K17 In The News
Preventing workplace violence takes variety of measures, experts say
After there’s an incident, Scott Zimmerman usually sees a spike in calls. Zimmerman is a Frederick resident and the founder and CEO of K17 Security in Rockville, which provides services including security awareness training, risk and vulnerability assessments, and active shooter response training. Zimmerman said he saw a dramatic increase…
Texas official says that fewer doors could mean fewer school shootings. We had experts weigh in.
The prompt for the latest skirmish in the never-ending war of words in one of the country’s most intractable debates came just hours after a shooter had killed 10 people at a Texas high school. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, an evangelical Christian and Republican former radio talk-show host who has been a…
Police, employers agree: Run-Hide-Fight best response to gunman
After one of the deadliest school massacres in U.S. history, Americans are hotly debating gun control and public investment in mental health. There’s little compromise in sight on those contentious issues, but police, employers and experts are nearly unanimous on another scary topic — how potential victims should respond to…
Staff learns survival strategies for active shooter situation
The man with the blue plastic gun appeared around the corner, and people started running. Other staffers in the large open office tried to disrupt the gunman—by lobbing brightly colored balls at him. The exercise at the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards prompted some laughing rather than screaming, but…
Drill at Va. office building leads to false report of possible active shooter to police
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – There were some tense moments in Fairfax County as police were called to an office building for a report of an active shooter. However, it turned out to be a false alarm and someone was running a drill. For about 45 minutes Thursday afternoon, workers inside…
Equipped for the Unthinkable
While the threat of active shooters is a growing reality of the workplace, tools and resources are emerging to help employers better prepare for the worst. The one-day training session may have already paid off at Aronson, a Rockville, Md.-based assurance, tax and consulting services provider. In January 2016, the…
Run, Hide…Fight? Responding to Terrorism is not as Simple as you Think.
About 30 people are in a conference room at the Frederick Chamber of Commerce’s offices on Gas House Pike. An announcement booms over the crowd: “Shelter in place until we give you additional information.” A loud alarm sounds and most try to squat down behind their make-believe chairs, cowering. A…
Businesses, residents learn to prepare for the worst in active-shooter training
A man pointed a fake gun at a group of people to help Frederick County businesses and organizations prepare for and react to a workplace nightmare: a shooter. About 20 people from local organizations attended the active-shooter response training Wednesday morning at the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, practicing skills…
Active-shooter training for office workers used to be about hiding. Not anymore.
A day after the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Calif., left 14 people dead, Temony McNeil was on the floor of his Washington office, pinned down by co-workers. At 6 feet and 240 pounds, McNeil is no pushover. But when colleagues being trained to take down an active shooter got…
Shooting victims remembered at lighting of Capitol Christmas Tree
WASHINGTON (AP) — The mass shooting in California has intruded on a normally festive event in Washington — the annual lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree. House Speaker Paul Ryan asked for a moment of silence and for prayers for the multiple shooting victims at a Southern California social services…
