We stand in full support of the nation of Ukraine and Ukrainian people everywhere.
Agosti EPS is in full operation in 2023. The past couple of years have been challenging in a variety of topics. 2023 will be no different. New obstacles and concerns face our society on a daily basis. Thank you” to our wonderful clients. Thank you for your business and for your efforts in making our communities a better place. We look forward to working with all of our clients again this year and into the future.
AEPS continues to conduct safety training, consulting services, private investigations and fire origin and cause investigations for our numerous, public safety, school district, college, industrial, commercial, legal, insurance and professional partners.
Incidents of Mass Violence and Violent crime continued to skyrocket in the Unites States last year. Politicians routinely blame a variety of reasons for the increases. Regardless of why, we all need to be prepared and refuse to become a victim. The social, economic and mental health costs of the COVID lockdowns is yet to be fully understood. Mental health related incidents are on the rise, arguably, due to the effects of isolation. COVID-19 may be declining; however, the mental health consequences will continue indefinitely. As we move toward normal life, businesses re-open, sporting events bring spectators, concerts entertain, and houses of worship welcome the masses; the threat of violence and active shooters remains. Society must be more vigilant than ever. We must recognize the signs, take the appropriate measures and prevent these horrific incidents before they occur.
OLDER POSTS BELOW:
Three Atlanta area spas were targets of Active Shooter attacks on March 16, 2021. Preliminary information suggests mental health factors and/or mental illness may have played a role with the motive. Society took a step back from mass violence during the pandemic for several reasons. The COVID lockdowns eliminated potential targets. There simply weren’t as many people in public settings. As states continue to open, the threat of mass violence will grow exponentially. Humans are social creatures. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic demanded isolation in the form of the now famous title of “social distancing”. As we pull out of the pandemic, several hazards remain on the horizon. It is likely we will see an increase in mass violence and active shooter events for years to come. The mental health ramifications of isolation are not yet fully understood and in many cases are not even being considered. Topics like social justice and cancel culture are creating new concerns. Several cities in the US are still dealing with violent protests on a regular basis. Many do not trust our government or judicial system. The country will be watching several court cases over the next year. The outcomes could add additional fuel to the already burning fire. Everyone, no matter where they live, work or play should feel safe walking down the streets of America. It is up to everyone of us to do our part to make our society safe.
Businesses and organizations of all types should be prepared for violence. The recent tragedy at the Sun Trust Bank in Florida is just another example of how mass violence and active shooter events are becoming the new normal in the United States. Banks, Law Firms, Insurance Companies, Media Outlets and many other businesses are often the target of anger. Business owners and managers should take proactive measures to train employees on the warning signs and indicators of mass violence and violent crime. Prevention is the ultimate goal.
Active Shooter, Mass Violence, Workplace Violence and other related tragedies are becoming a new normal in the United States. Active Shooter incidents have steadily been on the rise for the past 18 years. There are several theories circulating regarding how to eliminate or reduce active shooter events. Some arguments include law changes, gun control, stronger background checks, mental health evaluations and so on. No law change or government program will have sweeping effects. Improvements can be achieved but hate will remain. Unfortunately changes in laws and policies can also fuel new hate.
Bars and Nightclubs have frequently been the target of violence of all types. Locally, a shooting spree occurred inside P.J Harrigan’s Bar and Grill at the Ramada Hotel in State College PA on January 24, 2019. Two people were shot inside the bar and a 3rd person was killed in a private residence nearby while the shooter attempted to flee. Social environments are increasingly targets of mass violence and crime. It is imperative for patrons and staff to constantly monitor their situational awareness. Events like the shooting that occurred in State College Pennsylvania can erupt in seconds. Recognition of pre-event warning signs is critical to survival. Many violent events inside bars and nightclubs differ slightly from typical active shooter scenarios. Often the shooting event is brought about by an event that occurred inside the bar causing a knee-jerk reaction toward violence. These types of events generally provide numerous warning indicators to the trained eye.
Every citizen should understand the warning signs and know how to reduce their chances of victimization. Pre-event recognition is critical to maximize life safety. Your situational awareness is an essential element of survival. It is imperative people pay attention to others around them and events that are occurring. Understanding and recognizing the presence of anomalies in a crowd or location are key in reducing victimization of any crime, mass violence, active shooter, workplace violence or other life-threatening scenario. Individuals who are about to commit a crime or begin an active shooter assault telegraph their intentions prior to occurrence of any violence. Our programs train people to recognize nonverbal behaviors, signs of hate, potential triggering actions, behavioral clusters and other indicators indicative of an attack or criminal assault. There are numerous quality programs offered free of charge by government and law enforcement agencies educating people on what to do after a gunshot occurs. These programs typically cover the topics of run, hide and fight. All citizens should understand run, hide and fight concepts however; run, hide and fight does not prevent or recognize the situation before “bang” occurs. AEPS programs are comprehensive training resources aimed at recognizing active shooter, mass violence, workplace violence and crime before the event occurs. Our programs also transition from prevention to post event reactions designed for survival.
The recent active shooter tragedy involving multiple Mosques in New Zealand is a significant indicator of the vulnerabilities surrounding places of worship. Simple and effective techniques and procedures can be implemented at Churches, Mosques, Synagogues and other places of worship to reduce or eliminate active shooter threats. Many of these concepts involve little to no expense. Situational Awareness is key to prevention.
World events often offer the opportunity to recognize trends and prepare for “copy-cat” like violence. The Easter tragedy in Sri Lanka is another example of the vulnerabilities associated with religious services and places of worship. Religious facilities in the United States should have a heightened state of alert in the wake of the Sri Lanka attacks and the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire. The devastating fire at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame was likely caused by an accidental electrical short-circuit. The event captured world attention and therefore inspired several criminals to conspire and attempt to burn churches and cathedrals in the United States and beyond. These types of events forecast future trends. Preventative actions and increased vigilance are necessary to foil future hostile actions.