On April 23, an hour-long emergency incident training was held in the Forum Theatre by the Office of Public Safety & Security. Detective Joseph Rovnan, a veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD), head of its Major Incident Response Team and a nationally recognized expert in active shooter tactics, delivered the presentation on emergency incident preparedness and effective response.

We appreciate the university for organizing this event and bringing in a qualified expert to present. We are especially appreciative in light of the April 14 shooting on the street outside of Villiger Hall, as reported in “City Avenue shooting raises concerns about university safety alert protocol” in the April 24 issue of The Hawk. Offering this training for the St. Joe’s community is a positive step, which we commend.

Rovnan’s presentation covered emergency preparedness knowledge, including an overview and history of active shooter events in the United States and an in-depth description of safety strategies such as “run, hide, fight.” In attendance were over 30 individuals, including Public Safety officers, students, faculty and staff. 

In the future, if more safety initiatives are held, we hope to see more student attendance. By taking steps like this to educate the public on active threat response, the entirety of the St. Joe’s community will feel prepared and equipped in the event of an emergency situation.