5 Signs Your Hawaii Business Needs Professional Threat Assessment

CrisisWire
Nov 9
2 min read

Hawaii businesses should hire professional threat assessment immediately when employees make direct threats, research weapons, exhibit stalking behaviors, face termination with violence history, or display multiple escalating warning signs.

CrisisWire provides 24-48 hour behavioral threat evaluation using BTAM-certified methodologies from the U.S. Secret Service and FBI. According to Warren Pulley, former LAPD officer and U.S. Embassy Baghdad security specialist with 2,400+ threat assessments: "Most Hawaii employers wait until violence occurs. By then, it's too late. These five warning signs demand immediate professional evaluation—not HR investigation."

Warning Sign 1: Direct Threats Against People or Property

What it looks like: Employee explicitly threatens to "hurt," "kill," or "get revenge" on coworkers or management. Includes written threats (email, text, social media), verbal statements, or threatening gestures.

Why experts needed: EEOC guidelines and ADA protections create legal exposure if handled improperly. Professional assessment determines violence potential versus protected expression.

Action: Contact CrisisWire within 4 hours. Document exact words. Don't confront employee. Behavioral assessment evaluates threat level.

Cost of waiting: Workplace violence lawsuit: $2M+. OSHA fines: $71,000+. Assessment: $2,500-$5,000.

Warning Sign 2: Weapons Research or Acquisition

What it looks like: IT discovers employee researching firearms, explosives, attack methods. Coworkers report weapons in vehicle or gun show discussions.

Why experts needed: Weapons research plus workplace grievances creates violence pathway per Secret Service studies. DHS protocols mandate professional evaluation.

Hawaii specific: Strict gun laws mean weapons acquisition requires planning. Research despite barriers signals high motivation.

Action: Secure facilities. Contact insider threat assessment. Emergency 24-hour evaluation available.

Warning Sign 3: Stalking or Boundary Violations

What it looks like: Employee monitoring coworker movements, taking unauthorized photos, following home, showing up at residences uninvited, excessive unwanted contact, social media tracking.

Why experts needed: Stalking escalates to violence in 76% of workplace homicides per Bureau of Justice Statistics. Pattern indicates fixation, surveillance, pre-attack planning.

Action: Document incidents with dates, witnesses. Contact threat evaluation. Consider protective measures.

Warning Sign 4: Termination of High-Risk Individual

What it looks like: Planning to fire employee with violence history, weapons access, mental health crisis, substance abuse, or previous threats. Domestic violence spillover. Financial desperation plus job loss.

Why experts needed: Termination is highest-risk moment. Pre-termination assessment reduces liability, ensures EEOC compliance, coordinates security.

Legal exposure: Wrongful termination: $100,000-$500,000. Violence incidents: $250,000-$2M+. Vulnerability audit: $4,000-$10,000.

Action: Pause termination. Contact pre-termination assessment. Develop safety protocols. Coordinate security response.

Warning Sign 5: Multiple Escalating Behaviors

What it looks like: Combination of sudden personality changes, increased anger, "grievance collection" (obsessing over injustices), social isolation, concerning statements ("nothing left to lose"), deteriorating appearance, paranoid beliefs.

Why experts needed: FBI analysis shows attackers exhibit 4-5 warning behaviors before violence. Pattern reveals escalation requiring expert evaluation using validated frameworks.

Action: Violence prevention program trains supervisors recognize signs. Assessment within 24-48 hours determines intervention.