School security the focus of ASIS International 2018 Security Cares Program

Alexandria, VA—August 14, 2018—ASIS International, the world’s largest association of security management professionals, today announced the educational line-up for this year’s free Security Cares community security education program, which will be held during Global Security Exchange (GSX), Sept. 23-27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In the first year of its rebrand following a 63-year history as the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibits, GSX, the security industry’s flagship event, is expected to attract 550 exhibitors and more than 20,000 operational and cyber security professionals for the world’s most comprehensive security event.

The 2018 Security Cares program, led by ASIS School Safety and Security Council experts, will examine issues surrounding school security. Topics include pre-violence indicators, target hardening, and best practices on how to engage the entire community—school administrators, law enforcement, security professionals, and mental health providers—in the effort.

“Schools should be places where students are free to focus on learning,” said Jason Destein, vice chair, ASIS International School Safety and Security Council. “As the last year has shown, they have become increasingly targeted for senseless acts of violence. Through Security Cares, school security stakeholders can engage directly with experts in the field and view product and service demos of the security innovations available to meet their specific needs.”

The program kicks-off with a Tuesday, Sept. 25 "School Security: Beyond the Headlines” panel at 12:30 pm PT that will be live streamed from the exhibit hall on www.GSX.org. Speakers from the ASIS School Safety and Security Council will discuss active shooter and the conditions that lead to these acts of violence, the use of data and analytics in prevention, technology and procurement assessment, and measures that can be taken to secure soft targets.

The Wednesday, Sept. 26, in-person program at the Las Vegas Convention Center will take a deep dive into the role communities play in keeping schools safe. Speakers include:

• Scott Breor, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Infrastructure Protection

• Sheldon Jacobs, PsyD, Clark County Division of Family Services

• Richard E. Smith, Vice President at Large, IACP, and Chief of Police, Wakefield Massachusetts Police Department

• Paul Timm, PSP, Vice President of Physical Security Services, Facility Engineering Associates

• Andrew Walsh, Deputy Chief, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

Panelists will examine pre-violence indicators, implementing ‘see something, say something’ policies, issues surrounding how reported behaviors are escalated, resources available to connect at-risk individuals, and the importance of taking a collaborative approach to assess threats. The program will wrap up with a tabletop exercise designed to provide attendees with a real-world example and best practices to take back to their communities.

“From reducing the risk of violence to improving emergency preparedness, engaging the community is the first step to providing a safe learning environment,” stated Timm. “The program will walk you through that process, and we invite all stakeholders to attend. These best practices are applicable to a wide range of institutions—from hotels and houses of worship to restaurants and retailers. Let’s keep our schools and communities safe!”

Launched in 2016, Security Cares takes place annually at GSX as part of a commitment to give back to host communities and ensure they benefit from the collective wisdom and product knowledge amassed at this seminal event. In addition to the education, Security Cares includes the ASIS School Security Grant competition, which provides security upgrades to an in-need school in the GSX host community. As a central part of the Security Cares program, the grant’s goal is to encourage local schools to assess the security issues that confront their buildings, staff, and students each day. Miley Achievement Center is the recipient of the 2018 grant, and will be recognized on Thursday, Sept. 27 at GSX.

To learn more about the program and to register, visit GSX.org/securitycares.