It began with several role playing scenarios.

  • Lake Highland Prep hosted training on de-escalation
  • Teaches how to defuse a situation before it becomes hostile
  • Trainers say de-escalation is good for law enforcement, schools, medical businesses

"The training that we've received is invaluable and all law enforcement should absolutely go through this," shared Steve Mowatt, the corporate security director for Frontline Homeowners Insurance in Lake Mary.

When it comes to de-escalation tactics, body language and treating people with dignity by showing respect is paramount.

"You don't want to interrupt them," said Vistelar co-founder Dave Young.

"They're not being rude, they just feel they have a lot to say and we want to listen to them and we want to still be able to do our tactical thinking. So we're showing the ability to communicate concern, 'really hmm, I didn't understand that. You didn't say,'" Young explained.

Non-escalation and de-escalation are topics participants believe will easily apply to more than just law enforcement.

"Almost any company can take these skills that we've learned be it the medical field, schools, anything at all and bring it to their companies and they can actually prosper from this," Mowatt said.

Lake Highland Prep hosted the week-long interactive training at the main campus in Orlando. 

"Lake Highland Preparatory School likes to be at the forefront of student safety," said the school's security manager Conan Bickford.

Attendees included local officers from Central Florida and others from Georgia and Louisiana.

"It is absolutely critical. This is a critical first step in making sure that the campus is safe," Bickford explained.

Security experts said words are powerful form of defense and influence in almost any situation.

"Less war, more peace. Absolutely. When you get an understanding and people feel more on a personal level with you, it makes all the difference in the world," Mowatt said.