Law Enforcement Involvement & Confidentiality Breaches – Jim Satterfield Discusses Crisis Prevention
In the final Q&A installment from Church Mutual Insurance Company, Jim Satterfield (Firestorm CEO) discusses law enforcement involvement and confidentiality obligations before and during crisis situations.
We extend our sincerest thank you to Church Mutual for organizing, creating and publishing this informational series. To learn how your faith-based organization can work with Church Mutual, please visit their website.
When to contact law enforcement
Q: When is it important to contact the police?
A: Notifying law enforcement occurs when you believe a threat will escalate into an action. If you witness a person standing in your facility with a gun, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand law enforcement officials should be notified immediately. Officials should be notified during situations that have not escalated to violence, however. For example, treat every threat of suicide as a real threat. Firestorm has found a high correlation in individuals who are contemplating suicide and those who have crafted kill lists. What we have found in schools is a near 100% correlation.
When you feel the threat is imminent, reach out to law enforcement.
Q: How to identify the point where breaking confidentiality is necessary for the safety of your people
A: When is breaking confidentiality necessary?
If a person has made a threat, or is on a path of violence that could hurt themselves or others, a leader has every obligation to reveal that information. Relay that information to the right people who can make a difference in that person’s life. Due to the nature of the faith-based business, confidentiality is at the absolute core and it’s going to be even more critical during a crisis.
View previous videos from series:
How to handle the media following a crisis
The do’s and don’ts of Crisis Communication
How to anonymously report suspicious behavior