Tactical Communications
Why We Can’t Compare Disasters: WTC, Murrah, Katrina & More – SDP#37
There are several reasons why each disaster should be studied as an individual unit. By isolating communications and geography specific to time, context and situation, Dr. Perrodin demonstrates the inherent problems with comparing disasters. He also notes the incredible impact of “lived experiences” and longitudinal demographic factors that contributed to the improbable rescue of 500,000 people in only 9 hours from Lower Manhattan on 9/11/01.
Read MoreCAPTURED! A Look Back At The Bizarre Unraveling Of the Wisconsin Manhunt – SDP#23
One of the Midwest’s largest manhunts ended peacefully at a makeshift campsite in a remote area of Wisconsin farmland. Joseph Jakubowski, a Janesville, Wisconsin man accused of sending President Donald Trump a 161-page anti-government and anti-religious manifesto was uneventfully captured by law enforcement on the morning of April 14, 2017.
Read MoreMyths; Realities of Search and Rescue (SAR) Dogs & Their Handlers – Interview with Jennifer Fritton | SDP 6
I deem that this post will inform school administrators, staff, parents and families as what to expect in the event that search and rescue (SAR) dogs are involved in a search for a lost child. This blog post was developed, in large part, from an interview I conducted on December 14, 2016 with SAR dog handler Jennifer…
Read MoreThe Biggest Safety Gap in Most Professional Sports Stadiums & Arenas: Scott Meyers Interview – SDP#4
While user-friendly icon-based mobile app managed systems have become common at the professional and college levels, there is very little penetration into K-12 settings, even for districts with 70 or more schools!
Read MoreIt’s Time for High Schools to Consider Text-Based Incident Management Systems for Large-Attendance Athletic Events
I recently met with Mr. Ben Fraser, UW-Madison Director of Guest Services, to discuss access and security considerations for large-scale events. Mr. Fraser shared a few pieces of the puzzle that comprise the vast security network for UW-Madison athletics. First, allow me to praise the outstanding security processes of UW-Athletics. As a fan and also someone with…
Read MoreTactical Communications: The Blunder in Telling Someone to “Calm Down” and Verbal Judo Instruction for School Front Office Personnel
32% of school-based attacks were stopped through physical or verbal intervention by school administrators, educators or students. Knowing this, should schools teach tactical communications (verbal judo) to staff and students? (Data provided by United States Secret Service, 2002, in a study of school attacks between 1974-2000) “Please, calm down!” Consider this verbal blunder. A school principal, front office…
Read MoreEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: A 40-Year Veteran of the Telecom Industry and Crisis Communications Profession Offers His Opinions About Analog Versus Digital 2-Way Radios Relative to School Security
Like many school districts, the district I work for is in the process of upgrading its 2-way radio communications system in both an effort to make communications more efficient and to also enhance school safety. I’ve had a substantial role in that process and admit that while I have learned much, I still have much…
Read MoreWhat’s My Safety Priority – Radio Communications or Video Surveillance?
There’s a debate brewing in the school safety world as radio communications is pitted against video surveillance for a northern notch on the priority ladder. Here’s my two cents on this discussion. Let’s begin with an examination of the everyday use of radio communications and video surveillance. Everyday Use – Radio Communications Playground supervision. Custodians (talk group). Special education…
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