Enhanced Non-Lethal Security Blog

Violent incidents at schools have become all too common. As a result, elected officials, law enforcement and school administrators are always looking for an effective, non-lethal solution to keep students and faculty safe.

While the media focus is on high profile incidents such as Columbine, Virginia Tech or Sandy Hook, the sad reality is there are over 1,000 assaults, aggravated assaults, and dangerous incidents that happen on a nearly DAILY basis IN our schools around the country. Local officials and parents know the dangers students face. It’s time we do something to reduce the level of fear, injury and liability in our schools.

As a leader in your community, you are no doubt concerned about public safety. Recently, because of high profile incidents in places like Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City, those chartered to protect the public have come under increased scrutiny.

You’ve no doubt heard the growing calls to outfit police officers with body cameras to record any incident that may occur with the public. But what about security professionals who are not sworn law enforcement officers?

At the Guardian 8 headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, we're finally exhaling. The excitement - and the crowds - of the Big Game and the Waste Management Phoenix Open took over the Phoenix-metro area (on the heels of the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction, no less), and security was a huge responsibility.

The public's focus on security might have been temporary, but those of us in the industry are always looking for ways to learn and ways to improve the way we keep the public safe at high profile events.

In recent months, there has been considerable attention paid to the security industry, especially incidents that have resulted in fatal consequences. In December, CNN aired an investigative series called “Hired Guns” that highlighted a perceived lack of regulation and oversight in the private security industry.

While considerable airtime and resources were dedicated to this special report, one important element was missing. That is a look forward at an important new non-lethal option that can help change the industry and provide a vital tool for security guards.

The recent incidents making the news in our cities across the country have led to calls for body cameras and alternatives that will de-escalate violence that many time ends in injury or death. Lack of knowledge of current technologies that can address these important issues more often than not leaves questions unanswered.

The call for safety must not just address violence in the streets but must also concentrate on that which occurs in schools, hospitals, shopping malls, stadiums, the workplace, and any venue where people gather. While the current focus is quite narrow, the solutions offered must be broad enough to target all violence.