Ƶ police, researchers combine efforts to identify, intervene before violence occurs
Research shows that acts of targeted violence are not random or impulsive; instead, they are carefully planned over weeks, months and sometimes years.This planning and preparation means there are opportunities to notice the warning signs and intervene to address them. The key to violence prevention is early intervention, according to experts.
“We’ve learned from research on mass shootings that many attackers engaged in observable planning behavior and communicated their plan to cause harm to others, prior to their violence,” said Sarah Goodrum, at Ƶ Boulder’s Institute of Behavioral Science.
“In addition, a recent study by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Threat Assessment Center found that these attackers often had contact with police, prior to their violence, such as fights with parents or posting pictures of guns on social media. But, in many cases, the attacker had not yet broken the law, limiting the steps police could take to address the concern,” Goodrum added.
That’s why theƵ Boulder Police Department, which is part of theDivision of Public Safety, and violence prevention researchers are working together to strengthen partnerships and integrate resources in a holistic approach to campus and community safety.
Goodrum recently joined ƵPD’s Deputy Chief Mark Heyart and Sgt. Brian Brown in efforts to ensure regional law enforcement agencies are aware of valuable tools to help with early identification, assessment and intervention; training co-responders from Northglenn, Lakewood, Aurora and Thornton Police Departments on theTargeted Violence Lethality Assessment Protocol, or TV-LAP. ƵPD officers andembedded mental health clinicians have already received this training.
The protocol provides first responders with a list of 12 questions to guide an inquiry with a person engaging in concerning behavior or making threatening statements. The idea is to identify and evaluate the concerning behaviors and communications and provide individuals with help and resources before violence occurs.
“Asone of the first people called to support analysis of threats within the Ƶ Boulder community, our co-responder has the benefit of many years of training and experience, and the TV-LAP gives her a way to quickly reference the key points of threat assessment and violence prevention, as well as next steps to support individuals experiencing a crisis, when she is out in the field,” said Katy Barnes, assistant director of crisis services atCounseling and Psychiatric Services.
Additionally, Goodrum and ƵPD Commander Eric Edford recently presented the TV-LAP to police agencies at the Boulder County Threat Assessment Group, to encourage wider use of this valuable tool to assess and prevent targeted violence in the community.
The TV-LAP regional trainings are part of broader efforts funded by a 2023 U.S.Department of Homeland Security grant.
Later this year, there will be related emphasis on threat identification processes across campus. Campus safety leaders from theDivision of Public Safety will engage inthe National Threat Evaluation and Reporting, in continued efforts to share information on early identification and intervention.