NEWPORT — After more than 500 incidents of mass shootings and other attacks the past 20 years that have killed scores, Americans can’t be faulted for resigning themselves to an overwhelming feeling that somewhere, sometime there will be another attack and they could be in the middle of it.
While the unpredictability of these attacks as to where they occur, from big cities to small rural communities, leave potential victims vulnerable, there are things people can do to protect themselves before and when an attack occurs.
Newport Police Chief Brent Wilmot and Officer Rachel Stark made a presentation to about a dozen people this week that described proven actions people can take to improve their chances of survival if they suddenly find themselves in an “active attacker event.” While most of these incidents, where four or more people are killed at once, are gun attacks, some have involved knives and vehicles.
In a video created by Texas State University and Walmart, Avoid, Deny, Defend were presented as the three steps people can take, depending where they are when an attacker event occurs.
“The faster you realize something bad is happening, the quicker you are able to respond appropriately,” Wilmot said.
“Avoid” simply means to find an exit or way out of the situation as soon as you believe an attack will occur.
One of the keys to be able to take this approach is being aware of your surroundings and potential exits, it was emphasized. Later in his presentation, Wilmot highlighted how people at the deadly Station nightclub fire in Warwick, R.I., in 2003 tried to escape the way they came in — the main entrance — and some of the 99 who died could probably have survived if they were aware of the building’s other exits.
“Deny” means if you cannot exit the attack, take steps to keep the attacker from getting to you. Hiding, Wilmot said, leaves you with only the “hope” the attacker does not find you. Deny, such as locking or barricading doors, shutting out lights and silencing phones will improve chances the attacker will move on and gives people more control over their chances. This approach has proved effective in many attacks, the video states.
“It is a more proactive way to care for yourself and gives the person more involvement in their survival,” Wilmot said.
The last step to survive is to defend yourself the best way you can, including trying to grab the gun from the attacker and hitting him or her in vulnerable body areas.
It is normal to experience an elevated heart rate in such circumstances.
“These are options we have found most effective in surviving these attacks,” the video states. “What you do matters.”
Wilmot addressed some of the signs that indicate someone may be planning an attack. While there is “no good profile” of a potential attacker, Wilmot said there can be behavioral clues such as a “brittle” person who takes offense at any sleight, real or perceived, and believe violence is the only response. Often the individual has a history of violence, experienced abuse in childhood and suffers from mental health issues.
Wilmot also used the FBI term “leakage” which refers to potential attackers talking to others about what they may be planning or posting on social media.
“People are encouraged to listen for leakage and report it,” Wilmot said.
Newport High School Principal Shannon Martin said they have clear plans in place and regularly talk to fire and police.
“It is really thinking about how you would respond to different circumstances, not necessarily having a plan for each circumstance,” Martin said.
The school also has been proactive in prevention, Martin said.
“One of the things I am excited to keep working on is we have a student support team that looks at academics, behaviors, the social stuff,” she said. “We continue to work with law enforcement and identify the risk factors and how we can support our students and be aware of their needs.”
Another key point Wilmot made is that communities must do more than just hope an attacker event does not happen to them. Newport police have a detailed threat assessment management team that includes a lot of different stakeholders.
“The most important thing we can do as a community is to support the multi-disciplinary threat assessment management team,” he said. “It brings all the resources together including schools, police, courts, probation and parole and social services to try to divert people off a path to violence.”
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
