“He was a quiet kid, never said much, never was a real problem. I never thought...”

Those lines are often heard following acts of severe teen violence in communities that never thought such violent acts could happen to them. Yet they have, and more than likely will continue to occur. However, through education, recognizing possible scenarios in which teens may lash out in violence can be averted.

The Holmes County Sheriff’s Department is sponsoring a two-day crime prevention training seminar called the Homicide in America Tour, which lands in Berlin May 23 and 24. Speaking will be Phil Chalmers, a Holmes County resident and America’s leading authority on juvenile homicide. Joining Chalmers will be Joe Schillaci, star of the A&E show The First 48, and world renowned crime expert and Pulitzer Prize nominated author Colonel Dave Grossman.

Chalmers is the author of Inside the Mind of a Teen Killer, and will be discussing why teens kill, the warning signs we should be aware of, the triggers that cause teens to kill, and how we can both prevent these tragic homicides and make our schools safer. Schillaci will be discussing the numerous homicides he has worked at the Miami Police Department, as well as his bout with post traumatic stress disorder after a fatal shooting he was involved in. Grossman is one of the top trainers in the world, and will be talking about how we can survive a tragic event, as well as how we can prevent future attacks from terrorists, school shooters, and dangerous killers.

For Chalmers, speaking in his home community is an exciting opportunity, and he is looking forward to sharing plenty of vital information on how communities can connect with teens and help avert violent situations.

“Obviously it is exciting for me to be able to come home and connect with our schools, families and police departments about such a crucial issue as teen violence,” said Chalmers. “The purpose of this seminar is definitely to help make people aware that teen violence can crop up anywhere. What we focus on is what kinds of signs to look for in teens. It isn’t necessarily what they look like, but rather what they say and do that matters. There are telltale signs, and things they say on Facebook and through other outlets that give us a heads up. Most students say they wanted help long before they acted out.

“Our aim is to help communities become more aware that there are things we can do to help our teens cope. The bad news is that these acts are never going to stop. The good news is that they are preventable crimes if communities are proactive in their efforts.”

A few tickets remain for this event, and can be purchased by calling Chalmers at 330-998-4340. The cost of the two day event is $169, and the fee covers two days of training, including lunch. The training will take place at Berlin Hotel & Suites, in the lower level of the health club, and will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. The seminar is open to law enforcement, school administrators, counselors, court services, clergy, and concerned citizens. Chalmers and Grossman have taken this tour all over America, landing in cities like Dallas, St. Louis, Tampa, and Mobile, Ala. For more information about Phil Chalmers, log on to http://www.philchalmers.com. Joe Schillaci’s website is http://www.joeSchillaci.com. Col. Grossman’s site is http://www.killology.com.

Phil Chalmers will be speaking again locally on Sunday morning, May 29, at the Light in the Valley Chapel in Walnut Creek, beginning at 9 a.m. He will be speaking to teens for the first 45 minutes about destructive decisions and bullying, and will be addressing parents in the second 45 minutes with important tips and information about things like social media, bullying, teen entertainment, and the six things your teens need. For more information, contact the Light in the Valley Chapel at 330-852-4641, or log on to http://www.LIVchapel.org.