Welcome To Protective Strategies
Strategic Solutions to Reduce Liability and Mitigate Risk
For over 30 years, Protective Strategies has helped public and private sector organizations lower their exposure to risk by applying a proven, adaptable process: the Liability Reduction Model (LRM). We provide training, consulting, audits, and access to expert associates—each committed to enhancing safety, performance, and accountability in complex environments.
The LRM is more than a safety framework. It’s a way of thinking—applied pessimism with practical outcomes. It helps organizations anticipate, address, and respond to the realities of high-stakes work.
At the heart of this approach is a broad and honest definition of liability—not just legal or civil consequences, but any unwanted outcome that negatively affects your people, your operations, or your organization. Liability includes injury, loss of life, psychological harm, public scrutiny, and operational failure. The goal isn’t to create a world without risk, but to reduce the likelihood and impact of these outcomes wherever possible.
This is where the philosophy of Professional Pessimism comes in. We encourage decision-makers to think through worst-case scenarios—not to dwell on fear, but to plan with clarity. We use a mindset similar to the Stoic concept of Premeditatio Malorum—the premeditation of potential misfortune.
Before recommending action, we often conduct a Premortem: a structured process where we assume failure has occurred, and then work backward to uncover how and why it happened. This strengthens both the quality and durability of the solutions we propose.
The 4-D’s of Liability Reduction
We also operate around a core process known as the Five D’s—a simple but powerful way to describe how we approach dangerous, adversarial, and violent situations:
Diagnose
What is likely to happen? We assess the tasks, needs, problems, and trends impacting your team and mission. Diagnosis precedes prescription.
Develop
We design policies and training that reflect operational realities—built on principles of adult learning, stress performance, and real-world function.
Deliver
Training must transfer. We help you build systems to deliver content effectively, with emphasis on safety, retention, and continuous development.
Debrief
Feedback loops matter. We review outcomes, assess impact, and help you measure whether solutions are working—or need refinement. A training initiative doesn’t end with throwing policies or programs at a problem—that’s when the real work begins. We evaluate whether the changes have produced the desired effect and improved the situation, or whether adjustments and further refinements are necessary.
Defend
When performance is challenged, your people need to stand on solid ground. Policy, training, and decisions must hold up under legal, civil, and internal scrutiny.
What is the Liability Reduction Model (LRM)?
The LRM is a four-phase process that can be applied to virtually any situation where negative outcomes are a possibility—whether in policing, corrections, healthcare, emergency response, or other volatile environments.
Phase 1: The Situation Phase
Focus Question: What is likely to happen?
We examine:
- The tasks performed by employees
- What’s needed to perform those tasks safely and effectively
- Problems and obstacles already present
- Trends or shifts that are shaping the future risk landscape
Phase 2: The Solution Phase
Focus Question: What can we do about it?
Recommendations typically fall into four domains:
- Policy
- Training
- Equipment
- Resources (time, money, people)
Phase 3: The Application Phase
Focus Question: What can we reasonably expect?
We address real-world implementation:
- How the employee’s personality, training, and environment affect performance
- The “Performance Equation,” acknowledges the fact that all critical incidents are an “athletic event.”
- That mistakes and chance are part of reality, not anomalies
Phase 4: The Accountability Phase
Focus Question: Who will be blamed?
After a negative event, scrutiny comes from multiple realms:
- The courts (criminal and civil)
- The agency or employer
- The media and public opinion
- The employee’s peer group
- The employee’s own conscience
This cycle then loops back to evaluate if liability has been reduced—and if not, what to refine or tackle next.
What We Offer
Liability Audits
Our starting point is diagnosis. We conduct structured assessments of the working environment, identifying liabilities before prescribing solutions. This ensures your policies and training aren’t knee-jerk or misaligned.
Custom Training & Consulting
We deliver training and strategy sessions grounded in real-world experience. Each engagement is tailored to the agency’s tasks, challenges, and trends. We also build customized curricula based on your organization’s unique needs.
Program Design
We help agencies build new programs or improve existing ones using the LRM framework. From policy creation to full-scale training programs, our design services ensure that your solutions are realistic, scalable, and aligned with operational demands. We can build custom programs from the ground up or draw from our inventory of existing training programs and adjust them to suit your agency’s specific needs.
LRM Workshops
We teach your people how to use the LRM themselves—either in person or online. These sessions can be aimed at leadership, staff, or teams tasked with reviewing incidents and creating solutions.
Expert Facilitation
Whether led by us or delivered through trusted associates, our network ensures clients get the right expertise for their specific needs. We take a leadership role in coordinating and delivering specialized training through collaboration.
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
We collaborate with professionals in specialized fields—from use of force and officer safety to forensic analysis and expert testimony. Each associate operates independently but works under the PS umbrella for shared objectives.
Expert Testimony & Forensic Consulting
When needed, our team can provide legal opinions and forensic reviews related to critical incidents, training deficiencies, or liability exposure. We assist legal teams, agencies, and review boards with fact-based expertise.
Why Protective Strategies?
• Decades of experience, including a foundation in police service, officer safety, and defensive tactics.
• A universal framework—the LRM can be taught, scaled, and applied across industries.
• A professional network—access to vetted instructors, consultants, and advisors.
• Flexible delivery—we provide live sessions, self-directed learning, and blended solutions.
• Results over theory—our work is anchored in practical application, not abstract philosophy.
Take the Next Step
We’re here to help you identify vulnerabilities, build tailored strategies, and deliver results. Whether you need an audit, a workshop, or a complete curriculum redesign, we’ll guide you through it using a system that works.
Reach out for a consultation or to schedule a Liability Audit. Whether you’re responding to an incident or preparing your team for the future, Protective Strategies will help you build clarity, reduce liability, and implement meaningful change.
Randy@ProtectiveStrategies.com
Let’s talk about how the LRM can be applied to your environment.
Protective Strategies is a facilitator and hub for trusted training and consulting professionals. Some services may be delivered directly by PS, while others may be coordinated through our network of independent associates.