2025 Region 10 - Safety 1st Conference

The Hot Yoga Tallahassee case study demonstrates the opportunities that exist to prevent targeted violence while drawing particular focus to the risk posed by misogynistic extremism. Highlighted throughout the case study are assessment themes that were evident in the background of the Hot Yoga Tallahassee attacker. These assessment themes are frequently seen in the backgrounds of other attackers and, as such, should be the focus of community-level violence prevention efforts to identify and intervene with those who pose a risk of engaging in targeted violence.

This session provides an in-depth overview of the key indicators associated with gang activity, including common gang symbols, tattoos, and evolving trends. Participants will learn to recognize visual markers and behavioral patterns that can help law enforcement, educators, and community members identify potential gang involvement.

The session will also explore how gang culture is shifting, with a focus on new and emerging hybrid gangs, and their impact on local communities. Attendees will gain insight into the significance of specific tattoos, hand signs, colors, and other identifiers that gangs use to assert their presence and affiliations.

Additionally, the session will highlight the importance of early intervention and collaboration between various sectors to prevent gang involvement and mitigate its effects. Whether you're a law enforcement professional or educator, this session will equip you with the tools needed to spot the signs of gang activity and stay informed on current trends.

Deputy Chief Finley will provide a TEA Office of School Safety and Security update, to include the latest information on imminent rollout of the Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) portion on Sentinel. Upcoming BTA (Sentinel) training dates will be released along with chance to register first while in the session.