Community members come out for Keeping Kids Safe seminar.
The Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU), along with event partners the Berks County Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities (MH/DD) Program, the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, the Berks County Chiefs of Police Association, and the Berks County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #71, hosted Keeping Kids Safe: Active Shooter Response Survival Guidelines and Practical Applications for school teams of administrators, counselors, psychologists, nurses, first responders, law enforcement officials, and mental health and community partners.
Almost 300 participants gathered at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading on Oct. 10 The keynote speaker for the event was Lieutenant Jack Cambria, NYPD Hostage Negotiation Team Leader, Retired.
Audience members learned how to prepare and respond to an active shooter situation. The training addressed several topics including active shooter policy and protocols, suggested prevention policy, security systems, practice training, expectations, and hostage survival strategies. Emergency preparedness and training is a timely topic among state leaders, educators, and community members, so the seminar was relevant and beneficial to all attendees.
The seminar’s session on practical applications was led by John Baker, CPP. Mr. Baker leads Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit’s safety and security initiatives. He has over 25 years of safety and security experience working with a broad range of clients from small business to government agencies. Mr. Baker is a Board Certified Protection Professional (CPP).
Jill M. Hackman, executive director of the Berks County Intermediate Unit, shared the importance of the training. “With the recent addition of CrisisGo to our emergency preparedness toolkit, the seminar presented by Lieutenant Cambria and Mr. Baker reinforced our commitment to ensuring the 70,000 students in Berks County a safe and secure learning environment,” said Hackman. “As a county, we are committed to ensuring that safety and security remains a top priority.”
Edward B. Michalik, administrator for the Berks County MH/DD Program, said, “Our single most important investment in our community’s future is the safety of our students enrolled in our schools. This conference is a significant step forward in protecting their lives and all of our futures.”
Lt. Cambria is a retired member of the New York City Police Department who has contributed over 33 years of exemplary service. He served for 16 years in the ranks of police officer, sergeant, and lieutenant in the Emergency Service Unit (ESU), whose primary focus is to provide Rescue, Tactical (SWAT), and CounterTerrorism services to the city of New York.
In addition to responding to and serving on many high profile assignments, he worked as a Rescue Team Manager on the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue NY Task Force. Because of his solid foundation and achievements, he was selected to command the NYPD’s elite Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) during the last 14 years of his career.