Executive Protection Agents and Active Shooter Incidents: Who Takes Priority?
Michael Julian, CPI PPS CSP, ALIVE Active Shooter Training
Podcaster, Creator of the A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training Program, Personal Protector, Private Investigator, Best Selling Author, Father of Two Amazing Human Beings
As a paid Protector, your job is to keep your clients safe and secure, no matter what.?
But what happens when an active shooter incident occurs, and you're faced with a difficult decision about who to prioritize??
Should you focus on protecting your client first and foremost, or should you try to help others who are shot or in danger?
It's a tough call, but the answer is clear: in an active shooter situation, your client takes priority.?
In this article, we'll explore why this is the case and what you can do to ensure that you're prepared to make the right call when it matters most.
Client's safety first!
In the event of an active shooter situation, it's easy to get caught up in the chaos and confusion of the moment.?
The A.L.I.V.E. program teaches that one of the most important skills for a Protector in an active shooter incident is self-discipline.?
This means being able to control your emotions and focus on the task at hand (protecting your client) even in the face of uncertainty.?
By practicing self-discipline, you can remain calm and make clear-headed decisions that can help keep your client safe.
As a paid executive protection agent, your mission is clear: PROTECT YOUR CLIENT FIRST AND FOREMOST.?
If an active shooter situation arises, your priority is to get the client(s) out of harm's way as quickly and safely as possible.?
"What about saving others?" It's hard but... don't be a hero!
Of course, it's always best to be situationally aware and avoid a confrontation altogether.?
The Assessment part of A.L.I.V.E. is critical in this regard.?
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By being aware of your surroundings and the potential active shooter threats in your environment, you can better prepare yourself to respond appropriately and protect your client.
It may be tempting to want to be a hero and go after the shooter, but this is not a wise decision.?
It's easy to get caught up in the idea of being a hero and taking down the shooter, but as a Protector, your job is not to be a hero - it's to protect your client.?
This means making tough decisions and prioritizing their safety above all else.?
Of course...sometimes this can be a tough call to make - seeing everyone panic, or hurt, or running toward danger.?
But then again..if you have located your client and they are 100% out of harm’s way, then by all means…call 911, help who you can, neutralize the shooter.
Wanting to help and doing so is what makes us human.
Final words
In the end....while an executive protection agent is trained to handle and mitigate threats to its client, an active shooter situation involves a highly volatile and rapidly evolving situation that can be difficult to anticipate and respond to.
In a normal shooting scenario, the agent may have more control over the situation, as the attacker may have a specific target and a limited scope of action.?
In contrast, an active shooter may move throughout a location, targeting multiple victims and creating chaos and confusion.?
This can make it more difficult for the executive protection agent to quickly assess and respond to the threat.
Overall, an active shooter situation requires a higher level of vigilance, awareness, and preparedness from an executive protection agent.?
A.L.I.V.E. training provides agents with the knowledge and skills to handle this type of scenario and protect their clients in highly dynamic and dangerous situations.