Multidisciplinary teams redefining public safety as shared responsibility
A group engages in a multidisciplinary team training at the ƵPD Training Center, Jan. 6, 2025.
Members from Ƶ Boulder’sDepartment of Threat Assessment, part of theDivision of Public Safety, kicked off the spring semester by hosting a collaborative training. Sponsored by Ƶ Boulder’s ٳdzܲa grantfrom the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program, the training explored the role threat assessment plays in identifying and assessing targeted violence.
Participants took deep dives into case studies that facilitated discussions of commonly recognized but often overlooked pathways to violence, strengthening existing partnerships to foster a more holistic approach to safety on campus.
Stanley Ly, director of Ƶ Boulder’s (FSAP), said the training helped illustrate the importance of streamlining referrals for mental health support for employees to form a more consistent pipeline and reduce redundancy.
“Together, we’ve improved our capacity for rapid response to distressed employees. Emergencies tend to beget chaos and unpredictability. So, the more layers of reliability, trust and order that Threat Assessment is able to impose in response will enable employee resources, such as FSAP, to more rapidly and effectively support those who are most in need during distressing scenarios,” Ly said.
Licensed counselors at FSAP are available to connect with Ƶ Boulder employees going through difficult situations to offer resources, validation and nonjudgmental mental health support during times of distress. All FSAP services are confidential and made available at no cost to employees of the university.
Since the Division of Public Safety was formed in spring of 2024, Ly said he’s noticed significant growth in resources and protocols when it comes to appropriate sharing of information and collaboration across campus units. “These changes enable an ease in cross-pollination of ideas and collaboration between our various disciplines,” he added.
Threat Assessment Director Montelleo Hobley said trainings like this continue to foster aculture of sharing concerns. “As we move into 2025, we remain dedicated to advancing the integration of Threat Assessment practices, protocols and procedures into the mindset of individuals at Ƶ Boulder,” Hobley said, adding, “We believe that our continued collaboration with the campus and wider Boulder community will be essential in strengthening our collective efforts to prevent targeted violence.”
Ƶ Boulder has several robust processes for individuals to share concerns and request support, including severalreporting options through ƵPD, theDon't Ignore Itwebsite and anonymously ٳdzܲ. When concerns are reported, they are evaluated and addressed through tailored processes depending on the involved populations.
The training also featured guest speakers from the Foundation for Individual Rights & Expression and the University of Southern California.