Active Shooter Preparedness: The CSO Response to Modern Threats

At 6:30 p.m., the assailant entered the building and passed through multiple security checkpoints to an upper floor, where further casualties occurred. Herein lies a critical lesson: traditional physical barriers and protocols alone were insufficient against a determined shooter.

Even with a swift response, the shooter’s actions spanned less than 10 minutes, highlighting how quickly threats can escalate and the need for proactive, intelligence-led security to prioritize employee and visitor safety.  

Collaboration in Multi-Tenant Buildings

Additionally, there are challenges that exist specifically in multi-tenant, corporate buildings. Each occupant brings its own practices and communications flows to the table, which can diverge from one another. The confusion can expose a coordination gap that can harm and impede law enforcement operations. Clear communication and coordination with property management and law enforcement officials should be a baseline consideration for any organization operating in this environment.  

The Use of AI-driven Technology  

AI-driven weapon detection, automated lockdowns, and a mass notification platform can help bridge the gap between alert and action. While today’s technology can shrink the detection and response windows, tomorrow’s innovations, such as autonomous perimeter surveillance and context-aware elevator controls, will prove to be further transformative. Regardless, a human should be in the loop—to interpret data, make judgment calls, and coordinate escalations—which requires ongoing technology audits and specialized training.  

Proactive Intelligence to Assess the Evolving Threat Landscape

Just as the threat landscape is increasingly more complex, the role of corporate security is ever-expanding.  Social media chatter, misinformation, and political sensitivity have converged to embolden bad actors. Proactive intelligence and ongoing monitoring act to uncover such potential threats and inform security decisions that mitigate – or even prevent – major incidents and help keep employees informed and safe.   

As a result, modern CSOs are transforming crisis response into daily practice. By doing so, they are better equipped to anticipate challenges ahead of a critical event like an active shooter. It’s about leading with clear protocols, strong partnerships, and efficient communication. Key imperatives include:  

1. Codifying Response Protocols for Employees
   If an employee hears gunshots, receives a notification, or sees the threat, they should know how to react. Using a memorable framework adds efficacy. Frameworks like “run, hide, fight” create a strong baseline, as they are easy to understand.  Even in a situation of extreme stress, an individual can act quickly.  Organizations in particular dense campuses – or those seeking additional adaptability (practical barricading, room hardening, and movement tactics between cover) –would find additional value in frameworks such as “ALICE.”   
    
2. Investing in Real-Time Intelligence and Communication  
   Access to accurate information is critical during emergencies. In the Park Avenue case, individuals relied on real-time updates to inform their decisions, such as sheltering in place. This is when seconds matter.  
   
   For example, the first flash alert issued for Crisis24 Horizon users was well ahead of major outlets like CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
   
   To improve emergency response and minimize confusion, CSOs are investing in platforms that combine real-time intelligence, geolocated alerts, and two-way check-ins. These tools help organizations quickly assess impact, account for employees, and target communications, avoiding unnecessary alerts for those outside the affected area. Silent notifications (like desktop alerts) further disseminate information while reducing exposure risk exposure risk compared to audible mobile pings.  
    
3. Creating a Trusted Network of Partners  
   It’s crucial to forge partnerships with property managers, peer security teams, and local and national law enforcement. Establishing contacts, sharing floor plans, and aligning on communication flows accelerates response and reduces uncertainty during an unfolding crisis. 
    
4. Embedding a Culture of Preparedness  
   The effectiveness of any protocol or technology is contingent on employee engagement and familiarity. Regular, scenario-rich drills, in collaboration with law enforcement, solidify muscle memory and surface process gaps. Creating immersive, adaptive training programs is becoming the norm, as they reinforce a clear communication of responsibilities and available resources. 

Ultimately, active shooter preparedness is not a box to be checked but a living, evolving discipline that demands attention every day. By prioritizing clear protocols, real-time intelligence, the use of technology, strategic partnerships, and a culture of safety, today’s leading CSOs are transforming uncertainty into actionable resilience.