Philip Ball: Master of Situational Awareness – A Cop’s Crusade to Ready Communities for the Unthinkable

Philip, a 30-year police officer credentialed in many states, channeled his passion into the Situational Awareness Institute, where his role as CEO and lead instructor sees him delivering dynamic, impactful training. These dynamic workshops leave his students equipped to handle the unbelievable realities of the modern world as we’ve come to appreciate his devotion to preparedness.

Given your expertise in helping people develop preparedness for critical situations, what inspired you to pursue this rewarding career path of being the go-to resource for surviving dangerous scenarios?

It all started when I pinned on my first Police Officer badge in 1993. I had the same motivation that drives many. I wanted to “Make a difference.” I like to help people and it seemed the perfect profession for me. I had a college professor, and former FBI Agent, once tell me “Mr. Ball, if you can get a job doing something you love; you’ll never work a day in your life.” He was right. Here I am thirty (30) years later and I don’t say “I HAVE to go to work,” every morning I get up and say, “I GET to go to work!” There are times my Lieutenant tells me “It’s past quitting time, go home Phil” because I don’t want to leave the police department. (I feel such a purpose and the other employees have become my family.) In my opinion, there is a special bond shared by Police, Fire, and the Military that is rarely found elsewhere.

Given the disturbing rise of active shooter incidents, what drives you to lead preparedness seminars on this topic, how do you get ready for them, and what feedback do participants typically provide?

The Columbine School Massacre happened in 1999. That event, where 15 innocent people lost their lives, focused a spotlight on this growing phenomenon. I had been a police officer for six years and had become a DARE Officer, School Resource Officer, and a father. Like any good father and police officer, I wanted to protect my child in any way I could. I began to research the topic of Active Shooters and the contributing factors. Then, I became a SWAT Officer and certified as an FBI Firearms Instructor. When I moved to Florida, to take a job as a Police Training Specialist, I was put on the Broward County Active Shooter Task Force. When you add all of this experience up, I had a heightened awareness for the things that could cause violence and training and experience on how to prevent and survive it. I saw a need, in the private sector, for the training I was delivering to police officers and schoolteachers. So, I founded the “Situational Awareness Institute Inc. We are a group of veteran law enforcement and military professionals that deliver training, and services, nationally that help prevent violence and lower liability. In 2016 I published the cliff notes of this knowledge in a little, easy to read book entitled “Active Shooter Survival Manual.” It sold all over the world and I began to get calls to come lecture and deliver training to schools, churches, police officers, government facilities and private companies. I spent two years on a teaching and book tour visiting over 133 locations in two years. I personally went to the crime scenes of Las Vegas (Active scene), Parkland Florida (Active), First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs Texas, Walmart in El Paso (Live Scene), just to name a few. There I interviewed investigating officers and survivors to find out what got the victims killed and how others survived. As I gathered new information, I incorporated it into my classes. I ended up discovering many things I had never heard anywhere else, firsthand. When I started teaching in 2010 I had a 40 slide PowerPoint Presentation. Now, it has grown to 250 slides, with pictures, videos, and information you can’t get anywhere else. When I present the full class (3 hours), at the end, the attendees are aware, and empowered.

Can you share a specific example of how someone you trained made a positive impact beyond their own preparedness?

Yes! In my class, we go over the “Pre-attack indicators” that are displayed by the assailant. In every situation, no matter if it is a School Shooting, Terror Attack, or Workplace Violence, there is almost always pre-attack indicators. We teach these to the attendees so they can recognize these, and report it for intervention BEFORE anyone gets hurt or, if the attack is imminent, this awareness may give them a better head start on their escape and warning others. I have one regular client, in New Mexico, who has had this class several times, and because they knew the signs, were able to identify an employee who was at risk. The client called me and fortunately, I was nearby so, I responded there and investigated. We then called the employee into an interview where I was covertly armed, and we carefully interviewed them. They admitted they had made the statement they were going to “Come in tomorrow and kill everyone.” This early detection resulted in the potential shooter, actually getting the mental health help they needed, and nobody was harmed. Many lives were saved that day!

Free Personal Safety Video #2 – “Self-Defense Tools 101”

Situational Awareness Institute YouTube Channel

Could you highlight some of the critical elements you weave into your instruction to foster feelings of readiness and capability among participants facing threatening scenarios?

We go over a few historically significant events and the influence they have had on our culture and the things we need to keep in mind when training to be prepared. As I have said, we go over the common pre-attack behaviors manifested by the assailant so that they can be used for early detection. We also discuss the vulnerabilities of the client’s environment and countermeasures they could employ given their resources. I’d like to point out, the skills that are learned in this class are useful in all of life, not just the workplace. The safety principles are “Portable” like a good insurance policy!

We love to focus on mentors here! Can you share details about a standout mentor who guided your career path, including how they mentored you and the invaluable insights they provided that helped mold your remarkable journey?

I have two mentors that have been my trusted advisors for over ten years. The first is Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman. He is the world’s authority on the subject of violence and killing. He is a US Army Ranger, a paratrooper, and a former West Point Psychology Professor, holds a Black Belt in Hojutsu. Col. Grossman’s research was cited by the President of the United States in a national address, and he has testified before the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Congress, and numerous state legislatures. He has been to the White House on two occasions, to brief the President and the Vice President in his areas of expertise. He has served as an expert witness and consultant in state and Federal courts and published many best selling books on the prevention of violence in adults and children.

The second mentor is Dr. John Giduck who has a Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State and a law degree from the University of Denver. He also earned a Master’s Degree specializing in Russian studies, from the University of Colorado, which included completion of the Russian Culture and Language Program at St. Petersburg State University in Russia. He holds a Ph.D. in Middle East Studies from King’s College in London. His dissertation was on the evolution of jihadist terrorist mass-hostage siege tactics throughout the world and formed the basis for his latest book. In 2016 he completed a master’s program in Buddhist Studies. He has traveled and worked throughout the world, including years working in Russia and the former Soviet Union, and his master’s thesis was an examination of the expansion of Russian organized crime after the collapse of the Soviet Union. He has provided training for U.S. state and federal law enforcement, government agencies and special operations military units teaching terrorism courses, Both of these gentlemen have always been generous with their time answering hundreds of emails and calls over the years to temper my drive and passion for the topic into a diplomatic and intelligently compelling presentation. As a matter of fact, I was emailing with Colonel Grossman just last night when he enthusiastically agreed to write the forward to my second book on Active Shooters. Dr. John Giduck has also been a close friend. I even flew to Colorado to present my class with his Counterterrorism at a CSI conference a Regis University. Both have invested much time, patience, and effort in me, with no compensation, because we all feel this is our purpose and mission in life.

Imagine, if you will… you could go back in time and mentor your younger self about your career path, your life. What advice would you impart?

Get started earlier! Trust your calling. Follow your gifts. You were divinely created for a specific purpose. Trust that purpose. Everything you encounter along the way, the good and the bad, is a teacher. Embrace the truth of the lesson. Even the painful ones. They are sometimes the best times of growth.

You are clearly on a mission here, we love to see that. What keeps you passionate and driven in your mission to create a safer future? Any tips you can give to others who also want to live in such a place?

My father, a World War 2 Veteran, Steelworker, and Southern Baptist Minister once asked me, a long time ago, “Son, do you know how much money J. Paul Getty left when he died?” I took several guesses,

“10 Million? 20 Million?” Dad replied, “He left it all!” Dad then told me “You’ll never see a hearse pulling a U-haul. No matter how much you accumulate, you will leave it all behind. Only what you do for others matters in eternity.” Some call is karma, some call it God’s blessing, I personally feel the greatest sense of validation and purpose when I help others. The most valuable commodity we have is our life and no amount of money can buy you more of it. We have a finite amount and theta compels me to be the best steward I can of mine. I find that purpose in protecting and teaching others how to preserve theirs.

We understand you’re also training with “Words in Motion” acting studios! We adore Kelly! How has this acting training helped you deliver your presentations and shape your overall perspective?

A long time ago a DEA Instructor from Quantico told me “As an instructor, half of what you do is entertain people. If you can’t keep people entertained, they won’t be engaged in the material and if they are not engaged in the material, you won’t be able to teach them anything!” With that in mind, I intentionally make my classes VERY entertaining. The topic I teach is dark, but I deliver it in a way that is empowering, not traumatizing. The training that Miss Kelly and “Words in Motion” Acting Studio equips me to keep students entertained and engaged so they enjoy participating and retain the material long term.

Our readers love exploring interconnected details, so please shed light on the demographics you tend to train, whether it’s more individuals or groups, and how we may be able to help expand your reach to other communities in need.

I have trained every kind of client you can think of. law firms, casinos, government agencies, schools, churches, law enforcement, hotels, utility companies, and human resources conventions.

Really, any living person could potentially be a victim of this type of violence no matter if they are at work or not. Therefore, everyone is a potential client I could help.

We are both in the business of protecting people. I protect their physical life and Brooks Legacy Team protects their financial livelihood. Both of these need to be safe in order to give us the peace we desire to enjoy the fullness of life. You can best help me and your clients by informing them of my desire to protect them.

They can review who we are and our services at www.SituationalAwarenessInstitute.com

How can having a trusted advisor like InsurancePM: The Brooks Legacy Team help you focus on your mission and build your legacy with greater peace of mind?

For me, I can focus on my mission knowing that, if something unforeseen happens, I have taken steps to ensure that funding is in place for my family to be provided for and my company to continue operations. My life’s work will not end with me but continue, and its legacy will impact the world in a positive way making that difference I desired when I swore my first oath, and pinned on my first badge over thirty years ago.

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