Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor.
The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump in Butler, Pa., has made it obvious that the attention to detail required for securing special events cannot be overly stressed. The ease with which the shooter gained access to a rooftop only about 130 yards away from the lectern, with an AR-15 rifle, highlighted how important proper planning can be. Although most security professionals will never have a client that has the worldwide attention or threats of a U.S. president, the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for securing any special event remain constant.
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As a security and active shooter prevention professional, I have designed, implemented, and managed security plans for NFL Super Bowls, NBA World Championship Series, MLB World Series, NASCAR, state fairs, and a host of other large-scale, high-threat special events. I have even planned security for six events where former President Trump was a speaker and attendee, working alongside the U.S. Secret Service (USSS). In the case of Butler, Pa., the USSS clearly did not meet the standards to which they are expected to maintain for a former president’s security with the many credible threats made against him.
Conducting a security vulnerability assessment (SVA) is the critical first step in developing a security plan for any special event. I am confident the USSS conducted their “advance visit” which included an SVA. In that SVA, I am equally confident the rooftop of the buildings adjacent to the area where the former president was going to speak was identified as a significant threat and risk. Why no one was posted on that rooftop remains unanswered and perplexing.
Without making this an article condemning the USSS, I would like to focus on what needs to be done to secure any special event, particularly those in an open-air environment. There are numerous factors that are relevant to securing both private and public events. All must be defined, addressed, implemented, and managed. These include:
- Manpower requirements and the security workforce;
- Access control plans and evacuation plans;
- Physical security (fencing, bike racks, bollards, Jersey barriers, police, counter-sniper positions, K-9 units, explosive detection, privacy curtains, etc.);
- Credentialing;
- Transportation requirements and parking;
- Intelligence;
- Logistics and supplies;
- Critical infrastructure (electricity, water, sanitation);
- Public health and medical plan (emergency medical services and fire);
- WMD or mass casualty event;
- Command post operations and setup,
- Crisis management;
- Public/media relations; and
- Training.
Planning security for special events is like the theater—it is a live performance with a huge cast and a lot of moving pieces. No two performances, no two events, are identical. There are a multitude of things that can change without notice, and as in theater, you must be prepared to adjust your role accordingly. It can be different every time, but the bottom line is to ensure a safe and enjoyable event where security is looked at as an asset, and not a functional liability or expensive requirement.
A common mistake in special event security planning is not identifying “who is the decision-maker?” These events can be quite large with dozens of participants and various components, such as the event organizer, venue management, catering, light and sound, security, infrastructure engineers, local police, civic leaders, vendors, etc. It is imperative that there be one person who has ultimate authority to make on-the-fly decisions that concern the event.
When an event has multiple people in charge, it leads to confusion, especially with guest access issues. Our team was managing security for a corporate event recently. Thankfully, we were brought in early and were able to recognize a problem right away—too many people with multiple forms of authority. We had them choose one person who would be our “go-to” for when immediate decisions needed to be made. As a result, the guest list was very tightly controlled and other key issues were dealt with quickly instead of having to get input from multiple sources.
Another common mistake is not being aware of individual attendees who come with their own private security team. Often times, VIPs, especially government representatives and celebrities, will bring their own security team with them. This can cause issues for event planners. Recently at an event, we had a government official attend and their security team asked that no other security be allowed in the room while the person was delivering the keynote address. We advised our client not to accept this request since, during the speech, security for the whole room would rely on this private team whose sole responsibility is the safety of the speaker, not the safety of the guests. We were able to arrive at a compromise because we had enough time to work with the event planner and the other security team. Had it been a day-of decision, it would have caused stress and might not have worked out as well.
Security teams should have access to up-to-the-minute intel about the surrounding region so that if a security incident were to take place nearby, they have time to react. Monitoring social media chatter has become a critically important measure for event security teams in these scenarios, allowing them to manage potential protests or other planned disturbances. Protest organizers use social media to communicate quickly to their followers. Many times, they will share key details about a protest. That information is critical to a security team to plan accordingly. Developing a close, working relationship with the local police department is also a great way to maintain situational awareness of critical incidents in the area.
Advances in technology have both helped and hindered security in the past 20 years. Social media, as an example, has given security teams a way to learn about disruptive plans being devised by criminals and protesters. A good security team will set up a “geo-fence,” which focuses social media monitoring to a specific geographic area, to look for messaging that could indicate an attack or protest is being planned. It is also imperative to use the resources and technology available to assist in weapon detection, shot detection, gas leaks, crowd development, protests, catalytic converter thefts in the parking lot, fights, etc.
Humans are prone to failure, as was exhibited in Butler, Pa.; Uvalde, Texas; and Broward County, Fla., to name a few. A good special event security team must leverage technology and artificial intelligence to assist in both awareness and prevention.
Open-air environments, such as the political rally in Butler, Pa., have a lot of space to cover. The human eye can only see and process so much. Had there been a weapons detection system—that is, cameras with artificial intelligence that can identify a weapon at long distance—notification of this threat could have been conducted prior to the shots being fired.
More than any new or improved tactics or technology, providing an elevated level of security for large scale events in today’s world first requires a change in mindset. Thinking “it won’t happen here” is not a plan; it is a hope! Getting special event planners to accept the fact that security is essential and necessary is often difficult. Security cannot be the first line item reduced when expenses get too high. Today’s security is as complex as the various threats that exist! Security must be at the forefront of any event planner’s mind as a critical element to the event’s success.
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An internationally recognized expert on active shooter and counterterrorism, Greg Shaffer is the author of “Stay Safe: Security Secrets for Today’s Dangerous World” and the founder of Dallas-based Shaffer Security Group (SSG). He also served 20 years as a Special Agent in the FBI, where he was an operator on the agency’s elite Hostage Rescue Team (FBI-HRT). Most recently, Shaffer has joined forces with Chris Grollnek at the Active Shooter Prevention Project LLC (ASPP), where they are working to end the scourge of school shootings by focusing on prevention first.