In this high-impact episode of The Security Exchange, host Dan Pascale sits down with Joe Hendry, a Principal Consultant at COSECURE and one of the nation’s leading experts in K-12 school safety. With 40 years of experience spanning the U.S. Marines, law enforcement, and national technical committees for ASIS, Joe brings unparalleled depth to the conversation on protecting our students and faculty.

This episode pulls back the curtain on the "security theater" often seen in schools and refocuses on the contemporary practices that actually save lives. Whether you are a school superintendent, a principal, or a school resource officer, this discussion provides a roadmap for moving from high-cost "shiny widgets" to a comprehensive, risk-based safety program.

Key topics discussed in this episode include:

• The ROI of Unbiased Risk Assessments: Why a "free" assessment from a vendor is often a sales pitch in disguise and why a full-scale, objective assessment every 3–4 years is the essential first step for any district.
• Preventing Low-Probability, High-Impact Events: Understanding the statistical reality of school violence and why investing in bollards to prevent vehicle incursions may be more critical than high-priced gunshot detection systems.
• The Evolution of Active Threat Response: Why the traditional "single-option" lockdown (derived from 1960s drive-by shooting drills) is outdated, and why multi-option response models like ALICE or Run-Hide-Fight are now the national standard.
• Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA): Moving beyond metal detectors to focus on prevention. Joe explains the necessity of multidisciplinary teams (including school nurses) and the critical need for post-incident management plans.
• The Dangers of Unfunded Mandates: How blanket state requirements can inadvertently drain budgets away from higher-priority risks identified in your specific local assessment.
• Realistic Recovery and Reunification: Why your emergency plan shouldn't end at the evacuation point and how to prepare for the massive mental health and logistical challenges of the aftermath.

"Stop investing in security theater that only checks a box; start prioritizing an objective, risk-based strategy that focuses on prevention through behavioral threat management and empowers your people with multi-option response training."

In this episode of The Security Exchange, host Dan Pascale sits down with Drew Neckar, a veteran security leader and Principal Consultant at COSECURE, to tackle the escalating crisis of workplace violence in healthcare. With healthcare workers currently accounting for over 70% of non-fatal workplace assaults in the U.S., the conversation moves beyond the "status quo" to explore actionable mitigation strategies.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Global Rise of Violence: Why healthcare systems worldwide are seeing a post-pandemic shift in aggression from patients and families.
• Reactive vs. Targeted Violence: Understanding the critical difference between "in-the-moment" outbursts and predatory, targeted violence that requires a multidisciplinary threat assessment team.
• Bridging the Program Gaps: Why reporting processes are often the most significant failure point in a security program and how to fix them.
• Layered Physical Security: A deep dive into the evolution of access control, the impact of mandated weapons detection, and the importance of visitor management.
• The "Keyless Entry" Trap: How hospitals can avoid overspending on "shiny new widgets" by fully utilizing the features of the enterprise systems they already own.
• C-Suite Engagement: Practical tips for security directors to find internal champions among nursing and medical leadership to drive a culture of safety.

Stop treating security as a secondary clinical function and start building a culture of safety that empowers every caregiver to identify, report, and mitigate threats.

Welcome to the debut episode of The Security Exchange, where real-world security meets real-world experience. Hosted by Dan Pascale, CEO of COSECURE Enterprise Risk Solutions, this series is dedicated to cutting through the noise and delivering guidance grounded in what actually works for security practitioners, general counsel, and risk managers.

In this premiere, Dan is joined by Michael Cruz, Senior Security Consultant and physical security SME, to dive deep into the complexities of facility access control and visitor management. Whether you are managing security for a higher education campus, a K-12 school system, or a healthcare facility, this episode provides actionable insights into balancing a welcoming environment with rigorous safety protocols.

Key topics discussed in this episode include:

• Access Control vs. Visitor Management: Understanding the critical distinction between managing known individuals in your database and unknown visitors entering your facility.
• The Power of Signage: Why "old school" directional and wayfinding signage is essential for both daily movement and assisting first responders during an emergency.
• System Integration & Unification: The value of a "single pane of glass" and how integrated systems—like linking access control with video surveillance—can drastically reduce incident investigation time.
• Navigating the AI Hype: How to evaluate the wave of new AI security tools, from weapons detection to natural language video search, and why a thorough risk assessment must come before any purchase.
• Maximizing ROI: Why many organizations only use 10-20% of their system's capacity and how to ensure you aren't just buying a "shiny new widget" without the policy to back it up.

Stop acting as a cost center and start implementing a strategic security plan grounded in contemporary practices.