NORWICH – On Wednesday, nearly 100 community members will gather in downtown Norwich to listen to a former FBI veteran share advice on how to recognize and deal with potentially dangerous situations in a public or business setting.

Commerce Chenango President and CEO Sal Testani said the training was mandated by the state and being hosted by Commerce Chenango through the Sheriff's Office.

Testani explained the sessions would discuss lessons the FBI had learned following the 911 terror attacks. He said the agency studied terrorists to learn if there are common traits in high-risk individuals who commit acts of violence, similar to profiling serial killers. He said there was no specific kinds of people, but said they share other commonalities.

“Many began with a grievance,” said Testani. He said some people showed signs that their grievances were turning into violent thoughts and plans.

A retired FBI agent with over 30 years of experience, Joseph R. Testani, will conduct training on how to identify and prepare for an active assailant before a business or organization is faced with a real-time emergency situation.

The seminar will especially offer proactive advice involving businesses and organizations dealing with concerns over confrontations with active assailants.

Joseph R. Testani is the brother of Sal Testani.

Participants need to preregister in order to attend the event.

Chamber CEO Sal Testani said he attended similar training in a nearby county with local officers and school officials, and he then sought to bring the program to Chenango, part of which also covers state-mandated training to police and the schools.

“The training centers on recognizing behaviors of those people who may be a threat to others and getting them the help they need before it escalates to violence. The training actually covers the differences between targeted and spontaneous,” he said.

He said the training offered tips on how to avoid confrontations and offer help to troubled individuals.

The chamber president also noted that April 25 was the 40th anniversary of the Gladstone hostage crises at the Chenango County Office building in 1983.

Armed with shotguns, Lawrence B. Gladstone and his wife, Christine, took 17 workers hostage at the Chenango County Office Building on April 25, 1983. They had a grievance over more than three dozen dogs being seized from them, resulting in animal cruelty charges being filed against them two years before in 1981.

The building was surrounded by police and shots were fired at one point. The couple eventually released the hostages and surrendered to police without any major injuries after about an eight-hour standoff.