Intimate Partner Violence aka Domestic Violence – The Next ACTIVE SHOOTER THREAT

Today, two more have been left dead in what seems to be a surge of shootings in school campuses. However, the Central Michigan University shooting is unique compared to that of the Parkland, Fla. shooting from just weeks ago. Today’s misfortune has been directly linked to intimate partner violence, or domestic abuse.

AEGIS Security & Investigations has discussed the impact intimate partner violence (IPV) has on not only the individuals involved but on public safety, particularly through active shooter situations. In this blog, we will delve into this link once again and offer insight on how college students can fall into the pattern we have recently seen take place in an elementary school and other workplaces in the nation.

What we know so far about the Central Michigan University (CMU) is the shooter has been identified. He is a 19-year-old male, and the two deceased are not students at the school. The investigation has revealed that it was a “domestic-type incident.”

What is Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)?

The Center for Disease Control defines IPV as a “serious, preventable public health problem… [that] describes physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, and psychological aggression…by a current or former intimate partner.” While many of the acts affiliated with this form of abuse occur behind closed doors, it can easily move into more public environments.

This issue has recently been featured from the perspectives of advocacy, prevention, and reporting. October saw the emergence of campaigns to raise awareness about IPV, also called domestic violence. The Partnership Against Domestic Violence launched its 31 Days of Hope project on Oct. 1, highlighting the impact of IPV on youth and adults. The Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence works daily to expose the harsh realities of IPV and how they relate to the public sphere. Ultimately, Intimate Partner Violence has surfaced as a public health hazard that impacts more than the victims who suffer from abuse — it can affect us all.

According to the Center on Disease Control, 1 in 10 teens reported to a survey that they had been physically injured on purpose by a significant other. Just as is true in adult IPV situations, teen dating violence can be a catalyst for an active shooter situation. According to the CDC, peer and social risk factors, including bullying and teen dating violence (as well as violence inflicted outside of school such as at home) are often a part of school violence such as active shooter situations. Whether it is a victim seeking revenge or a perpetrator committing the ultimate act of domestic violence, the reality of school violence is one we need to acknowledge and for which we need to prepare.

How does Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) impact the workplace and schools?

There are a few ways in which this type of violence affects the workplace. While it is a direct impact on a victim who suffers from physical, emotional, and/or psychological abuse, the impact on an employer and its employees can be linked indirectly through the victim’s absence or directly through the perpetrator’s presence.

Think about this: “The Department of Labor reports that victims of domestic violence lose nearly 8 million days of paid work per year in the U.S., resulting in a $1.8 billion loss in productivity for employers.” What share of that is your workplace taking? Additionally, an astounding 21 percent of full-time employees identify as IPV victims.

What does all this have to do with active shooters?

Active shooter violence is generally viewed as, “It can’t possibly happen here or to me.” However, this is not the case as the reality of active shooter situations is that they are often unpredictable and evolve quickly.

Active shooter situations have steadily risen since the start of the millennium, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and are projected to continue to increase. (For a list of 2016 mass shootings, click here.) IPV is another catalyst for someone to decide they will visit a workplace and open fire.

Get active shooter training today.

AEGIS Security & Investigations conducts active shooter training programs designed for people at all levels within an organization, and they can be tailored to training large groups of staff that will work premier events. These trainings are the first step in understanding you and your organization’s capabilities and responses to an incident. Taking the steps to become better prepared in hostile situations cannot only save your life but help save the lives of those around you.

The civilian active shooter training provided by AEGIS is intended to build on “run, hide, fight,” the long-standing method of saving yourself in these events. Workshops run from an hour to several hours dependent on the needs of the organization and individuals. Our most highly sought after workplace violence training program is our one-hour plus add-on Run, Hide, Fight Live Fire Demo. Participants begin with a lecture and basic training on how to handle the situation and are then exposed to sample scenarios in which they practice those same skills. The effectiveness of this scenario can be viewed here, an instance when we showcased this training on CBS.

AEGIS Security & Investigations is a Los Angeles region company that is licensed and insured in the State of California to provide high-end armed and unarmed regular and temporary off-duty police officers, bodyguards, security officers, loss prevention agents, and event staff. Additionally, we offer services for private investigation, consultation, people tracing, and background investigation. Our trainings and workshops in the field of security licensure and counter-terrorism have been featured in news media and are renowned for their efficacy. For more information or to contact us, visit www.aegis.com.

By Chelsea Turner & Jeff Zisner