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Secret Service Concludes First Nationwide Tour on Preventing

Published By
U.S. Secret Service Media Relations
Published Date
Body

More than 3,000 law enforcement officers, educators and administrators, and mental health
professionals in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami attended specialized
briefings of the report and its findings. NTAC Chief Dr. Lina Alathari and Supervisory Research
Specialist Steven Driscoll led the briefings.

“For more than 100 years, the primary responsibility of the Secret Service has been the
prevention of violence,” said U.S. Secret Service Director James M. Murray. “Threat assessment
is as important to preventing targeted violence as the physical measures we employ.”

“‘Protecting America’s Schools’ is a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding
41 different school attacks and includes everything from home life factors to the manner in
which these attacks were carried out,” said Assistant Director of Strategic Intelligence and
Information Frederick Sellers. “This study will inform law enforcement, educators, school
administrators, and members of the community on what to look for to keep all of our children
safe.”

Three fathers who lost children in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in
Parkland, Florida, worked closely with NTAC in support of sharing these latest findings. Tony
Montalto, Ryan Petty, and Max Schachter, represented Stand with Parkland and participated in
the briefings and panel discussions in each city.

“NTAC [and the Secret Service] has championed prevention more than any other federal
agency,” said Stand with Parkland President Tony Montalto. “This new report is building on
over 20 years of study by NTAC. They analyzed the data connected to past attacks and have
developed guidelines to aid in preventing tragedy.”

Additional participants included Susan Payne, the founder of the Safe2Tell prevention initiative
developed after the Columbine attack, and Dr. Peter Langman, a psychologist and published
author with expertise in school safety and prevention strategies. Participants also heard from
Michele Gay, who lost her daughter in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in
Newtown, Connecticut. Ms. Gay is the co-founder and executive director of Safe and Sound
Schools, an organization providing research-based education and resources on crisis prevention,
response and recovery.

NTAC routinely provides report presentations, consultations, and trainings nationwide to a
variety of stakeholders on violence prevention. These efforts will continue as part of the center’s
standard operations.

To learn more, go to www.secretservice.gov or call your local Secret Service field office.