Ballroom 105 - 3:45 - 5
Submitted by Angelica
Mike Jacabacci, Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Esther Netter, Zimmer Children's Museum
Jason Dice, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
I envisioned from the description that this discussion would be all about playing with hammers and nails or climbers, but instead it was about how museums have handled some of the scarier threats such as shootings, terrorism, etc. Definitely important and relevant (just a bit intense!)!
Each person on the panel shared information about their particular museum, a threat or perceived threat they experienced, and what steps they were taking to mitigate and how they might share this information to help others.
Mike Jacabbacci from Stepping Stones talked about what his museum went through during the Sandy Hook shooting only about 30 miles away. His story talked about the need to act quickly in unknown situations and be prepared to respond to families with questions and work with a security team to increase presence. Critical to continue working on safety.
Next steps included using grant funds to increase safety:
- more security, more security training, more scanning
- security radio codes (not to insight fear for public during investigations)
- Creating a safe space for children (barricade-worthy restroom - food and water for days)
- New video surveillance accessible by phone - by him, by police, by city hall (see in and out of bathroom)
- The new security system had fob override
- Staff training - active threats - institute see something, say something
And of course - relationships. Getting to know local police, their is a contact - invite out for public positive meetings.
The Zimmer museum's takeaway was about the importance of the trust the families have placed in us. They trust we will protect them and care for their children. She stressed the importance of starting these safety conversations, working with Executive Director and reaching out to build relationships with PD and fire. And also - to start preparing your policies and protocols. We have them for earthquakes and fires, continuing planning and working. Just do the best you can with your constraints, but moving forward.
Jason Dice, from the Jewish Federation spoke about what his particular organization does and how this could serve as a resource for the rest of the us. He was in the armed forces, 21 years as an interrogator over seas - serious street cred!
He talked about security starting all the way out in the parking lot (in his building they look under cars!). The point is that we should be looking from the very beginning to judge behaviors and that security should be like an onion, peeling layers back.
He thought that staff could benefit from seeing a planning cycle that "the troublemakers" - I didn't want to use the other "t" word - that could provide info. clues of what to look for - or Pre Incident Indicators - to get technical. He mentioned that not only do "t" words use this cycle, but criminals do as well.
While we don't have metal detectors and x-rays and databases, and fancy geo-fencing programs, and who knows what other high tech technology - he mentioned that the department of homeland security has security advisors that will do free risk assessments of your facilities and let you know what holes they see and can help make recommendations.
What's event better .... is that this info can then be applied to try and receive an urban area initiative grant to make some of these security changes -
Hi biggest take away was that our safety and security measures need to keep improving and the we need to continue doing it incrementally so that it just becomes a way of life.
His analogy (which you all know I love a good analogy) was to think back to when were kids, no seatbelts, and then all of sudden seatbelts were just the norm.
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