The Most Important PDF You’ll Ever Hand to a Mayor
A couple of years ago, I heard Sarah Peck speak at an Active Assailant conference near Detroit.
What she shared stuck with me. Her team at the Public Health Advocacy Institute talked with mayors, first responders, and city staff who lived through real events.
Out of those interviews came a tool every city leader should have before the bad day: the Mass Shooting Protocol & Playbook from United On Guns.
This isn’t theory. It’s what to do when chaos hits and your city becomes the headline.
Why this resource matters
- Communicator-in-Chief: The mayor sets the tone. One clear voice. One trusted source. Schedule regular briefings and stop rumors
- Emergency Operations: Pull your “C4 team” now—City Counsel, Chief Admin Officer, Chief of Staff, CFO—to keep the city moving and reduce legal risk.
- Victims & Families First: Appoint a family liaison. Protect privacy. Deliver clear info and support.
- Donations & Vigils: Stand up one trusted fund quickly and plan community vigils with families.
- Mental Health: Bring in trauma experts early and use trauma-informed messaging.
Do this today
- Download the PDF.
- Print it.
- Put it in a red binder so it never gets lost.
- Hand it to your mayor, city manager, or emergency planner.
Tell them: “Keep this on your shelf and pray you never need to open it.”
If the bad day comes, the person who made sure this binder was there—you—could be the reason things don’t fall apart.
Complete the short form to receive the full PDF.
