Prevention Response and Options

Prevention, Response and Options: A Call to Action

I am deeply honored to have recently joined the Active Shooter Prevention Project (ASPP). What drew me to this organization was not only its mission, but also its alignment with my own lifelong passion and professional purpose: to move our society from reacting to tragedy toward preventing it in the first place. Prevention, Response and Options: A Call to Action

ASPP is more than an organization—it is a coalition of some of the nation’s most respected security and counterterrorism professionals, united around a clear mission: to stop active shooter incidents before they begin. Our philosophy is simple yet urgent: Prevention must come first. We are committed to identifying and addressing threats before they escalate, and to empowering individuals, organizations, and communities with the knowledge and tools they need to save lives. Our approach and core of our program includes three fundamental pillars: Prevention, Response and Options (the P.R.O. Model).

A Career of Lessons Learned

With over 30 years in law enforcement, school safety leadership, and risk management, I have seen the devastating aftermath of school shootings and targeted acts of violence. Time and again, I was struck by the same truths:

• Safety training was often not inclusive. Teachers, staff, students, parents, and businesses were left out of the preparation process.
• Preventive measures were rarely emphasized, and threat assessment policies were missing or underdeveloped.
• Consistent, proactive training was the exception, not the norm.

But I also witnessed the power of a different approach when collaboration, communication, and prevention became the cultural standard, and when all voices, including students and parents, were included in the process. I learned that building a culture of prevention requires an “all hands on deck” mindset.

Human Motivation

In recent weeks, mass shootings have again shaken our communities. As a mother, grandmother, person of faith, and public safety professional, my heart aches but my resolve only deepens.

Neighbors, friends, and reporters often ask me: “Is there a solution to active shooter violence?” My answer: There is no single solution, but there are proven ways to prevent incidents, reduce injuries, and save lives.

First responders have standardized training models. The public does not. ASPP is working to change that. We are advocating for a national standard training model and equipment baseline for the public—a force multiplier that empowers communities while complementing professional response.

From Silos to Teams

During my years as Director of Safe Schools for a large metropolitan city, I saw firsthand that prevention and intervention succeed when we break down silos. Standardized training, collaborative planning, and inclusive preparedness enabled us to stop potential acts of violence before they unfolded. The lesson was clear: information sharing, teamwork, and prevention save lives.

This principle was reinforced during my time on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, where core training focused on knowing our adversaries, their ideologies, and their methods. That foundational knowledge was essential to effective prevention and response. Today, I see the same necessity for equipping the public—schools, businesses, faith communities, and neighborhoods—with training that identifies threats early, interrupts the “Pathway to Violence,” and empowers intervention before tragedy strikes.

Facing New Challenges

Traditionally, we’ve sought to understand an attacker’s motive. But a recent federal court memorandum highlighted a disturbing trend: individuals committing violence without a clear motive, so-called Nihilistic Violent Extremists. These actors thrive on chaos itself, making traditional predictive models less effective.

This reality only underscores the urgency of prevention. If motive cannot always be identified, then vigilance, teamwork, and early intervention are more critical than ever.

A Call to Join Us

I am proud to stand with ASPP’s extraordinary team of professionals, each bringing unique skills, experiences, and resources. But our vision cannot succeed in isolation. We need you. Whether you are a security professional, educator, business leader, parent, or simply someone who cares about safer communities, you have a role to play.

The pathway to prevention is built on collaboration, education, and a shared commitment to act. Together, we can create a new standard one where prevention is the expectation, not the afterthought.

Let us unite in purpose and refuse to accept active shooter violence as inevitable. The time for prevention is now.

#NEVERHERE

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