Virginia Tech Tragedy: Demand for Transparency Continues

In a series of three articles since June 19, 2008, David Ress, Richmond Times-Dispatch Staff Writer, has continued the call for transparency from Virginia Tech as to the discussions, decisions and actions of the leadership team on the morning of April 16, 2007 after the first two shootings.

In a September 13, 2008 article titled Did Tech shootings spur idea to close? Victims dad says police chief wanted lockdown, but other accounts differ, Ress highlights the fact that no one can remember whether anyone suggested a lockdown. Greg Gwaltney, whose son Matthew was one of the students killed in Norris Hall, recalls a conversation with VT Police Chief Wendel Flinchum nearly a month after the tragedy in which the chief said he told President Steger to shut down the campus. Flinchum did not have the authority to call the lockdown himself.

Virginia Tech, through spokesperson Larry Hincker denied the lockdown suggestion was made.

Reprinted from www.inrich.com

Did Tech shootings spur idea to close?
Victim's dad says police chief wanted lockdown,
but other accounts differ

September 13, 2008

BY DAVID RESS, TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

On a bright May day, not quite a month after the massacre, Chesterfield County businessman Greg Gwaltney asked the question.

Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum was taking Gwaltney to see where his son, Matt, had died. As the two men, side by side, were walking between Patton and Burruss halls and turning up the steps to Norris Hall, Gwaltney said:

"I wish you had just shut the campus down after the first two shootings."

"I really wanted to shut this place down. It wasn't my call," Gwaltney remembers Flinchum replying. "[Virginia Tech President Charles W.] Steger is the man, and I told him to."

. . .

Flinchum doesn't remember the conversation that way, said university spokesman Larry Hincker. While he doesn't recall exactly what he did say, Flinchum is sure he didn't say what Gwaltney remembers, because the chief never made that recommendation, Hincker added. Steger doesn't remember hearing anyone suggest it, Hincker said.

Flinchum did not respond directly to repeated phone calls and e-mails from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

There is a glaring lack of consistency in VT leadership's discussions of the lockdown issue. I covered the lockdown issue in my report Crisis of Leadership: A Response to the Virginia Tech Panel Report; specifically on pages 9, 13-15, and 25-26 of the report.

President Steger clearly uses the term lockdown in this CNN video: Va Deaths: Warnings Questioned

"We had the sirens going off, we sent I messages, we sent out emails and we utilized the telephone tree and we concluded it was best once they got into the classroom that was where to lock them down….Based on, you know, we had to make this decision based on what we knew at the time….and I think we did it as well as we could."

Steger also uses the term lockdown as cited in this CNN article: Officials thought killer left campus after first shooting

"The school's lockdown system worked very well, Steger said. Students were cooperative and very few people were out after the lockdown, he said."

How can President Steger and the leadership team continue to claim ignorance as to what transpired during such a critical stage of the management of the crisis? The lockdown decision is paramount during a killer-at-large incident.

For people in such esteemed positions, if they truly don't remember such discussions, isn't that de-facto incompetence? And if they are deliberately withholding information, isn't that dishonesty?

In either case, incompetence or dishonesty, these individuals must be held accountable by virtue of the leadership roles they serve for the university.

READ MORE

Did Tech shootings spur idea to close? By David Ress September 13, 2008	Click here to visit site
Tech release of records omits key materials By David Ress July 21, 2008	Click here to visit site
Tech not commenting on April 16 e-mails By David Ress June 19, 2008	Click here to visit site
Virginia Tech Blogs	Click here to visit site
Crisis of Leadership: A Response to the Virginia Tech Panel Report	Click here to visit site

BCEA: Providing Leadership to Develop a County-Wide Safe Schools Model

Joe Coppola, Jr., President of the Bergen County Education Association (BCEA), believes that Bergen County, New Jersey has what it takes to become a model of school safety and security for other counties throughout the nation.

"BCEA is committed to working with district and school staff to create the best possible learning environment for our students. This includes a continuing effort to work collaboratively with parents, law enforcement and community leaders to prevent tragedies whenever possible rather than react after an incident occurs."

As detailed on the U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics website, the Bergen County Schools are comprised of approximately:

• 80 School Districts
• 279 Schools
• 134,000 Students
• 10,500 Teachers
• 6,600 Other Staff

On Tuesday, September 16, 2008, the BCEA held a luncheon for 100 educators and law enforcement officials to kick off an initiative titled Transforming Our Schools: The Heart and Brick of School Security.

This initiative demonstrates the unity of effort approach in action, with the highest levels of law enforcement and education supporting the project including those in attendance:

• Dr. Aaron R. Graham
     Bergen County Superintendent of Schools

  "I am confident that the leadership, teamwork and character of Bergen County Schools staff will respond to the challenges of our times and be fully committed to any and all activities necessary to keep our schools safe havens for student achievement."

• John L. Molinelli
     Bergen County Prosecutor

  "As the prosecutor of Bergen County, I assure you that all law enforcement officials have the safety of our schools as their first priority and are fully dedicated to this school initiative."

and those supporting the effort who could not attend:

• Leo P. McGuire
     Bergen County Sheriff

  "The Bergen County Education Association is to be commended for their leadership in promoting safe schools. Our department is fully dedicated to this collaborative undertaking.

  "I am proud to have participated in planning this important event with Joe Coppola and Vincent Bove. The program was a must attend for those who truly regard school safety as a primary concern. Well done BCEA!"

• Frank Gurnari
     President, Bergen County Police Chiefs Association
     Bogota Police Chief

  "All the chiefs of the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association are committed to the safety of our schools and are proud to support this outstanding initiative."

As the keynote speaker for the event, I shared thoughts from my new book Listen To Their Cries as well as a recently published article titled Head On Collision: Crisis of Character and Culture of Violence.

A follow-up professional development dinner and presentation will be held at The Marriott at Glenpointe in Teaneck, New Jersey on Wednesday, October 22, 2008:

Transforming our Schools:
The Heart and Brick of School Security

In response to ongoing school violence concerns, providing a safe learning environment for our children is a priority for teachers, administrators, counselors and staff. Yet it is important that schools remain communities dedicated to academic excellence and character education.

This program will focus on "the heart" as well as "the brick" aspects of school security. It will:

• AFFIRM the educator’s role in the lives of their students
• ENCOURAGE collaboration within the community
• INSPIRE attendees to a renewed commitment to their profession
• HIGHLIGHT the key components of School Safety

"Michelangelo and Da Vinci painted the Sistine Chapel and Mona Lisa, respectively. Through Picasso's Guernica , individuals can see the inhumanity, brutality and hopelessness of war. Van Gogh's paintings have captivated and given millions serenity, comfort and inspiration.

"But above and beyond the mastery of all of the world's greatest artists, only a teacher can mold the heart of a child." – Vincent J. Bove

These two venues will serve as the foundation for a presentation series designed to make Bergen County a national model of safe schools through emergency preparedness, violence prevention and character education.

The series will include topics such as

• Crisis Management
• Violence Prevention
• Strategies for Working with Youth
• Threat Assessment
• School Safety Principles and Practices
• Character Education
• Understanding and Responding to Early Warning Signs

The Bergen County Education Association of New Jersey is to be commended for its dedication to school safety and character education as well as their collaboration with education professionals and the law enforcement community.

READ MORE

Bergen County Education Association	Click here to visit site
Bergen County Prosecutor's Office	Click here to visit site
Bergen County Sheriff's Office	Click here to visit site
Bergen County Police Chiefs Association	Click here to visit site

College Security Professionals: Dedicated to Student Safety

 

On Tuesday, September 9, 2008, thanks to the leadership of Lawrence F. Loesch, CPP, Vice President and General Manager of AlliedBarton Security Services, a dinner meeting designed to provide information, instruction, and insight to leaders responsible for emergency management, safety and security at area educational institutions was held at the New York Athletic Club.

Colleges/Universities represented included:

• Dowling College
• Dutchess Community College
• New York Medical College
• New York University
• Manhattan College
• Metropolitan College of New York
• St. Joseph's College
• The Towers at the City College of New York
• Yeshiva University

I was privileged to be the invited speaker for this event to discuss my recently released book Listen To Their Cries. During my remarks, I stressed the importance of full force dedication to safeguarding individuals entrusted to the care of security and public safety officials and encouraged the development of a culture of accountability, training and collaboration.

A spirited discussion followed, with attendees expressing their own enlightening experiences and insights relative to security and safety at their educational institutions.

The meeting concluded with a book signing as each attendee was given a complimentary copy of Listen To Their Cries courtesy of AlliedBarton.

AlliedBarton Security Services is to be commended for their dedication to providing this generous educational initiative. The event was an expression of their results-oriented approach that highlights the benefits of quality employees, training and customer service.

READ MORE

Dowling College Security	Click here to visit site
Dutchess Community College Security	Click here to visit site
New York Medical College Security	Click here to visit site
New York University Security	Click here to visit site
Manhattan College Security	Click here to visit site
MCNY Disaster Central	Click here to visit site
St. Joseph's College Security	Click here to visit site
City College of New York Security	Click here to visit site
Yeshiva University Security	Click here to visit site
AlliedBarton Security Services	Click here to visit site