Recent security incidents at Michigan universities and at events around the country have reinforced the need for public safety and law enforcement teams to be prepared and proactive, especially in situations where large groups gather.

As part of an ongoing effort to improve response protocol in the region, Davenport University’s Public Safety team, in partnership with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Unit, hosted a Sport and Special Event Risk Management and Planning course on October 6 and 7. Instructors from the University of Southern Mississippi’s National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security led the training.

“Sport and special event risk management is not a niche concern in West Michigan,” said Brian Stalsonburg, Kent County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Unit, Training & Exercise Coordinator. “With new venues in the region and a full calendar of events across our communities, schools and colleges, the number of people who share responsibility for event safety keeps growing. Planning together before an event costs far less than coordinating for the first time during one. We are grateful to Davenport University for hosting the course and for its commitment to preparedness in our community.”

The program is part of a national preparedness effort led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and was free to all attendees. It focused on helping organizations identify potential threats and hazards, conduct risk assessments, develop comprehensive event safety and emergency response plans, and improve coordination among public safety agencies, emergency management personnel and event organizers.

“Safety in sporting and special event situations relies on multi-agency planning,” said Brett Windsor, assistant director of Public Safety at Davenport. “This program gave us all an opportunity to learn best practices and clear response protocols, strengthening our ability to identify potential threats, coordinate emergency responses and more effectively protect attendees at sporting events and other large gatherings.”

A diverse group of professionals attended the two-day, 16-hour training. In addition to Davenport and Kent County participants, attendees came from at least 24 organizations across Michigan, including local and county government agencies, law enforcement, emergency management, emergency medical services, educational institutions, private security companies and major event venue operators.

“Everyone brought with them a wide range of experience and expertise,” said Windsor. “Our team was able to develop relationships and set a foundation for future collaboration.”

Here is the list of the agencies and organizations that attended: 

Centurion Security, Choice Schools Associates, City of Grand Rapids, Davenport University, DK Security, Emmet County, Forest Hills Public Schools, Gaines Township, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Rapids Venues / ASM Global, Grand Valley State University, Haworth, Ionia County, Kelloggsville Public Schools, Kent County, Kent Intermediate School District, Life EMS Ambulance, Lowell Area Schools, Muskegon Area Intermediate School District, Muskegon Central Dispatch 911, Oakridge Public Schools, Ottawa County, West Michigan Aviation Academy.