the shadow of past incidents. IRONMAN Director of Global Safety and Security, John Bertsch, remembers a time not very long ago involving event organizers and law enforcement officials where the former was solely focused on the cultural aspects and enthusiasm of bringing 40,000 people into a confined space, while the latter was focused on the weaknesses, threats and vulnerabilities that comes with such an event. “Very rarely did the two of those collaborate and coordinate and come to an agreement as to what’s the safe way of doing things,” Bertsch says. “But through the help of NCS4 and the open dialogue between private organizations and government entities, that discussion has been significantly elevated to the point where everybody knows we have to work together.” In the past, that confined area was primarily where security efforts were focused but recent events have shown that focus must extend well beyond the traditional perimeter. “We’ve done a very good job of protecting the inside of the venue, but now we’re seeing attacks originating from beyond the physical boundaries of the venue, such as mass transit stations, parking lots, even the adjacent buildings and pedestrian pathways leading to the venues,” says Vern Conaway, Vice President of Safety and Security with the Maryland Stadium Authority. “We’ve done a very good job of protecting the inside of the venue, but now we’re seeing attacks originating from beyond the physical boundaries of the venue, such as mass transit stations, parking lots, even the adjacent buildings and pedestrian pathways leading to the venues.” - Vern Conaway
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Conaway references the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival shooting on the Las Vegas Strip where, on October 1, 2017, a man killed 58 people and wounded 422 from his suite on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel. The shooter fired 1,100 rounds of ammunition in what became the deadliest mass shooting committed by one person in U.S. history. “One of the policies and procedures that now gets implemented for events as a result of Las Vegas is having a better understanding and situational awareness of the neighboring buildings and structures around the venue,” says Conaway, who will moderate a breakout session on Policies and Procedures at the NCS4 Conference in July. “It’s all about having points of contact with the building managers and the security directors of those buildings, using security camera technology and other technology to be able to monitor and observe beyond your physical perimeter, and expanding your perimeter virtually.” One of the most important lessons from past incidents is that the sports security community has to expect the unexpected and prepare for every possible scenario, and training for those scenarios, regardless of how outrageous or unlikely it might seem. “I think our approach to training is really driven by the when, not if,” says Caitlin Durkovich, Director at Toffler Associates. “The range of threat in the sports league community is pretty wide, but we have to be prepared for that eventuality.” Durkovich, a veteran of the Washington, D.C., scene for 25 years, formerly served as the chief of staff and then Assistant Secretary of Infrastructure Protection of what is now the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security. In that capacity, she worked with owners and
TRAINING operators in the 16 sectors that were top targets and understands how critical proactive collaboration and communication is in the security realm. “Training is all about bringing the multiple players together long before game day to talk about some of the more significant types of incidents and what are we going to do in the event of an active shooter, how do we understand what each of the roles and responsibilities are and what is our plan,” adds Durkovich, stressing the importance of all key stakeholders getting to know each other. “Not everything is going to go according to plan, but we know the personalities, we understand the command structure and the facts.” Commissioner William Bratton, Executive Chairman of Teneo Risk, sees the biggest training and response tactics advancements in the pre-event planning and collaboration processes, as well an increased focus on unity of command. “The unity of command concept is critical as to establishing who is in charge at what stage of a crisis so in the event of an emergency, you’re not running around trying to make decisions in the midst of that emergency,” Commissioner Bratton comments, citing that not only has response issues changed in training, but also in the equipping of officers and security personnel.
“The unity of command concept is critical as to establishing who is in charge at what stage of a crisis so in the event of an emergency, you’re not running around trying to make decisions in the midst of that emergency.” - Commissioner Bratton In New York City, where he formerly served as Chief of Police, every police officer is equipped with a heavy vest and ballistic helmet so that any responding officer has the ability to protect themselves with a level of equipment that helps enhance their ability to rush into a scene. But even with the proper equipment and training, there is still the human element that must be accounted for, as well. “On occasion, you see even with the best planning and training, there’s still the human element in which a deputy might not be going into a building even though he’s been trained to do that,” Commissioner Bratton continues. “So, you try and anticipate even that issue, and this is where improving technology is going to be so beneficial.” Many modern-day training methods incorporate technology at some point in the process, if not throughout its entirety. One example is the weather preparation apps and technology that can be utilized during a weather emergency that help venue operators determine when to evacuate versus shelter in place.
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a building or large complex. While extolling the virtues of technology – Bertsch is moderating a breakout session on Technology at the NCS4 Conference – when it comes to training, he is focused on taking a more hands-on approach and getting back to basics. “There can be technology failures where devices freeze or power down, making our biggest asset suddenly our weakest link,” he shares. “If people come to rely on the technology solely, that’s where I believe that we can start to get into trouble.”
Simulations allow safety professionals to run every possible scenario and then establish best protocols and routes, and then the final step is doing full-scale exercises and running through each possibility in real-time, live at the stadium or event. “With technology, you need to train your operators to understand the technology and be able to implement and run with the technology,” says Conaway. “As the threats and the challenge emerge to protecting venues, the training has changed as well.” Commissioner Bratton references a new technology that responding officers or personnel can bring up on their mobile device that features acoustic gunshot capabilities that can determine if a shot has been fired, where it was fired from, if the gunman is moving and where he is within
“There can be technology failures where devices freeze or power down, making our biggest asset suddenly our weakest link.” - John Bertsch At the end of the day, it all comes down to the people tasked with protecting players, coaches, workers and fans, and the most dangerous question is asking whether or not it’s worth it to invest in the necessary tools and training required to provide the highest level of safety and security. “What we’ve seen over the course of the last 10 years is that security can’t be seen as a cost center or a cost, it has to be seen as part of doing business, as the differentiator, and you can’t view it as spending too much on security,” Durkovich says. “You need to be doing the right thing, because the worst thing is not to do the right thing and trying to cut corners and something happens.” GS
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ONE ON ONE
NCS4 Conference
MODERATOR SPOTLIGHT Mike Hartnett
Vice President, Venue Security Olympia Entertainment Gameday Security staff recently sat down with Mike Hartnett, Vice President, Venue Security, for Olympia Entertainment. Hartnett will be moderating a breakout session at the NCS4 Conference on Training.
Gameday Security (GS): Tell us about yourself. Mike Hartnett (MH): I was named as Vice President of Venue Security for Olympia Entertainment in October 2018. In this role, I am responsible for developing, implementing and managing safety and security strategies, programs and procedures for all of the Olympia Entertainment venues. I lead the daily security operations and event-based security for Little Caesars Arena and its office buildings, Comerica Park, City Theatre, Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, the Fox Theatre and Fox Office Centre, the Little Caesars Global Resource Center and throughout The District Detroit. Prior to joining Olympia Entertainment, I served in the FBI for over 21 years. I retired as the Unit Chief in the Crisis Management Unit where I served since 2016. In this role, I was responsible for all the FBI’s crisis response operations and special events planning for events such as the Super Bowl, the Summer and Winter Olympics and Political Conventions. I also served multiple stints as a Supervisory Special Agent in Organized Crime and Counterterrorism and was a Unit Chief in the Counterterrorism Division. I received my Juris Doctor from the Boston College Law School and practiced law before joining the FBI. I also served in the United States Army Reserve for 13 years. GS: How has technology improved or evolved in the sports security world? MH: There have been great strides made in the advancement and integration of technology into the daily security operations for sports and entertainment security. CCTV cameras and systems are constantly advancing to provide better clarity and images with fewer cameras. The CCTV systems are also integrating artificial intelligence to more efficiently detect security breaches. Walk through metal detector technology continues to advance to
differentiate between weapons and common items such as keys or cell phones. This will make spectator screening move more quickly. GS: You are moderating a breakout session on Training at the NCS4 Conference. Why are Table Top exercises so important today, and what else does the future hold for sports security training? MH: First, there has been a recognition that in the wake of all these incidents, training is critical to both mitigating and responding to these events. In addition, Table Top exercises have now become a critical component of security planning and operations. The Table Top exercises bring both the private and public sectors together to discuss response plans and various responsibilities during a crisis. The Table Top exercises also provide an opportunity for the various agency and private sector representatives to meet each other before a crisis exists. There is also much greater information sharing among the private sector and with the public sector as well. Best practices for training and lesson learned are freely shared and discussed, helping everyone advance their security programs. GS: How has partnering with private and public groups changed over the years? MH: There is a much stronger partnership between the public and private sector now. In the wake of the numerous incidents that have occurred in the U.S. and worldwide, there is a realization that no entity is as an island and that we must all work together to be successful. The public sector, including DHS and the FBI, provide numerous training materials to the public sector on topics such as Active Shooter training or explosive device recognition. The public sector also participates in the various Table Top exercises hosted by the private sector and provide training to the private sector.
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ONE ON ONE
GS: Why is the SAFETY ACT so important to policy and procedural improvements in the sports industry? MH: Sports security policies and procedures have evolved throughout the years and are an integral part of all safety and security programs. Best practices, such as those pioneered by NCS4, have provided a strong foundation to enhance security policies and procedures. The professional sports leagues have also
been a leader in promulgating policies that incorporate best practices and enhanced technology utilized in the various arenas that host their sporting events. In addition, the SAFETY ACT has been an important part of positively changing sports security practices and procedures. The SAFETY ACT certification process provides a framework for venues to achieve the highest designation for security preparedness based upon DHS guidelines. All these developments have greatly bolstered arena security practices. GS
To learn more about Olympia Entertainment, go to www.olympiaentertainment.com or call 313-471-3200. You can also hear Mike Hartnett speak at the NCS4 Conference when he co-hosts a Training breakout session on Wednesday, July 10, from 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
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NO TIME TO WAIT
How school security has changed since the Columbine High School shooting 20 years ago. Two hours. Twenty years ago, the security world was turned upside down over two hours. That was the amount of time SWAT waited for its full team to arrive at Columbine High School before finally entering the Colorado school. On April 20, 1999, 12 students and one teacher were killed by two students that eventually took their own lives. At the time, it was the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. Media and concerned community members alike were left with many questions after the senseless act of violence, including why law enforcement waited so long before entering and engaging the shooters? As a result of the incident at Columbine, the Immediate Action Rapid Deployment tactic was implemented, which allows first responding law enforcement professionals to confront an active shooter. “Columbine changed the way law enforcement responded to an active shooter and active shooter situations, as well as civilian response,” says Vern Conaway, Vice President of Safety and Security, Maryland Stadium Authority. “The unarmed civilian response to an active shooter also changed to run, hide, fight as well as the ALICE active shooter response plan, so there’s much better planning and better situational
awareness.” ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training helps individuals and organizations proactively address threats or intruders, and today it is utilized by schools, healthcare facilities, businesses, government, as well as places of worship. “For a civilian, first and foremost, they must be able to recognize an unsafe condition and then be able to have options based on the circumstances,” Conaway shares. “I think the important thing is that there’s a variety of possible scenarios and circumstances, and sometimes it’s not a linear decision-making process where you have to take the facts that you have and respond immediately based on the condition.” Another dramatic change to come out of Columbine was technology related, as numerous manufacturers either created or adapted technology for school security purposes, and these technologies have become a fixture within schools or have been mandatory tools that responding law enforcement professionals utilize. Caitlin Durkovich, Director at Toffler Associates, cautions against a rush to implement and suggests a thorough testing and trial process before adding a technological advancement to a standard operating procedure.
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“There’s always this kind of a rush to adopt the technology without thinking through the full implications of it and all of the immediate impact and consequences and benefits,” she notes. “We do adopt technology, whether it’s facial recognition, cameras, IoT devices, that help the security environment, but we need to think through what this means in terms of the benefits as well as the vulnerability. We call that the pre-mortem.” The pre-mortem examines every way something can go right, as well as every way something can go wrong. It also identifies all key stakeholders and the plans and procedures to deal with what Durkovich refers to as “second and third order consequences.” “When you look at the new security professional, it’s
not going to be 20 years of experience in an organization where you’ve done this and that and moved up the ladder,” says Durkovich. “You need professionals who have been in different environments who have seen things from a different perspective.” Another post-Columbine change has been the increase in onsite school resource officers. According to a survey by the National Center for Education Statistics, in the 20152016 school year, 57 percent of schools had a physical security presence, up 15 percent from the previous decade. Despite the positive security policy and procedural changes that have been made as a result of Columbine, threats remain as evidenced by the horrific school
THE PREMIER CREDENTIAL FOR SPORTS SAFETY AND SECURITY PROFESSIONALS
The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security’s CSSP certification program is designed to establish standardized competencies among individuals holding leadership positions in the sports security industry and to ensure that the most current techniques, strategies and solutions are used to mitigate safety and security risks inherent to spectator sport venues. • Security Directors/Managers • Emergency Managers • Stadium Directors/Operators/Managers • Private Security • Event Operations Directors/Managers
• Fire/HAZMAT services • Law Enforcement • Emergency Medical Services • Other local, state, federal agency reps
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“Each one of these events, there’s lessons learned, there’s best practices confirmed that need to be discussed and passed down to the event staff.” - Vern Conaway shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018, the latter of which involved an onsite school resource officer who infamously hid for nearly an hour after the shooting started rather than engaging the shooter. “Each one of these events, there’s lessons learned, there’s best practices confirmed that need to be discussed and passed down to the event staff,” Conaway says. “And this includes looking at how our policies and procedures are being used to help keep the venue safe, as well as how they can be used by police and security and venue management.” GS Vern Conaway will host a breakout session on how Policies and Procedures have evolved over the years at the NCS4 Conference. His session will be held from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. CST on Wednesday, July 10.
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LEAN ON ME Emerging public-private partnerships are paving the way for greater collaboration and information-sharing as both sides work together toward a safer future.
Commissioner William Bratton has seen how important public-private collaboration can be, specifically coming from the public sector as Chief of Police for the Los Angeles Police Department and the New York City Police Department. Specifically, the NYPD uses an email notification system called Shield in New York to communicate with the private sector. When there is an incident or something happens, the NYPD can push out accurate information as quickly as possible. There are more than 7,000 private sector security personnel on Shield in New York. “Many other agencies around the country have something similar in place to overcome a lot of the inaccurate information that quickly overwhelms the social media world,” shares Commissioner Bratton. “We saw the first example of that in the Boston Marathon bombing.” During the 2013 Boston Marathon, two homemade pressure cooker bombs detonated, killing three and injuring hundreds. After the bombs exploded, the manhunt began for the two suspects. And with that manhunt came a media rush to break any news or updates, regardless of whether or not there was any truth or facts to support that news. “As the traditional news media was reporting with great inaccuracy during that horrific series of events, the Boston Police Department was able to very quickly contradict inaccurate news with accurate information,” notes Commissioner Bratton. Social media was critical in those efforts, as BPD utilized its Twitter feed with more than 500,000 followers to keep the private sector accurately informed throughout those harrowing five days. It was especially meaningful to Commissioner Bratton, as he was closely working with a national news network
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and was literally sitting on the set watching the BPD Twitter. Commissioner Bratton observes, “That was the beginning of another revolution in communication, where public safety and private security were very reliant on the media to put information out, and what Boston showed was that there was now a new avenue of communication to the public where we didn’t have to go through the traditional media.” “That was the beginning of another revolution in communication, where public safety and private security were very reliant on the media to put information out, and what Boston showed was that there was now a new avenue of communication to the public where we didn’t have to go through the traditional media.” - Commissioner Bratton His co-presenter on “Exclusive Insights on the Past and Present” at the NCS4 Conference, Caitlin Durkovich, has extensive experience on both the public and private sides, working previously with the Department of Homeland Security before moving to Toffler Associates, a futurefocused strategic advisory firm. “The progress of the public-private partnership has really matured over the course of the last decade,” Durkovich notes. “I think there is a greater appreciation on behalf of government of the role the private sector plays in national and homeland security.” “The progress of the public-private partnership has really matured over the course of the last decade.” - Caitlin Durkovich
Specifically, Durkovich references the evolution of information sharing and helping the private sector understand the threat environment and emerging threats, as well as how those threats could impact their business. “The more the government provides the private sector with valuable, actionable information and other tools that can help them, the more trust is being built,” says Durkovich. “Likewise, the private sector can help educate government about the balance they have to create between security and the fan experience.” Durkovich believes the collaboration and trust that’s been built between the public and private sectors has helped create the safe, fan-friendly environment seen today at various sports venues and events. “Every environment is going to be different and you’ve got to find a healthy mix, but I think we’ve come a long way and it is part of the reason that you haven’t seen as many incidents as we possibly could have,” she notes. Vern Conaway oversees Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. He agrees with Durkovich on how critical the information sharing aspect is between public and private sectors, but adds that it is also important to share resources with you neighbors. At the Camden Yards Sports Complex, there is a hotel to the north, a convention center to the northeast, and the Baltimore Horseshoe Casino to the south. “We have relationships with all those entities and can provide resources to them in the event of some type of emergency, and that goes both ways,” Conaway shares. “During baseball and football games, we have options to use those buildings for staging of resources or emergency shelter if we need it.” Moving forward, the lines have finally been blurred and the public and private sectors now not only recognize and appreciate the value that the other brings to the table, but they are counting on one another to ensure the safest environment possible. “We should face the future with optimism and at the same time face it with awareness because there’s always going to be things that are going to create fear,” says Commissioner Bratton. “The obligation of the sports world and its security apparatus is to not dismiss that fear, but to recognize that it’s there and to diminish it by increasing ways to making the
public aware of what we’re doing to protect them and the facilities they’re coming to. “It’s a shared responsibility and doesn’t fall solely on the shoulders of safety security forces. It falls equally on the shoulders of patrons. The see-something, say-something campaign has shown itself time and time again as the best protection that we have,” Commissioner Bratton concludes. GS
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Event Management
XXXXXX Dek. Dek.
By Paul Steinbach
I Photo Credit
magine that you’ve just tested your pool water and found it to be — the actual numbers are irrelevant to the story — just fine. A member approaches you 10 minutes later, still in her bathing suit, dripping water on your shoes, and says, “The pH in the pool is high.” You say, “I just checked it and it seemed fine, but I’m happy to look into it,” even though you’d rather say, “Really? You must be a human chemical testing kit, because the water is actually perfect!” At that moment, would you rather be in the fitness business, or on a beach someplace?
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Paul Steinbach (paul@athleticbusiness.com, @ SteinbachPaul) is senior editor of Gameday Security.
Event Management