Michigan State University Threat Assessment & Management Team Briefing

1. Michigan State University Threat Assessment & Management Team Briefing JULY 2013 Asst. Chief George Ginovsky (Ret.) George Mason University Police

2. Let’s Get Started • Instructor Credentials • Purpose • Road Map • Housekeeping • Background

3. George Ginovsky George Ginovsky served as Assistant Police Chief at the George Mason University Police Department 2002-2013. Prior to coming to George Mason University (GMU), George enjoyed a 24 year career with the University of Maryland Police Department. Starting as a Patrol Officer, he also served as a Training Officer, Patrol Supervisor, Detective Supervisor, Bureau Commander, and retired as an Assistant Director. George has a BS in Law Enforcement from the University of Maryland University College and is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. George Ginovsky has been active in the field of threat assessment and management for several years. He is a graduate of the Gavin de Becker Advanced Threat Assessment & Management Academy. In 1999, he started a threat assessment and management program for the University of Maryland Police Department. Shortly after coming to George Mason, he started a similar program for the GMU Police. While at George Mason, George served as the Co-Chair of GMU’s Campus Assessment and Management Team. George has supervised the assessment and management of numerous situations that presented the possibility of escalating into violence. He has a total of thirteen years of experience with threat assessment and management in higher education. A member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals, George has been an invited presenter at that organization’s regional and national conferences.

4. Threats • HAZMAT • Fire • Extreme Weather • Terrorism • Power Failure • PEOPLE

5. Why? Texas Tower U of Montreal Virginia Tech Northern Illinois

6. TARGETED VIOLENCE ON CAMPUS • RESPONSE • PREVENTION

7. Active Shooter Response Diamond Formation Point Covers Ahead Left Team Leader. Covers Above Right Rear Guard

8. Active Shooter Force-On-Force Training

9. Active Shooter Exercise Training

10. PREVENTION • Best strategy for addressing workplace violence is prevention • Goals • Identify and manage potential threats. • Address staff concerns • Potential threat situations • Faculty/Staff • Students • Complete Strangers

11. Case Study I – “Travis Bickle” http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=BA9vClHEFaI&vq=small#t=0

12. Case Study I – “Travis Bickle” • “Porn Actor Stephen Clancy Hill • Dead After Killing Co-Star with • Sword” – snarkfood.com

13. Steven Clancy Hill 1998 University of Maryland GTA threatened with gun over grades Arrested w/gun heading for campus “The rest of the story…” Case Study I – “Travis Bickle”

14. Some Essentials • Threat Assessment • Threat Management • Case Studies

15. Key Points • Targeted violence can be prevented • Holistic approach • Assess Situations • Safety vs. Justice • Involve all stakeholders • Multidisciplinary approach • Respect Privacy • Avoid Profiling

16. Profiles Steven Kazmierczak Mr. T

17. Best Practices • Multidisciplinary approach • One unit cannot do an effective job • Involve all stakeholders • Ensure effective communication • Assess SITUATION, not just individual

18. Why needed? • Best strategy for addressing workplace violence is prevention • Goals • Identify and manage potential threats. • Address staff concerns • Potential threat situations • Faculty/Staff • Students • Complete Strangers

19. Assessing Situation is Key • Situations and Threats should be evaluated in context • Assessments are dynamic, not static • Snapshot in time

20. KEY CONCEPTS • SITUATION vs. PERSON • SAFETY vs. JUSTICE • CONTEXT vs. CONTENT • REPONSE + PREVENTION • NO FEAR MONGERING • IT CAN HAPPEN HERE!

21. Exercise I • Person making threat is known to be very proficient with firearms

22. Exercise I • Person making threat has a long history of violent criminal behavior

23. Exercise I • Letter mailed to campus administrator threatening the recipient with death.

24. Exercise I • Person making threat is doing life without parole in a maximum security prison in California

25. Exercise II • Coworkers find subject difficult to deal with. • Performance and disciplinary problems at work lead to notification of termination. • Subject fascinated by media reports of school shootings, assassination attempts, etc.

26. Exercise II • Scriptwriter • Collects slights and grievances • Attributes problems to the actions of others

27. Exercise II • Wife leaves him and is divorcing him. • Expresses thoughts of “giving up” and “getting even”.

28. Exercise II • Drops out of termination appeal process. • Not “process oriented”.

29. Exercise II • Purchase of firearm • Evidence of alcohol abuse

30. Exercise II • What is this a recipe for?

31. Process • evaluates situation • dynamic, not static • backed by experience and research • brings consistency to each assessment • provides documentation of assessment

32. Organized Approach Needed • Consistent • Documented

33. MOSAIC • computer model used to support assessment • compares situation being evaluated to known outcomes in other cases • incorporates expert experience and research • not a prediction

34. Information needed for assessment? • If threat is communicated • Nature • Exact Wording • Context • Subject Information • Social Status • History of Abusive Behavior • Criminal History • Employment History • Mental Health Problems • History of weapons ownership/use/fascination • Fascination with high profile events

35. Sources of Information • Found through investigation • Does not always require an interview with subject • Only legitimate sources used • Privacy rules and laws followed • Privacy of subject honored

36. CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT George Mason University Campus Assessment Intervention Team Confidentiality Agreement I do hereby acknowledge that I am a member of the George Mason University Campus Assessment Intervention Team (“CAIT”) duly organized pursuant to §23-9.2:10 of the Code of Virginia. In this capacity I will receive privileged and confidential information related to individuals who are the subjects of assessment and intervention by CAIT. I do hereby agree not to disclose any received privileged or confidential information outside the scope of my duty as a member of CAIT pursuant to §23-9.2:10 of the Code of Virginia. I fully understand that any disclosure of received privileged and confidential information outside the scope of my duties as a member of CAIT will subject me to administrative sanctions (up to and including termination of my employment) and individual civil liability. In the event of any such unauthorized disclosure, I further understand that I will not be entitled to legal representation at state expense and that any monetary awards by courts of the Commonwealth or the United States will be owed by me personally Name______________________________ Date_____________________ 

37. Management of situation where threat has been identified • No set procedure • Art rather than Science • Multidisciplinary approach important • Case by case

38. GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN • SOME CASES ARE CLOSED BY DISTANCE. • SOME CASES CONTINUE INDEFINATELY. • SOME CASES ARE REOPENED BY NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

39. CLIENT CARE • BRIEFING SHEET • THE GIFT OF FEAR, GAVIN DE BECKER • FREQUENT CONTACT & UPDATES

40. Out of State Male History of Violence Obsessed with Female Student Follows Student to Virginia Stalks Student On/Off Campus Case Study II – “Jersey Boy”

41. 25 yoa Freshman Resident Student Violence in past Raises widespread concern “Whack a Mole” TAI initiated Outreach Open communications Case Study III – “Southern Gentleman

42. TEAMWORK • Team Composition • Policy • Thoughts and Hints

43. TEAM COMPOSITION I Multi-disciplinary Chairperson(s) Mid Level Representatives Volunteers Cast a Wide Net

44. TEAM COMPOSITION II ODS Human Resources • Dean of Students • Police • Housing • Counseling Center • Student Health • Academics

45. TEAM MEETINGS • Regular Meetings • Situational Meetings • Planning

46. TEAM TRAINING • Individual • Group

47. TEAM PLAN • Adopt Mission Statement and provide it to the University Community • Build a working relationship with executive level stakeholders • Engage the University with outreach initiatives • Request annual budget to fund team activities • Enhance team member skills through training and exercises • Meet on a continuous bi-weekly basis

48. TEAM MISSION • “The Campus Assessment & Management Team is committed to improving community safety through a proactive, collaborative, coordinated, objective, and thoughtful approach to the prevention, identification, assessment, intervention, and management of situations that pose, or may reasonably pose, a threat to the safety and well-being of the campus community.”

49. POLICE TAI POLICY

50. CASE MANAGEMENT • DOCUMENT CASES IN WRITING • FOIA CONSIDERATIONS • CASE MANAGER • REGULAR REVIEW OF CASES BY TEAM • SPECIAL POPULATIONS (VETS, LGBTQ, HOUSING…….)