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:
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:
Other strategies require more investment, like:
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.