Crimes against Children Digest 7-15-14

Edgewater Teacher Arrested for Producing and Distributing Child Pornography

Former University of Virginia Dean Sentenced on Child Pornography Charges 

Mexican Citizen Charged with Attempting to Transport a Minor from Las Vegas to Jacksonville for the Purpose of Engaging in Illegal Sexual Activity 

Warren County Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Possessing and Receiving Child Pornography 

Houston Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking of Children  

Food Service Manager and Co-Defendant Sentenced in Identity Theft Scheme Involving Miami-Dade County Public Schools Students’ Personal Identifying Information  

Man Convicted for Traveling to Various States to Have Sex with a Minor  

Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

Hogsett Announces Guilty Plea of Postal Employee on Child Exploitation Charges

Albuquerque Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Pornography

School Lockdown is an Option

School Lockdown

"Lockdown only" protocols are ineffective, "lockdown failed Sandy Hook", lockdown led to a 92% failure rate at Sandy Hook.  These are some of the comments found on the Internet in regards to school lockdowns.

A "straw man argument" is when a person creates a weak position for an opponent, in order to falsely strengthen their own.  The "lockdown only protocols are ineffective" argument is just such an argument.  While many schools have Active Shooter Protocols that feature lockdown, I have met few educators who practice "lockdown only."  Good school safety officers teach school staff to constantly assess a situation and make decisions accordingly.  Thus, even if the Active Shooter Protocol says 'lockdown', they may decide the best alternative is to evacuate.  It should be pointed out that "Run, Hide, Fight" advocates state, "There are no right responses," and that their protocol is as bereft of detail for staff as a "lockdown only" protocol.

An actual claim has been made that "lockdown failed Sandy Hook."  This claim does not hold up to the facts.  Principal Hochsprung and school psychologist Mary Sherlach left a conference room with Natalie Hammond to go see what was going on in the hallway.  When they got out into the hallway, they told the others in the room, "Shooter! Stay put!" (Reuters, 2012) What was she telling them to do?  Lockdown.  Natalie Hammond was wounded, but crawled into the conference room and lay in front of the door to secure it.    The number of people who were killed in the conference room?  Zero. 

Kaitlin Roig was a teacher in the first classroom in the hallway.  She had 14 students.  Her door was shut, with a black paper over the window.  When she heard the shots, she herded her children into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.  The number of people killed in her room?  Zero.

Lauren Rousseau was a substitute teacher in a first grade classroom.  She had a special needs assistant and sixteen students with her.  She did not have keys to the room, but was in the process of getting her children into the restroom.  Two teachers and fifteen children were killed, with one survivor, who played dead in a corner of the restroom.

Victoria Soto was a first grade teacher.  She was not able to lock her door.  In fact, the keys were found close to her body.  However, 11 children were able to survive, nine by running out of the classroom, and two by hiding.

Noone was killed inside of a locked room.  If lockdown was not applied, it cannot fail.

I am very confused as to the '92% lockdown failure rate' at Sandy Hook.  To me, lockdown fails when it fails to keep a shooter out of the room.  I am aware of only one instance, in the Red Lake shooting, in which a locked door failed to keep out a shooter.  No such instance happened at Sandy Hook.

Lockdowns are a valuable safety tool, ironically dating back to the first recorded use in a school in Danbury, CT in 1900.  A jilted suitor went to the schoolhouse to talk to his former girlfriend.  She got her kids inside and locked the door, whereupon he killed himself.

Schools and first responders should continue to work together to make their students and staff safer.  Lockdowns should be a part of the toolbox schools can use.

Staying Alive during a Night Out

Staying Alive

It could happen anywhere.  People, out for a night on the town, are exposed to gunfire, and have to scramble for their lives.  This past weekend, it happened in Broad Ripple, an area of Indianapolis that is home to numerous shops, boutiques, and bars.

Shortly after 2am, people who were on the street heard shots ring out.  David Bradshaw was one of the pedestrians.

“I heard this commotion and didn’t think anything of it.  I turned away for like a split second and turned back around  and started hearing gun shots about five or six gun shots.  Then,  I started to see people fall on the ground,” said Bradshaw.

Six males and one female were shot, with one of the victims in critical condition. The police were talking to a person of interest.

Analysis

In Staying Alive: How to Act Fast and Survive Deadly Encounters, there are several concepts that would apply to this tragedy. The first is situational awareness. When out and about, it is imperative to maintain awareness of everything around you. Even if one was not able to notice the gunman, an alert person would have already taken notice of places that could provide cover and/or concealment from a shooter. Situational awareness is covered in Chapter 1.

A second concept is pattern-matching and recognition. People that are carrying weapons act in certain ways. Knowing how these people act, and recognizing those signs can provide an early warning of a person who intends to do harm. Pattern-matching is covered in Chapter 2.

A third concept is preparation. Having a plan in place to address a situation like the shooting can alleviate the intense stress one can feel during a shooting. This ties in with another concept, mental simulation. It is important to not only have a plan, to but to exercise the plan, and the easiest, cheapest way to do this is to mentally simulate a scenario and ask yourself, "What would I do?" By doing this, you can inoculate yourself against stress, and be better able to function if a shooting, or other attack, happens. These concepts are covered in Chapters 7 & 8.

These concepts are a great place to start in Staying Alive. There are others, but having these basic skills can increase your chances of surviving an incident like the one in Broad Ripple.

It is not about becoming paranoid. It is about enjoying life by being prepared for the time when life throws you a curve.

Staying Alive is a primal, instinctive urge in all humans. All you need to do is learn the skills that will help you make it happen.

Crimes against Children Digest 7-7-14

Prairieville Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Distribution and Receipt of Child Pornography 

St. Johns Man Sentenced to Six Years for Distribution of Child Pornography 

Dublin Man Sentenced to More Than 21 Years for Distribution of Child Pornography

Wood Man Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Individual Under Age 16   

Gates Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge 

FBI Seeking Public Assistance in Identifying Victims of Suspected Serial Child Predator in Southeast U.S.

Navajo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Sex Abuse Conviction 

Linn County Man Sentenced on Federal Child Pornography Charges  

 

Campus Safety Conference 2014

On August 1, I will be in Los Angeles, CA presenting on The Warning Signs of Violence.  I will also be sitting on a panel of experts discussing Run, Hide, Fight and other Active Shooter responses.
 
The Campus Safety Conference promises to deliver top-notch educational sessions for K-12 schools and university police agencies, administrators and campus stakeholders who are actively engaged in the development and implementation of safety procedures and responsive strategies. Attendees will be provided with breakfast, lunch and a networking reception, as well as the opportunity to obtain information on the latest campus safety and security products and services.

July 31 - August 1 

Radisson Hotel Midtown at USC

Website: campussafetyconference.com

 

Sessions: campussafetymagazine.com/article/campus_safety_conference_program/csc

• Keynote: Chief Charlie Beck, LAPD
• Navigating Compliance: Clery Act, Title IX, and Campus SaVE
  
• Active Shooter Training for K-12 Teachers and Administrators
• Surviving A Clery Audit
• The Warning Signs of Violence
  
• Run, Hide, Fight and Other Ways K-12 Campuses Should Respond to Active Shooters
• Higher Ed Emergency Management and Notification Panel
  
• Components of a Safe School Entrance
• Dealing with Difficult People
• How to Conduct a K-12 School Safety Review
  
• Partnering with Student Affairs and Other Stakeholders to Improve Public Safety​ Review​
• Minimize the Spaces-A Crime Prevention and Suppression Strategy

 

Crimes against Children Digest 7-2-14

Jerseyville Woman Indicted for Threatening to Destroy Calhoun County High School 

Madera County Man Indicted for Pipe Bombs Found at School and Gas Station

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Federal Offense of Sex Trafficking of a Child 

Albany Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography 

Combating Violent Crimes Against Children   

FBI Charlotte and Safe Kids North Carolina Partner to Keep Children Safe 

FBI Announces Child Safety Tips

Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Transporting Teenage Girls from California to Nevada to Work as Prostitutes 

Antelope Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge of Producing Child Pornography Related to Molestation of Relative  

Maryland Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Traveling to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography

Crimes against Children Digest 7-1-14

Clarks Summit Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography

LaVista Man Sentenced to 90 Months for Receiving Child Pornography  

Glendale Man Sentenced to 160 Months for Transportation of Minor with Intent to Engage in Prostitution

Hinsdale Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Child Exploitation Offense 

Federal Grand Jury Returns Superseding Indictment Charging Lake County Man with Advertising, Transporting, and Possessing Child Pornography

Gower Man Indicted on Child Pornography Charges 

Wood County Man Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Child Pornography Case

Girl raped in high school hallway as class goes on

Shiprock Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Aggravated Sexual Abuse Charge 

Jerseyville Woman Indicted for Threatening to Destroy Calhoun County High School