Systematic Failures: Why Predictable Problems Repeat at Schools

Back to School Shootings

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Systematic Failures: Why Predictable Problems Repeat at Schools

On the Coptimizer Podcast, I talked about flaws in crisis response, confronting myths about armed security, and practical strategies to recognize threats and prevent school shootings.

David Riedman

and

The Coptimizer

Mar 14, 2025

Transcript

I was a guest on the Coptimizer Podcast with retired police chief Patrick Flannelly.

We talked about:

Systemic flaws with the incident command system (ICS) during mass shootings like Las Vegas Harvest Festival and Uvalde
School lockdowns versus evacuating
Increased risk from arming teachers and private security
Lost guns and accidental/negligent discharges
Warning signs of violence and how to prevent school shootings

David Riedman is the creator of the K-12 School Shooting Database, Chief Data Officer at a global risk management firm, and a tenure-track professor. Listen to my weekly podcast—Back to School Shootings—or my recent interviews on Freakonomics Radio, New England Journal of Medicine, and my article on CNN about AI and school security.