School Violence Countermeasures: Toxic Personalities, Warning Signs, Imminent Warning Signs

An understanding of toxic personalities is essential to law enforcement, private security professionals, educators, mental health professionals, and the judicial system, especially in regard to violence prevention.

The book How to Deal with Toxic People identifies the problematic personality types as follows:

·       The Deceiver — one who habitually lies, which is part of a larger deceptive context. This personality type creates mistrust, chaos, and uncertainty.

·       The Control Freak — meddles manipulatively, dictatorial, and holds others to impossible standards. They drain others energy and seek to undermine the self-worth of others.

·       The Gaslighter — comes from a 1944 film “Gaslight,”  highlighting a manipulative spouse. A Gaslighter schemes to make the innocent party feel they are psychologically impaired.

·       The Angry Venter — treats others as verbal punching bags.

·       The Know-It-All — is right about everything, always in competition with others, and needs to win always. They seek to manipulate, mistreat and dominate.

·       The Intimidator — seeks control by issuing threats, sometimes with a bark and no bite, but can also back threats with actions.  They breed resentment, bitterness and anger.

·       The Egotist — their motto is “It’s all about me!” They crave, demand, and hog the spotlight, dominate conversations, and disregard the needs of others.

·       The Drama Queen or Crisis King — Every issue, even normal experiences is catastrophic. They need to be the center of the storm, whip up problems, and orchestrate emotional conflicts.

·       The Put-Down Artist — uses words, tone of voice and actions to degrade the value of others. They are often callous and insulting, using biting remarks, or sarcasm to diminish others.

·       The Moral Authority — pontificates to coerce compliance.

·       The Emotional Roller Coaster — takes others on mood swings to control.

·       The Pessimist — spreads discontent, and negativity like a contagious virus.

·       The Guilter — never able to apologize, but always blaming others for everything.

·       The Addict — dysfunctional due to addictions (substance abuse, gambling, alcoholism, etc.) and will say and do anything to cover their needs. This includes distorting truth and inventing false realities. [1]

A toxic personality does not definitively lead to acts of violence. Yet, understanding toxic personalities, especially when warning signs or imminent warning signs are identified, is pertinent. This understanding is beneficial to preventing violence and upholding civility in society.

Warning Signs, Timely Response

Understanding warning signs was memorialized in the government booklet Early Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools published by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). [2]

This booklet is a treasure trove for understanding and preventing school violence, yet its insights are still not appreciated.

The booklet punctuates that it is not always possible to predict violent behavior. However, the community can recognize early warning signs and provide intervention.

An abundance of caution is always the necessary approach to violence prevention. One should assume that warning signs, especially when numerous, indicate a need for a threat assessment.

All the USDOE warning signs are not equally significant. They are not listed by significance, and deserve contextual understanding. The USDOE early warning signs are as follows:

·       Social withdrawal

·       Excessive feelings of isolation and being alone

·       Excessive feelings of rejection

·       Being a victim of violence

·       Feelings of being picked on and persecuted

·       Low school interest/poor academic performance

·       Uncontrolled anger

·       Patterns of impulsive and chronic hitting, intimidating and bullying

·       Expression of violence in writings

·       History of discipline problems

·       Past history of violent aggressive behavior

·       Drug and alcohol use

·       Affiliation with gangs

·       Intolerance for differences and prejudicial attitudes

·       Inappropriate access to, possession of and use of firearms

·       Serious threats of violence

Imminent Warning Signs

The Early Warning Timely Response booklet gives additional insights on each of these warning signs.

 It also highlights imminent warning signs as follows:

“Imminent warning signs indicate a student is very close to behaving in a way that is potentially dangerous to self/or to others.  Imminent warning signs require an immediate response.

“Imminent warning signs are usually presented as a sequence of overt, serious, hostile behaviors or threats directed at peers, staff or other individuals. Usually, imminent warning signs are evident to more than one staff member — as well as to the child’s family.”

Imminent warning signs according to the guide, may include;

·       Serious physical fighting with peers or family members.

·       Severe destruction of property.

·       Severe rage for seemingly minor reasons.

·       Detailed threats of lethal violence

·       Possession and/or use of firearms and other weapons.

·       Other self-injurious behaviors or threats of suicide.

When warning signs indicate a danger is imminent, safety must be first and foremost. The document stresses that “action must be taken immediately.” Immediate intervention by school authorities and law enforcement officers is needed when an individual:

·       “Has presented a detailed plan (time, place, method) to harm or kill others — particularly if the child has a history of aggression, or has attempted to carry out threat in the past.

·       Is carrying a weapon, particularly a firearm, and has threatened to use it.”

 

Countermeasures

Now that we have noted toxic personalities, warning signs, and imminent warning, let us focus on countermeasures. 

Here are six basic countermeasures to prevent school violence that deserve implementation:

1.      Security Vulnerability Assessment: The security vulnerability assessment (SVA) identifies and evaluates the vulnerabilities and strengths of schools. The primary concern of the SVA is the protection of lives. It should be conducted by a reputable board-certified protection professional. Each school has its own personality. Therefore, each SVA must be customized to properly diagnosis vulnerabilities and provide corrective measures.

2.      School resource officers (SRO’s) and School Safety Agents:  Schools deserve qualified, certified, and dedicated professionals. These individuals need a charisma that builds respect and trust with the entire school community.

3.       Preventive System of Education: In this system, educators are vigilant and exemplify encouragement through respect, courtesy, and reasonableness.  The preventive system builds trust with students, staff, and community.  It responds to concerns with measured interventions, not rigid repressiveness.

4.       Professional Development Programs: These programs are important for all staff members. Training must include coaches, parents, cafeteria personnel, SRO’s, security personnel, board of education members, mental health professionals, school crossing guards, bus drivers, parents, and students.

5.       Character Development Initiatives: Schools must provide the leadership to instill a culture of character. Developing students of character, built on pillars of honesty, civility, and patriotism must be paramount throughout America’s schools.

6.       Threat Assessment Teams: The threat assessment team requires a collaborative approach by numerous disciplines — including security, mental health, faculty, administration, and law enforcement.  Warning signs of violence demands immediate intervention.

Final Reflections

American schools must be fully dedicated to security principles, character education, and academic excellence.

When the community is vigilant with security concerns, inspires character through example, and encourages academic excellence, we will be on the path to transforming American schools.

About the Author

Vincent J. Bove is a national speaker, author, and confidant on issues critical to America with over 325 published works. 

His most recent of four books are Reawakening America © and Listen to Their Cries.© 

Bove is recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, former confidant of players from two world champion New York Yankee teams, and served as spokesperson for a coalition of Virginia Tech tragedy victim’s families.

Bove is an author for the National Association of Chiefs of Police, with over 60 published works and an unprecedented 18 cover stories for their magazine. 

He also served the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association for 20 consecutive years as liaison and chairperson on policing leadership, violence prevention, and public safety issues.

For 20 years, Vincent served as a Board Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Board Certified Crime Prevention Specialist, Certified Police Training Commission Instructor, Crime Prevention Practitioner, and USDOJ Certified Community Anti-Terrorism Instructor Trainer.

Bove is a licensed State of New Jersey / Division of State Police SORA Instructor, and founder of Reawakening America LLC.

Contact: vincent@vincentbove.com

PHOTOS:

1. Copy of article as published in the ASIS International NYC Chapter Security Director Magazine, Nov. 13, 2024 and available on line.  The magazine will be distributed hard copy to the association attendees at their annual trade show in November.

2. Vincent J. Bove conducting training for Port Authority Police Department sergeant’s prior to promotions to lieutenant, Oct. 20, 2015. (Courtesy PAPD)

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[1] How to Deal with Toxic People, Gregory L. Jantz, PhD with Keith Wall, Aspire Press, © 2021. Pgs. 12 — 38.

[2] https://www.schoolsafety.gov/resource/early-warning-timely-response-guide-safe-schools

Global Security Resolutions LLC: TSA Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service Armed Security Officers

As co-founder of Global Security Resolutions LLC (GSR), I am pleased to announce that our firm has expanded through the Department of Homeland Security Transportation (TSA) Federal Air Marshals Service. 

GSR now has 4 additional credentialed personnel with this elite Armed Security Officer (ASO) program.

This service, administered by the (TSA), demands extensive experience, training, and credentials. 

Members of this unit are all law enforcement experienced.

GSR also provides Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT – EMT) with multi-language (Italian, Spanish, French) capabilities.

GSR is authorized to provide this armed security on all Washington DC private or charter flights, landing or departing, from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA).

All of our ASO’s, and executive protection personnel, have extensive federal dignitary protection and international travel experience.

GSR also conducts complex international investigations, security vulnerability assessments, keynotes, training, and certifications.

Topics for our speaker and certification programs (supported by extensive published works) include ethical leadership, violence and active shooter prevention, and our signature programs including the following:

• 21st Century Policing: Ethics, Community, Vigilance
• Transforming American Schools: Security, Character, Academics
• Leadership Principles: Crisis Planning, Community Partnerships, Violence Prevention
• Protecting Houses of Worship, Schools, Facilities: A National Model

GSR also specializes in comprehensive school, campus, facility, houses of worship security and violence prevention initiatives.

Global Security Resolutions LLC website

About Vincent

Vincent J. Bove is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America with over 300 published works, and eighteen cover stories for the National Association of Chiefs of Police magazine.  

His most recent books are Reawakening America and Listen to Their Cries.

Bove is recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, former confidant of the New York Yankees, and served as spokesperson for a coalition of Virginia Tech tragedy victim’s families.

For 20 years, Vincent served as a Board Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Board Certified Crime Prevention Specialist, Certified Police Training Commission Instructor, Crime Prevention Practitioner, and USDOJ Certified Community Anti-Terrorism Instructor Trainer.

Bove is also a licensed State of New Jersey / Division of State Police SORA Instructor, owner of Reawakening America LLC, and co-founder of Global Security Resolutions LLC, an international investigative company. 

“We must all serve as catalysts to protect our workplaces, schools, communities, public spaces, and houses of worship.  Public safety demands leadership, vigilance, and collaboration.  Security demands comprehensive enhancements, on-going training, effective response to warning signs, and building bridges with law enforcement, private security, and every member of the community.”  Vincent J. Bove

www.vincentbove.com  Contact: vincent@vincentbove.com 

Twitter: vincentjbove

Photos
1. Ronald Reagan National Airport (Public Domain Wikipedia/Common Attribution)

2. Vincent J. Bove addressing FBI Newark Field Office, Oct. 30, 2007, as recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. (Reawakening America LLC archive)

America’s Active Shooter Crisis Demands Visionary Leadership

America’s culture of violence is continually manifested through horrific active shooter tragedies.

Violence is a reality of American life. Companies, schools, campuses, houses of worship, communities, and public gatherings throughout the nation are potential targets.

Visionary leadership is critical from law enforcement, private security professionals, government officials, property managers, and all responsible for safeguarding individuals entrusted to their care.

There must always be shared responsibility with all members of the community. Every person privileged to call America home must also be vigilant, and always aware of their surroundings.

Active Shooter Definition

As defined by the Department of Homeland Security: “An Active Shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearms(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims. Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.”

Alarming Statistics: U.S. Mass Shooter Tragedies / Gun Violence: Jan 1 – June 14, 2022

•        267 Mass Shooting Incidents    

•        14 Mass Murder Incidents

•        163 Children Killed: Younger than 11 years-old

•        338 Children Wounded

•        583 Teens Killed: 12 – 17 years-old

•        1,544 Teens Wounded [i]

American Mass Shootings: Deadliest Days

Some of the deadliest mass shooting tragedies have taken place in 2022 as indicated by the following:

·         On May 14, 2022 a gunman shot 13 people, killing 10, at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. Law enforcement quickly informed the public that it was racially motivated.

·         On May 24, 2022, only ten days later, another gunman opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. There were 19 children and 2 adults killed. It was the 27th school shooting of 2022.

Additional deadliest single day mass shootings in modern U.S. history crystalize the scope of the crisis.

·         October 1, 2017 – 58 killed and over 800 injured when a deranged gunman opens fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gunfire was sprayed for approximately ten to fifteen minutes upon a crown of about 22,000 concertgoers.

·         June 12, 2016 – 49 killed and over 50 wounded when a gunman opens fire inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

·         April 16, 2007 – 32 students and faculty killed and numerous others injured at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.

·         December 14, 2012 – twenty children, ages six and seven, and six adult staff and faculty were shot dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

·         November 5, 2017 – 25 people as well as an unborn child were shot dead, and twenty others wounded inside a small church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

·         October 16, 1991 – 23 people are shot dead inside Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas.

·         July 18, 1984 – 21 adults and children are killed inside a McDonald’s in San Ysidro, California.

·         August 1, 1966 – 18 are killed including an unborn child and at least 30 are wounded at the University of Texas in Austin. The shooter also killed his wife and mother earlier in the day.

·         February 14, 2018 – 17 are shot dead by a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

·         December 2, 2015 – 14 are killed by a married couple during a holiday season employee gathering at Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California. [ii]

Dedication, Competence, Discipline

Throughout my career, I have conducted hundreds of walkthroughs at sites to assess security. After many of these walkthroughs, my responsibility was to develop post orders for security personnel, action plans, and emergency contact information.

Despite the importance of these procedures for protecting life and property, the deficiencies at many sites were often conspicuous.

The possibility of an emergency is always a reality, whether it be man-made or natural, and leadership must always be built of the pillars of dedication, competence, and discipline.

Practical Preparedness Tips

Continuous active shooter tragedies remind us that incidents can happen any place and any time.

There are steps that can be taken to prevent the threat.

The proactive mindset of preparedness includes the mantra, “if you see something, say something.” It also involves action plans at sites including schools, campuses, houses of worship, and workplaces.

Visionary leadership must also ensure training, plans, and drills are implemented if they do not exist, and there is continual and effective ongoing training.

Situational awareness is also critical as one must always know exits whenever visiting facilities, malls, theaters, or public places.

Survival Protocols

According to the FBI, the three options for survival during an incident are as follows:

RUN. Getting away from the shooter or shooters is the top priority. Leave your things behind and runaway. If safe to do so, warn others nearby. Call 911 when you are safe. Describe each shooter, their locations, and weapons.

HIDE. If you can’t get away safely, find a place to hide. Get out of the shooter’s view and stay very quiet. Silence your electronic devices and make sure they won’t vibrate. Lock and block doors, close blinds, and turn off the lights. Don’t hide in groups— spread out along walls or hide separately to make it more difficult for the shooter. Try to communicate with police silently—like through text messages or by putting a sign in an exterior window. Stay in place until law enforcement gives you the all clear.

FIGHT. Your last resort when you are in immediate danger is to defend yourself. Commit to your actions and act aggressively to stop the shooter. Ambushing the shooter together with makeshift weapons such as chairs, fire extinguishers, scissors, and books can distract and disarm the shooter.

During and after an incident it is always essential to follow the instructions of law enforcement. First-Aid classes should also be taken to learn skills that can save lives.

Responsibility of Elected Officials

We must also demand that our elected officials, whom we have entrusted with the health, safety, and welfare of our communities, provide the necessary visionary leadership to enact laws to protect society.

Sensible gun laws are required, without the continuous lame excuses, outlandish interpretation of the 2^nd Amendment, and misunderstanding of the importance of “well-regulated.”

Individuals who have nefarious intentions, or whom are not mentally qualified must not be enabled to purchase weapons without comprehensive background checks, training, certifications and licensing.

Final Reflections

America’s flag continues to fly at half-staff too often due to violent rampages against the innocent.

Visionary leadership must inspire vigilance and collaboration to prevent violence. We must have the determination, commitment, and courage to protect ourselves and others.

Training initiatives, security assessments, sound security measures, building police-community partnerships, professional security personnel, and responding effectively to warning signs are critical safeguards against active shooter tragedies.

These pillars must be inseparable from securing our communities against mass shooting tragedies and essential to reawakening the nation.

Published as the featured article in The Chief of Police, Official Publication of the National Association of Chiefs of Police, Oct. 27, 2022.  Bove has authored 18 hard copy cover stories for the magazine, with his articles appearing on a quarterly basis uninterruptedly since 2010.

About the Author

Reawakening America LLC / About the Founder  

Vincent J. Bove, CPP, is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America with over 300 published works. His most recent books are Reawakening America and Listen To Their Cries. He is recipient of the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award and former confident of the New York Yankees.  Vincent is co-founder of Global Security Resolutions, and served as spokesperson for a coalition of Virginia Tech tragedy families of victims. He has 18 cover stories for The Chief of Police.

For twenty years, Vincent has served as a Board Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Board Certified Crime Prevention Specialist, Certified Police Training Commission Instructor, Crime Prevention Practitioner, and USDOJ Certified Community Anti-Terrorism Instructor Trainer.  He is currently a State of New Jersey / Division of State Police SORA Instructor, licensed for ten years.  

Related Coverage:

St. Louis School Shooter: America’s Culture of Violence Demands Visionary Leadership

America's Mass Shooter Crisis Demands Police-Community Unity

American School Violence Demands Moral Courage 

19 Children, 2 Adults Killed: America’s Culture of Violence and Failure of Leadership

Echoes of Columbine: School Violence Awareness and Prevention

America’s Schools: Security, Character, Academics

American School Violence Tracker: Awareness and Prevention

Resources: www.vincentbove.com or twitter@vincentjbove

Vincent J. Bove has conducted keynotes, presentations, and training throughout the United States. This partial client list in his home state of New Jersey reflects a microcosm of his programs on ethical leadership, violence prevention, and public safety nationwide:

Ø  The Southern New Jersey Prosecutor’s School Security Conference 

Ø  Bergen County Education Association Conference in partnership with the Bergen County Sheriff's Office, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, and Bergen County Police Chiefs Association

Ø  Saint Peter's College 

Ø Port Authority Police Academy  

Ø Joint Base McGuire-Dix, Department of the Air Force

Ø  New Jersey Education Association

Ø  North Arlington Public Schools

Ø  Hackensack Public Schools

Ø  Hackensack Police Department - extensive domestic violence, school violence and community policing presentations, including Community Policing Summit in partnership with Hackensack University Medical Center

Ø  Tenafly Public Schools

Ø  West Milford Public Schools

Ø  Monmouth University

Ø  The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

Ø  Cinnaminson Township Public Schools

Ø  Wood-Ridge Public Schools

Ø  North Arlington Public Schools

Ø  Fort Lee Public Schools

Ø  Morris County Professional Counselors Association

Ø  Fairleigh Dickinson University

Ø  North Bergen Board of Education

Ø  Union City Board of Education

Ø  Rebeka Verea Foundation

Ø  Bergenfield Public Schools

Ø  New Jersey School Boards Association

Ø  New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association

Ø  Morris County Council of Education Associations

Ø  Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute

Ø  New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police

Ø  New Jersey City University  

Ø  New Jersey Association of School Administrators

Ø  West New York Board of Education

Ø  Carlstadt Public Schools

Ø  Livingston Police Department

Ø  New Milford Board of Education

Ø  New Jersey Association of School Business Officials

Ø  North Jersey Regional Crime Prevention Officers Association (board member)

Ø  New Jersey Bias Crime Officers Association

Ø  FBI, Newark Field Division - numerous presentations including Fort Monmouth Military Base, Fort Dix Military Base, the Newark Field Office, the New Jersey Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, the FBI Academy Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar graduation keynote at Princeton University, and their management retreat in Atlantic City, NJ.  

Ø  Jersey City Police Department, East District (numerous domestic violence, school violence, workplace violence keynotes & leadership keynote in partnership with cadets of the United States Military Academy on Ellis Island)

Ø  DARE NJ

Ø  River Vale Police Department Youth Police Academy Graduation Keynote

Ø  Teaneck Police Department

Ø  Essex County Police Chiefs Association 

Ø Essex County Police Academy Graduation Keynote 

Ø Essex County Crime Prevention Officers Association

Ø Passaic Arts and Science Center

Ø Northern Highlands Regional High School

Bove has also served the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association as liaison on issues including ethical leadership and violence prevention for 20 consecutive years. He shares monthly remarks to 75 - 100 members of the association including police chiefs from over 70 departments, the FBI, the NYPD, the Port Authority Police Department, associates, and affiliates.

Photos:

1.     Uvalde Memorial Site, (Credit U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Public Domain)

2.     Washington DC Vigil for Pulse Nightclub Victims, June 13, 2016. (Credit Ted Eytan, Creative Commons Attribution)

3.     Sandy Hook Memorial, Dec. 26, 2012. (Credit Bbjeter, Creative Commons Attribution)

4.     Run, Hide, Fight (Courtesy FBI)

5.     NYPD, Radio City Music Hall, NYC, Apr. 27, 2013 (Reawakening America LLC, Photo by Vincent J. Bove) This photo was published by The Chief of Police with Oct. 27, 2022 article by Bove titled "America's Active Shooter Crisis Demands Visionary Leadership."

 6.  Vincent J. Bove testimonials including FBI, law enforcement, West Point, Columbia and Monmouth Universities, School Districts.

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[i] https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

[ii] https://www.businessinsider.com/deadliest-mass-shootings-in-us-history-2017-10