‘Step up’: MSP campaign aims to prevent mass violence

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Michigan State Police has launched “Stop a Plot,” a new initiative that works to prevent acts of mass violence by teaching people about the warning signs.

“We’ve had some recent violence, especially dealing with gun violence that took place here in the state of Michigan with the splash pad incident in Rochester Hills,” Col. James F. Grady II, director of MSP, told News 8.

Multiple people were injured earlier this month when a shooter opened fire at a splash pad in Rochester Hills, a Detroit suburb.

“We’ve seen enough mass attacks, attacks dealing with firearms, happen across this country, going all the way back to (the shooting at) Sandy Hook (Elementary in Connecticut in 2012). Those things are traumatic, very tragic, and things that we don’t want to see,” Grady said. “At this point, especially here in the state of Michigan when you take into consideration what just happened here, you want to make sure that there are preventative measures in place.”

That’s why MSP is introducing the Stop a Plot campaign, which aims to forestall acts of violence by offering information and resources. Grady told News 8 that many acts of mass violence are preceded by warning signs.

“Based on the research that’s been done over the course of time, we’ve noticed that it’s pretty normal (that) six months in advance, there are signs that this could occur. Because someone’s mental state has changed, their behavior has changed,” he explained. “We ask for family members, coworkers, friends to pay attention to those things.”

The Stop a Plot website provides a list of risk factors, which may include substance abuse, domestic violence and stressors. It also gives some common warning signs, like threats of violence, admiration for previous attackers and newly aggressive behavior.

But the campaign isn’t just about education.

“More importantly, (it offers guidance about) who to get ahold of, to utilize as a resource to stop or prevent something massive from happening,” Grady said. “We often say: ‘If you see something, say something.’ That’s very true. These are things that you have to take seriously.”

The webpage directs people to a wide variety of resources. You can report suspicious behavior to police, submit tips about potential harm directed at schools, get connected with mental health services and more.

“Some people don’t necessarily trust the police. We always, in this line of business, try to bridge that gap with the people that we serve … but I understand also that people may not want someone in the uniform to show up,” Grady said. “They might want actually a subject matter expert, in mental education or in that field, to provide that assistance. And so this webpage also provides those resources as well.”

If you notice a potential warning sign, police say it’s best to tell someone — even if you’re not sure that it’s worth reporting.

“I always like to say how important it is that we need our members in the communities across this state to step up. Don’t stand against the wall. Get out there, let us know, utilize this webpage, utilize the resources,” Grady said. “Don’t be afraid to call any law enforcement agency. Here at the MSP, you can contact any post. We will do everything else. We will put that in our hands, and we will do the investigation and find out. It’s better to be safe than to be sorry.”

To visit the Stop a Plot page, click here .

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