Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt says a new guide could help law enforcement and event managers prevent attacks at large gatherings or high-profile events.
The Secure Oklahoma N.O.W. guide outlines industry-standard protocols on how to calculate an event’s risk and determine appropriate security measures. It also includes information about law enforcement and intelligence resources that are available to planners.
N.O.W. stands for Not on Our Watch.
The guide was developed by an advisory committee created by Stitt after the Jan. 1 truck-ramming attack in New Orleans. Stitt announced the guide’s publication on Thursday, June 5, the first day of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers.
More: Read the Secure Oklahoma N.O.W. guide (PDF)
“As we look forward to the big events here in Oklahoma, I just want to make sure we’re as well-prepared as we can to address any of these threats,” Stitt said at a news conference hours before the game tipped off. “Today we’re saying, ‘not on our watch.’ It’s not going to happen here.”
Along with the NBA Finals, Oklahoma is frequently host to several major events, most of them related to sports. In 2028, Oklahoma will host two events in the Olympic Games.
Stitt encouraged community leaders, first responders and emergency personnel to implement the practices found in the guide. It includes a rating matrix for determining the threat level for an event that measures crowd size, the type of event and venue, proximity of vehicle traffic, attendance of media and VIPs, and existing intelligence about possible criminal activity.
It also includes instructions for how to plan event security and suggestions on when to involve certain state and federal agencies.
Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks during a news conference announcing the publication of new industry standard protocols that event planners and law enforcement can use when preparing security for major events.
Tim Tipton, Oklahoma’s commissioner for public safety, said preventing an attack is the primary goal but planners should also focus on response.
“If that bad thing happens, then how do we respond? How do we mitigate the amount of damage, harm or hurt that our citizens might be affected by?” Tipton said. “There’s really no room for failure on our part. We’ve got to make this work every time.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Gov. Stitt announces new anti-terrorism guide for big events