Building Safer Schools and Communities: A Layered Approach

Any time an act of violence impacts a school or community, we are reminded of the difficult balance between safety and openness. Families want schools, places of worship, and gathering spaces to feel warm and welcoming, yet they also need to be secure.

At Joffe Emergency Services, we believe this balance is not only possible, it’s essential. And achieving it requires a layered approach to safety that strengthens communities while preparing them to face real-world risks.

What does this have to do with school shootings, you might be asking? Well, everything. Because we know when it comes to understanding and assessing threats, single layers (such as single sources of information) can have big holes. But when layered together with other information from individual observations, medical information, risk assessments, etc, we can help close those holes and create a clearer picture to aid mitigation. 

The “Swiss Cheese of Safety” 

We often describe safety through the lens of the “Swiss Cheese Model.” On their own, every protective measure, whether it’s secured entryways, visible patrols, or a strong reporting system, has gaps. But layered together, these measures work to close those gaps, creating a stronger, more resilient defense.

For example:

• A locked door might slow someone down.
• Cameras provide real-time monitoring and evidence.
• A trained officer on patrol not only responds to incidents but also builds trust through visibility and daily interactions.

Together, these layers make a meaningful difference.

Stories From the Field

Our Campus Safety Officers see this every day. Whether it’s greeting families during morning drop-off with a smile and a wave, calmly handling a medical incident, or noticing subtle signs of concern before they escalate. Their presence represents much more than security as they’re part of the fabric and community. Effective responders and safety professionals combine vigilance and experience with deliberate connection.

The 20 Minute Rule

During peak times of stress on campus, we encourage schools to have their security teams increase their presence. Importantly, that increase isn’t just about doing more patrols; it’s about increasing people’s feelings of safety on campus. Specifically, we like to use a practice where every 20 minutes, an officer walks by every space on campus, offering both reassurance and deterrence. That steady rhythm of connection helps keep communities safe and engaged.

The goal? If you’re a teacher in room 458B, you see an officer every 20 minutes. In fact, everyone does. It’s not long contact, it’s not a conversation, it’s a smile and a wave to say “hey, we’re here”. That presence helps to affect people’s feelings of safety. Curious about how feeling safe interacts with being safe? That’s another article, or you can pick up a copy of Chris’ book to learn more! 

What Schools and Organizations Can Do

Some steps can be taken with little to no cost, such as:

• Training staff with tools from Joffe Academy, FEMA, or other trusted sources
• Building a Threat Assessment Team
• Running regular drills across different scenarios
• Teaching your community how to report concerns
• Establishing clear emergency communication scripts

Other strategies require more investment, like:

• Partnering with professionals for a safety assessment
• Enhancing campus monitoring systems
• Implementing a strong emergency notification system
• Hiring trained Campus Safety Officers to bring all of these layers together

Moving Forward

Safety is never about one tool, one person, or one quick fix. It’s about building systems that layer prevention, mitigation, and human connection. Our work at Joffe, and the daily commitment of our officers and experts, is proof that communities don’t have to choose between being welcoming and being safe – they can be both.