In 2023, open spaces became the number one target for active shooters–surpassing areas of commerce for the first time.
In 2024, 50% of all active shooter incidents occurred in open-space environments.
An ordinary day can turn critical in seconds. Active shooter incidents often begin without warning; in open spaces, public places, shopping centers, workplaces, schools and churches where people least expect it.
In those moments, you, your family and your employees shouldn’t be left guessing what to do. You deserve a clear, practiced plan, and the confidence to act decisively.
Split Second Strategies equips individuals, families, businesses and organizations with modern, life-saving skills to stay calm, take control, and survive the unthinkable.
Chose the training format that fits your needs:
Todays workplace requires a higher standard of safety…Ignoring foreseeable risks is no longer an option.
Active shooter and mass shooting events now fall under the category of “foreseeability”, meaning employers are expected to understand that these incidents can occur in the workplace. When a risk is foreseeable, businesses can be held liable for damages if they fail to provide proper training and safety measures.
OSHA and the EPA require employers to offer basic safety training; and today, that includes preparing employees for violent intruder events.
This wasn’t the expectation 10, or even 5 years ago, but the landscape has changed.
Active shooter events dropped 50% from 2023 to 2024.
PROOF THAT PREVENTION AND TRAINING WORKS. THE GOAL IS ZERO. TRAINING MOVES US CLOSER TO THE GOAL.
Julie Sanford is the Founder and Lead Instructor of Split Second Strategies and holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She spent 11 years in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff, gaining extensive experience in emergency response, threat assessment, community safety, and high-pressure decision-making. She later advanced into security management, specializing in school and church security programs, staff training, and emergency preparedness planning.
Julie is also a Certified Security Assessment Specialist with the American Crime Prevention Institute, providing her with advanced expertise in physical security, risk identification, and prevention-focused strategies. This allows her to help individuals and organizations address vulnerabilities before a violent incident ever occurs.
Julie is deeply passionate about active shooter prevention and integrates prevention-focused strategies into every aspect of her Active Shooter Prevention & Survival Training. These classes are specifically designed to prepare individuals, families, and organizations to recognize warning signs, respond decisively during an attack, and survive a violent encounter.
Separately, Julie also teaches Verbal De-escalation Training as a standalone discipline. These classes focus on preventing everyday conflicts from escalating into violence and are used in workplaces, customer-facing environments, schools, healthcare settings, and public spaces.
Known for her ability to translate complex safety concepts into clear, actionable steps, Julie teaches in a calm, accessible way that builds confidence rather than fear. Her mission is to close the preparedness gap and ensure that every unarmed citizen has the knowledge, awareness, and skills to protect themselves and others before and during a violent incident.
Julie Sanford is the founder of Split Second Strategies and has a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Julie has spent 11 years as a deputy sheriff, and several years in security management with a concentration in school and church security. She is passionate about empowering everyone including businesses, how to survive an active shooter or violent event, as well as teaching verbal de-escalation skills to anyone who wants to improve their skill set in this area.
Julie is an A.L.I.V.E. certified instructor and believes that not enough is being done to teach unarmed citizens how to survive these tragic and increasing events.
