Medaille hosts lessons on workplace violence

By Joyce Kryszak

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Buffalo, NY – It wasn't your typical academic seminar at Medaille College on Tuesday. A national security company was teaching people how to protect themselves from shooters, stalkers and terrorists.

The event was hosted by Medaille but included attendees from area businesses including the Buffalo Building Owners and Managers Association. They were all there to learn some very important lessons. "The thought is to bring to the attention how to identify signs of workplace violence....and what kind of preventative measures to take," said Chartier.

And Chartier said there are many things people can do to keep a violent situation from escalating - or even happening in the first place. He said there are warning signs. Chartier said the important thing is for institutions and businesses to be fully aware and prepared.

"I think they're going to take a close look at their own environments," said Chartier. "And see either if they've had some incidents in the past, some near misses...what can be done to protect people in the future and take a look at some perhaps root causes of how they might be able to adjust their policies appropriately."

Law enforcement officials with Erie County's SWAT Team, the Transit Authority, the state police and Homeland Security helped lead the half-day safety training.