Local security consultant advises what to do during active shooting

After last week’s mass shooting at Virginia Beach, workers are being encouraged by security firms to be trained on what to do during an active shooter situation.

“You can never be fully prepared but you can prepare yourself to deal with situations when they do arise,” said Shawn Strain, who is a security consultant for Soteric Group.

Last year, KRDO hired Soteric Group to provide training sessions on how to defend yourself against an armed aggressor in the workplace.

“We can teach people about what to do, how to respond to it,” Strain said. “And then furthermore, we can create recovery plans on how to recover from an event once an event occurs.”

Workers downtown in Colorado Springs said they think communication can play a role in preventing mass shootings in the workplace.

Chris Miller, who works in an office with other employees, said talking with your co-workers can reduce stress and potentially mitigate violent actions.

“Get to know them a little bit,” Miller said. “Today’s society is all a little disconnected, more and more digitally-minded, and we’re not really having a conversation like this anymore.”

Regina Maestri, a project manager, said a workplace should have open lines of communication so people can report their concerns and talk about issues with their supervisors.

“I do agree that if you see something that makes you feel uncomfortable, that you should be able to go to personnel and explain that,” Maestri said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security advises people to either run or hide during an active shooting. If neither of those are an option, the DHS says to fight as a way to survive.

“With proper training, we believe that a large number of people that don’t think they can do that, will be able to do that,” Strain said.