The Fairfax County Police Department's Threat Assessment and Management unit brought together 237 law enforcement professionals and threat specialists from 74 agencies across the country Aug. 3–4 for its third annual symposium focused on stopping targeted violence before it happens in communities including Vienna.

Registration jumped 40% over last year's event, according to the FCPD. The growth reflects rising demand for pre-violence intervention work.

The two-day gathering included a case study presented by FCPD Detective Isa Martin involving a potential threat against a local place of worship. The department did not disclose the location, denomination or outcome of that intervention, but the presentation illustrated the kind of work the TAM unit performs in the jurisdiction that covers Vienna and surrounding areas.

U.S. Marshals Service Director Gaydeces Serralta opened the second day with remarks on the importance of threat investigations. Other speakers included L.A. County psychologist Nicolas Beliz, who discussed copycat culture and its connection to mass violence, and Arlington County Police Department Detective Ian Campbell, who presented on nihilistic violence extremism.

Scarlett Lewis, whose 6-year-old son Jesse was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012, shared her perspective on preventing violence. Lewis founded the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, a nonprofit focused on building resilience in communities.

The symposium was established in 2024 "to bring professionals and disciplines together to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships and advance our collective efforts to prevent targeted violence," Captain Travis Tate, assistant commander of the FCPD's Threats and Intelligence Division, said in the department's announcement. Tate oversees the TAM unit.

Organizers said they are already planning next year's event, though no date has been announced. Residents who want to report a potential threat can contact the Fairfax County Police Department's non-emergency line at 703-691-2131.