Dark Nights of the Soul; When Terror Hits Home – Deputy Chief AJ DeAndrea (Retired)
Deputy Chief AJ DeAndrea (Retired) was in a leadership role in three school
shootings that changed the fabric of American society and police response to active
shootings around the world. The primary events were Columbine High School, Platte
Canyon High School and the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) shootings. He takes a
deep dive into these tragic events and more importantly analyzes the positive things
that came from them from decision making, improved tactics, and mental health
practices.
Most importantly, he is accompanied by his oldest daughter, Madalena DeAndrea,
who survived the Borderline Bar and Grill active shooting incident in Thousand Oaks,
CA in 2018. Madalena, a current Senior Manager of Strategic Projects, Recovery, and
Resiliency with Jefferson County Schools in Colorado shares how the protective
factors she learned growing up the daughter of a life long law enforcement officer,
ultimately saved her life. She shares her insights as a survivor of an active shooter,
and her choice to experience post traumatic growth following an experience of evil.
AJ and Madalena passionately speak from a perspective of having been inside the
building during the aforementioned active shootings. These events have lead to the
creation of our Eight Pillars of Awareness and Preparation. These Pillars can assist in
preventing an active shooting from occurring or help stop and manage them more
effectively if one is to occur in your jurisdiction.
UPON COMPLETION ATTENDEES WILL BE ABLE TO:
-Understand the tactical decision making matrix, “P.I.E.” (Priorities, Intel, &
-Environment) and be able to apply it to real world situations.
-Understand the Eight Pillars of awareness and preparation that can help prevent
active shootings from occurring or help stop and manage them more effectively
if one occurs.
-Create a resilient and positive mental health culture in their agency.
-Apply protective factors to their day to day life and the lives of their colleagues
and loved ones to make them more resilient in the aftermath of trauma.
Sponsored by: Safe Haven Defense