The killing of Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10 shocked the nation, sparking difficult conversations about the state of political violence.
“It’s important for people to understand this elevated risk climate touches all tiers and facets of political life, and that it extends beyond politics,” says Michael Evanoff, Chief Security Officer and Global Advisor at Verkada. “This ultimately is tied to a broader trend we’re seeing where people seem more likely to take violent action around polarizing issues of any kind. The conversation that’s important for us to have as security professionals is how can we stay ahead of these risks.”
For those in the security industry, many leaders are sharing their concerns from the perspective of event security and executive protection. To learn more, I sat down with several security professionals and listened to their insights on the matter.
“From an event security perspective, tragedies like the Kirk shooting remind us of the inherent limitations and challenges that security teams face,” says Christina Alexandropoulou, Philip Morris International’s Cluster Manager for Security & Market Safety in Southeast Europe. “What often goes unnoticed is that prevention is not only about the presence of guards or technology, but about intelligence gathering, layered defenses, and advance planning. In this case, some measures may have been effective, such as establishing perimeters and screening, but once a determined attacker is willing to use violence in a crowded, public-facing space, the margin for prevention narrows dramatically. What could have been improved is proactive intelligence-sharing and closer coordination between private security and law enforcement. However, we must also acknowledge the reality: security teams often work under manpower, budget, and jurisdictional constraints. It is impossible to promise 100% prevention, but it is possible to minimize risks through preparation, training, and rapid response.”
Providing Protection With a Small Team
In instances where an event or executive must be protected with a small security team, these teams may feel their bandwidth stretched thin, amplifying their limitations. Yet, it is not impossible to provide effective security with a modest team.
“Size is not the only measure of effectiveness. A smaller team can still deliver strong security by being strategic,” Alexandropoulou asserts.
Scott McHugh, Program Executive at the Institute for Homeland Security at Sam Houston State University, explains, “The single biggest thing that you can do is a thorough, comprehensive security advance before the event itself. It is important to not just have a virtual understanding of what is going to take place, but to actually walk the site and understand where the vulnerabilities are. Then, look at those vulnerabilities in the context of what the risk is to your protectee and who is making those threats and risks to your protectee.”
While strategy and coordination are vital to all security operations, they become even more so for security teams with limited manpower. Long before an event begins, security teams can begin their mission of securing the area by taking proactive steps.
“Event and venue security is inherently complex, requiring thoughtful attention to a wide range of considerations — from pre-planning through the event itself and into post-event evaluations,” says Jeffrey Slotnick, CPP, PSP, President of Setracon. “In the early stages, it’s essential to conduct thorough risk and hazard analyses to identify potential vulnerabilities and mitigate possible losses.”
Outdoor Events: An Additional Risk to Consider
As with the attempted assassination of President Trump on Jul 13, Kirk’s shooting took place at an outdoor event. While any venue will come with its own distinct challenges, outdoor venues come with an added layer of unpredictability.
“Outdoor events, in particular, present unique challenges due to their dynamic environments,” says Slotnick. “From what I’ve observed at this and similar gatherings, the planning team approached their responsibilities with professionalism and diligence. It’s important to recognize that even with the most comprehensive planning, unforeseen threats — especially those without prior indication — can be difficult to anticipate.”
Another similarity between the attempted assassination of Trump and Kirk’s shooting is the use of a rooftop in order to open fire.
“Rooftops have always been a vulnerability for executive protection, but today, rooftop surveillance is actually very easy — and, more importantly, very inexpensive, even for private sector executive protection officers,” McHugh states. “This can be done through the utilization of drones that cost less than $100 and can be put up very quickly. To do even one surveillance sweep of the area where an event is going to take place can assure that nobody is camped out as a sniper on top of a rooftop with a line-of-sight vulnerability to where your protectee is going to be.”
Securing outdoor events will require additional strategic planning to account for challenges in access control and environmental management. While this is possible to accomplish with a limited team, security leaders of small teams may be advised to reconsider outdoor events in the future, instead opting for indoor venues.
Slotnick explains, “This shift can offer greater control over screening procedures and overall security, helping ensure a safer and more manageable experience for all involved.”
What Can Security Leaders Learn from Charlie Kirk’s Shooting?
Every venue, every event and every executive will come with their own unique protection needs and challenges. However, no matter the circumstances, one detail is essential for any security operation: effective collaboration.
“During an event, coordination becomes key,” Slotnick asserts. “It involves close collaboration among internal security teams, contracted professionals, and public safety agencies such as law enforcement and fire departments. Elements like incident command, crowd management, access control, screening procedures, and emergency response protocols must all be carefully aligned.”
Alexandropoulou concludes, “Security is not just about preventing an incident — it’s about how quickly and effectively we respond, recover, and restore confidence afterward. Event security professionals must think beyond deterrence and integrate crisis management, business continuity, and communication strategies. At the end of the day, our responsibility is not only to protect people, but to ensure that organizations and communities can carry on with trust and confidence after a disruption.”
Source: Security Magazine