How a Leading U.S. Retailer Built a 13,000-Employee Active Shooter Response Program with SDS Indoor Gunshot Detection
When safety is on the line, Fortune 500 organizations can’t afford half-measures. In 2015 a major national retailer recognized the urgency of safeguarding their workforce and customers against active shooter threats. After attending a live demonstration by Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), this industry leader began a journey that would transform their approach to active shooter events and set a new standard for retail security at scale.
Building a Culture of Real-Time Preparedness
Over the years, this retailer has woven gunshot detection deeply into its safety culture. With over 1,000 SDS Indoor Gunshot Detection sensors now deployed, spanning both their corporate headquarters and more than 20 distribution centers nationwide, employees have access to life-saving incident awareness when seconds matter most. At the corporate campus alone, approximately 500 sensors are installed across multiple buildings in the greater Boston metropolitan area, creating dense coverage for office environments where rapid response can be critical. Over the years the company has expanded the use of sensors to over 20 key operational facilities, adding a critical layer of protection for high value and high activity environments.
Transforming Training, Empowering Everyone
Rather than relying on static procedures, the retailer implemented a comprehensive Active Shooter Response training program built around SDS gunshot detection alerts. By incorporating the SDS training and simulation software and tightly integrating their gunshot detection system with enterprise-wide mass notification, thousands of employees now participate in sophisticated drills that mirror real emergency situations. In an emergency, the automation is immediate. Staff receive instant notifications to both desktop and mobile devices, including exact location of gunshots and the likely path of a shooter. For employees working in large facilities – often operating in noisy, visually complex settings – emergency lighting triggered by the SDS system provides a vital, highly visible alarm that cuts through the chaos.
Driving Results: Confidence and a Safer Workplace
This retailer’s leadership credits the solution with fundamentally changing their risk posture:
“Our employees asked us to take action, and we did. They feel safer and we’re more confident about our ability to respond to an active shooter situation.”
— Chief Security Officer
The scale, speed, and clarity the SDS Indoor Gunshot Detection System provides have empowered staff at every level to make the best decisions when lives are at stake. For this leading retailer, proactive investment in state-of-the-art gunshot detection isn’t just technology, it’s a demonstration of responsibility to every employee and customer who enters their doors.
Interested in how SDS can power your organization’s safety culture? Contact our team to learn more about enterprise-scale deployments, systems integration, and advanced gunshot detection solutions tailored to your needs.