News – FirstGuard LLC

National Police Week

Wed, 15 May 2019 17:33:00 GMT

As we celebrate National Police Week May 12 – 18, 2019 our first thoughts and actions should be geared toward memorializing the law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Since records have been kept (c. 1791) over 20,000 officers have given their life during the performance of their official duties. This morning as I looked over some of the recent line of duty deaths (LODD) on the Officer Down Memorial Page www.odmp.org several thoughts occurred to me. Just a week or more ago, these fellow officers were going about their daily duties as peace officers in their local communities. They were looking forward to a summer vacation with their family, watching their kids’ baseball games, attending a piano recital, finishing do it yourself projects around the house or planning for their retirement that wasn’t too far off. They were doing the same things that myself and thousands of other current and retired officers did on a daily basis throughout their careers. They surely weren’t planning to sacrifice their life in the service of their community and their fellow man. No law enforcement officer ever plans on dying in the line of duty but we’ve all thought about it before and its become more of a reality over the years as we’ve seen the attitudes toward the police become more hostile by certain segments of our society. As of today, 41 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty in 2019. One is too many, but this figure represents a decrease of 35% for the same period in 2018. We hope this is a trend that will continue. Out of the 41 officers killed this year, 20 have been the result of a felonious act, 18 have been murdered by a criminal armed with a gun. The remainder have been killed by accidental means or by health issues brought on by their performance on the job. Policing is an increasingly dangerous profession and one that not too many people are pursuing anymore. There are ways to mitigate the risks involved. If your agency doesn’t provide the training or equipment that you need to make your job safer get it on your own. We need dedicated professionals to protect our country and our communities and we need them to be safe. There will always be a heavy price to pay by those who stand between the law abiding citizens in the community and the criminal element. Let’s make surethat we all give them the support they need to do their job effectively.

Every day, but this week especially please join FirstGuard LLC in paying tribute to fallen officers and supporting the men and women of law enforcement who “Press the Fight” daily to protect our communities from evil.

Andy R. Hughes

Business Development Manager

FirstGuard LLC

andy@firstguardofficers.com

firstguardofficers.com

The post National Police Week appeared first on FirstGuard LLC .

Hire Off-Duty Police in the Aftermath of a Natural Disaster

Tue, 07 May 2019 19:29:00 GMT

Is your business prepared to recover and return to normal operations in the aftermath of a natural or manmade disaster? Do you have a plan in place to safeguard sensitive, hazardous or expensive materials? What about securing your personnel and critical infrastructure while operations are being returned to a normal state? If you don’t have a contingency plan in place, then maybe you should start thinking about a provider who can offer you real-time solutions resulting from real world experience.

On October 10, 2018 Hurricane Michael slammed into the panhandle of Florida packing sustained winds of 155 miles per hour. Michael was a Category 4 hurricane and the fourth strongest hurricane to ever make landfall in the contiguous United States. The storm claimed 72 human lives and caused damage estimated at 25.1 billion dollars. The storm not only impacted the Florida panhandle, but also Southeast Alabama and a large portion of Southern Georgia. A vast amount of infrastructure was destroyed by Hurricane Michael, infrastructure that was necessary to conduct business and provide services to the citizens living in the affected areas.

Not all businesses were prepared to cope with the rebuilding and restoration process. Eight companies were prepared, and they all had one thing in common, they were all clients of FirstGuard LLC.

FirstGuard is a premier provider of off-duty law enforcement services throughout the United States. When our clients need the extra security that an off-duty police officer can provide, their first call is to FirstGuard. Off-duty law enforcement officers are the gold standard when you need an enhanced level of security. Off-duty LEO’s are required to complete advanced training yearly in the areas of Use of Force, Firearms, Constitutional Law and many other high liability topics. They also deal with difficult and often dangerous situations on a daily basis, not just control access to a gate at a fixed site. Traditional security guards do a great job at what they do, but sometimes a higher level of security and protection are needed.

During the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, FirstGuard deployed 461 off-duty police officers to Southeast Alabama and the panhandle of Florida to assist in recovery and restoration efforts. FirstGuard deployed officers from Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida to ensure that our client’s personnel and property were secure for a period of 58 days after the storm struck. These officers worked a total of 41,000 hours providing security, performing traffic control functions, and restricting access to areas where sensitive materials and equipment were being stored. FirstGuard personnel not only served our clients, but also assisted victims of the storm as much as possible by directing them to resources that were available through public and private disaster assistance organizations, and by helping in any other way possible.

It will be several years before areas that were affected by Hurricane Michael return to what was normal, and hopefully the area will never be impacted in this manner again. FirstGuard would like to express our appreciation to the LEO’s who were able to come and work for our clients during this difficult time, and we would also like to deliver a big thank you to the Police Chiefs and Sheriffs who allowed their personnel to assist.

In addition to disaster recovery assistance, FirstGuard LLC also provides a myriad of services on a daily basis throughout the United States including; pipeline construction security, money transports, infrastructure protection and traffic control in highway construction zones. We are a one stop solution for off-duty law enforcement services. FirstGuard will coordinate, schedule, pay and insure the police officers that are required to perform the services you need. Whatever your needs are, call FirstGuard and we’ll customize a plan for you.

Andy R. Hughes

Business Development Manager

FirstGuard LLC

andy@firstguardofficers.com

firstguardofficers.com

The post Hire Off-Duty Police in the Aftermath of a Natural Disaster appeared first on FirstGuard LLC .

Why Hospitals and Schools Must Supplement Security by Hiring Police Officers

Tue, 07 May 2019 19:27:00 GMT

Society’s most vulnerable can be found in hospitals and Schools. Most hospitals and schools hire private security guards to keep our most vulnerable people safe. Is hiring private security enough, or is there reason to hire off-duty police officers? Sure, there are plenty of great security officers out there that do an excellent job, but you may be shocked to learn some basic facts about the private security industry.

Warning: you may find this article disturbing.

Most security guards are minimum / low wage employees. Some earning as little as $7.25 per hour – and yes I am writing this in 2019.

As most of us would expect, there are all kinds of management challenges associated with leading a minimum wage workforce, much less one that is supposed to keep people safe. Just ask any guard company manager (ever), and they will tell you the industry is wrought with guard accountability problems to the extreme. The same is simply not true with an off-duty police officer.

As mentioned above, there are lots of good security guards out there that do a great job – and they deserve credit. However, the scary thing is; there are also many guards out there that have arrest records. That’s right – an arrest record doesn’t necessarily disqualify someone from becoming a security guard. Think about that…

The really scary thing is, there are also many examples of situations where the security guard on duty turns out to actually be a predator himself.

Take, for example, just a few weeks ago in Lancaster, SC – a sexual assault at a hospital occurred. The victim: a patient. The assailant: the guard on duty.

https://www.ajc.com/news/national/security-guard-accused-sexually-assaulting-patient-while-she-slept/xsgVgeVwAaVgxHrqmdp8xJ/

Had this hospital hired off duty police (or more of them) to augment their guard force, perhaps this sexual predator guard would have thought twice before assaulting his victim.

Another heinous example of a predator guard: the case of Mario McIlwain, 26, of Rock Hill NC. He was the security guard at Alexander Graham Middle School in Charlotte. Arrested in July for allegedly sexually assaulting a thirteen (13) year old female student on multiple occasions – and yes, while on duty at the School. It makes you wonder if Mario would have made the same decision if the School had hired police officers for their campus, or hide a larger law enforcement presence.

https://nypost.com/2018/07/12/school-security-guard-sexually-assaulted-13-year-old-girl-cops/

Also, the case of Zachary Jon Taylor, 30, who entered a no-contest plea to indecent assault of a person less than 16 years old and corruption of minors, both misdemeanor counts, in September. This case too involved a 13 year old girl that was sexually assaulted while at school – by the security guard paid minimum wage (or very low wage) to keep her safe.

https://www.tribdem.com/news/former-school-security-guard-sentenced-on-sexual-assault-allegations/article_9cac8c16-f994-11e8-be6e-2fbf885e6365.html

Even scarier than what this article has already covered, is the fact that there are scores and scores of similar stories about predator guards who assaulted patients and students at hospitals and schools while on duty. Here’s three more recent news article to prove why you should hire off-duty police officers:

Police: Anacostia HS security guard accused of sexual abuse of student on school ground

https://wjla.com/news/crime/anacostia-hs-security-guard-accused-of-sexual-abuse-of-teen-student

Cleveland School Security Guard charged with rape:

https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/disturbing-new-details-released-about-cleveland-school-security-guard-charged-with-rape

New Brunswick, NJ: Security Guard Accused of Sex Assault of Youths

https://www.tapinto.net/articles/former-school-security-guard-accused-of-sex-assault-of-youths-2

These news accounts of actual events should disturb everyone, because everyone has a family member within a school, or that will be at a hospital at some point in the future, or both. Therefore, it is indeed everyone’s safety and security that is put at risk by not hiring police officers at hospitals and schools..

Every School and Hospital in the country should hire off-duty police officers to augment their guard staff. The reality is, many public safety budgets continue to be flat year over year, barely accounting for inflation, yet the special law enforcement needs of society’s most vulnerable is an ever growing concern.

According to the US Bureau of Census, Survey of State and Local Government Finance, 1977 – 2015, the percentage of tax dollars allocated to public safety has actually fallen every year since 1998.

State and Local Direct General Spending Graph

Over the past two decades, the private sector has been forced to carry more of the financial burden associated with supplementing the security needs of stakeholders and many private organizations have stepped up, and should be commended for doing so. However, the need is great for the private sector as a whole to invest more in keeping those relying on them safe by hiring actual police officers, especially our most vulnerable people at Schools and Hospitals.

Private organizations nationwide can easily afford to hire off-duty police to augment their guard force, and they should. However, many people aren’t sure how to hire off-duty police officers, and many departments and agency’s don’t provide off-duty police coordination services themselves. So, if you happen to live in one of those jurisdictions, you may have felt like you hit a dead end if you have looked into hiring police in the past.

FirstGuard provides an easy way for any organization to hire off-duty police for their private security needs. The process is simple. You contact FirstGuard, receive a quote, and a uniformed police officer arrives at your property, or business. All officers are sworn law enforcement personnel with full police arrest powers, and they will use them to keep you, and everyone who relies on you, safe. Hire off-duty police.

Contact

Andy R. Hughes

Business Development Manager

FirstGuard LLC

andy@firstguardofficers.com

firstguardofficers.com

About FirstGuard – FirstGuard is a Private Law Enforcement Agency specializing in helping customers hire off duty police officers nationwide. FirstGuard is capable of deploying over three-thousand off duty police officers, marked vehicles, and investigators throughout the United States. The company also specializes in private law enforcement deployments during natural disaster events. For more information about FirstGuard, please visit us on the web at firstguardofficers.com or call us at 1-888-888-8888

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Population vs LEO Increase

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 16:02:00 GMT

Cops and civilians alike, take just a moment to read this brief study conducted by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. A summary of the study and the accompanying data is also attached, it’ll only take you a minute to recognize the disparity that I want to bring to your attention.

Between 1997 and 2016 there was a 21% increase in the population of the United States. Of course, these are only the citizens and immigrants that could be counted, only God knows what the real number may be. During that same time frame there were an additional 52,000 law enforcement officers added to department rolls nationwide. Wow! 52,000 new cops hired to protect the streets, businesses, homes and back roads where us Americans live and work. That number sounds pretty good, that is until you calculate that there was only a 11% increase in the number of new law enforcement officers hired as compared to an increase of 21% in the general population. So, to break that down even further, in 1997 there were 2.42 cops per 1,000 citizens (per capita) versus only 2.17 cops per 1,000 citizens in 2016. That doesn’t sound like too big of a decrease in officers until you’re the one on the victim end of a 911 call and all units in your area are busy handling other calls. Using the data contained in this study we can plainly see that we have approximately 323 million people in the United States being served by just over 701,000 general purpose law enforcement officers. Federal Agents and other specialty law enforcement agencies such as tribal police, those with limited powers and jurisdiction, etc. were not included in this study. From that 701,000 officers we must deduct the number of Chiefs, Sheriffs, Highway Patrol Colonels and other sworn but administrative or supervisory staff who are not patrolling an assigned area or responding to emergency or non-emergency calls for service on a daily basis. Now we are down to less than 701,000 which actually brings down the officer per capita ratio even further. Another factor that must be taken into account is the inability of most agencies to attract quality candidates. Increasing scrutiny of law enforcement officers, low pay, administrators who don’t support their troops and the ever increasing level of danger it’s really hard to find the types of men and women that are well suited to be a cop. It’s just not a job that anyone can or wants to do.

A direct result of this phenomenon is the increased response time for emergency and non-emergency calls for service. Most officers, deputies and troopers spend their time going from call to call. Factor in the time spent on calls, time completing reports and paperwork, transporting prisoners and court attendance on duty and you have less officers that are in service and available to be dispatched. My point is, all of this results in less time for proactive patrol and interaction with the community. Without the ability to perform these two functions, an agency’s capability to reduce crime is greatly reduced. Firstly, it is our goal to prevent crime, our second choice would be to intervene before a crime is committed or during the commission of a crime. Lastly, we as law enforcement officers want to respond to crime after the fact. After the fact means we have a victim and often they are victims of violent crime; rapes, assaults, robberies, murders. A seemingly petty crime such as the theft of a lawn mower can also be devastating, especially if the owner can’t afford to buy another or used it to make their living.

An alarming reality is that most governing bodies; city councils, county commissions and state legislatures only consider law enforcement to be a necessary evil and only provide level funding from year to year in their budgets. As law enforcement officers we generally only deal with two types of people, bad people and good people who are having a bad day. America’s police agencies are at a critical stage in the funding of and the recruitment and retention of law enforcement personnel. Our citizens deserve the best protection we can give them.

With the reduced number of on duty officers who are available to respond to calls and provide proactive patrol services there is another trend developing. An increasing number of businesses, industries, organizations and individuals are hiring off duty cops to serve their need for safety and security. FirstGuard LLC is a premier provider of off duty services nationwide. Depending on your needs, we can contract local off duty officers to provide a uniformed or plainclothes presence to deter crime and protect your employees, customers, assets, products or property. FirstGuard LLC is your one stop solution when a higher level of security that can only be provided by a sworn law enforcement officer is needed. We have access to thousands of officers across the United States to serve you, your company or organization. Unlike unarmed security guards, these officers have the authority to intervene, make arrests and even use force if needed. When you need the very best protection call FirstGuard.

Andy R. Hughes

Business Development Manager

FirstGuard LLC

andy@firstguardofficers.com

firstguardofficers.com

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Decatur patient attacks security guards with their own pepper spray, police say

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 15:16:00 GMT

TONY REID Mar 4, 2019 DECATUR — A Decatur hospital patient was arrested after police said he seized pepper spray from a security guard and used it to attack guards and other staff while fighting with them.

A sworn affidavit from Decatur police said so much pepper spray was released that it hampered the work of the emergency room at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital on Thursday afternoon. “The entire incident disrupted HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital ER function as the exposure of the … spray displaced patients and staff trying to work in the ER,” said officer Ryan Wicks in the affidavit.

The trouble began after the 23-year-old patient was involuntarily admitted to the emergency room for a psychiatric evaluation. Staff told Wicks the man got out of his bed at 2:15 p.m. and tried to leave without being discharged. He was engaged by male security guards and was able to “force both of them to the ground,” injuring one guard and fighting off the attempts of other staff to restrain him.

Wicks, who watched the struggle on surveillance tape, said the man could have tried to flee at that point but instead grabbed the can of pepper spray from one guard’s belt and began spraying the other guard and hospital staff.

“He then approached (a guard, who was still on the ground)… before discharging the spray to the side of his face,” Wicks added.

Wicks said both guards had red, streaming eyes and noses and persistent coughing from the effects of the spray, and the officer said he could see several other staff members coughing with irritated eyes.

Wicks said the man stuck around to spray the guards while they were “defenseless” and trying to recover. One guard also suffered several bleeding wounds and bruising, according to Wicks.

The man was booked on preliminary charges of aggravated battery and disorderly conduct. Preliminary charges are subject to review by the state attorney’s office. The man remained held in the Macon County Jail on Monday night in lieu of posting $30,000 bond.

To contract a sworn law enforcement officer to help protect your property, special event, or political campaign contact

Andy R. Hughes

Business Development Manager

FirstGuard LLC

andy@firstguardofficers.com

firstguardofficers.com

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HEROES: Good Samaritan Dives Into Frigid Passaic River To Rescue Woman In Sinking Sedan

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 15:30:00 GMT

A young woman whose car rolled off Route 21 into the Passaic River was rescued Monday morning by a Good Samaritan who pulled her from her sinking sedan and a police officer who threw them a lifeline, responders said.

“She was going north on Route 21 around 10:30 [a.m.] when she lost control and the car went over the guardrail,” one said. “It flipped three or four times and landed in the river.”

A Belleville police officer arrived as the passerby jumped in.

He threw them a safety preserver ring and pulled both to shore, a local police officer said.

Dive teams from Lyndhurst, Wallington, North Arlington brought the vehicle to the North Arlington riverbank to be towed out.

The submerged car can be seen in this aerial shot:

COURTESY: WYFF4 (NBC)

To contract a sworn law enforcement officer to help protect your property, special event, or political campaign contact

Andy R. Hughes

Business Development Manager

FirstGuard LLC

andy@firstguardofficers.com

firstguardofficers.com

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WATCH: Police officer praised as hero after saving woman’s life

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 19:53:00 GMT

By Doug Walker | February 21, 2019 at 6:32 PM EST – Updated February 24 at 3:31 PM MOSS POINT, MS (WLOX) – A South Mississippi police officer is being hailed as a hero after saving the life of a woman attempting to jump to her death from a high rise bridge.

Body camera video shows just how close a call it was and just how heroic Sgt. Eric Webb acted.

Watch the full body camera video below:

On the afternoon of Feb. 1, Moss Point Police received a call that a woman was sitting on the Highway 613 bridge and appeared to be about to jump. Sgt. Webb was the first officer to arrive.

“I was pretty concerned at that point, worried for her safety, wasn’t too sure exactly what was going on,” Webb recalled.

There was more conversation, but the time to act was imminent.

“Well, I wanted to make sure it was quick. It had to be fast. So I had to make sure I had my grip right and needed to be perfect actually,” Webb said.

Then it happened. He grabbed her jacket and pulled her to safety from the six-inch ledge. No training can prepare you for this, but something else did, Webb explained.

“I’ve ran through the situation in my mind several times just to try and help prepare myself for it, and I believe that helped me tremendously,” he said.

After the rescue, a note was found in the woman’s car.

“She basically just said that she had reached a point in her life where she had enough of what was going on and couldn’t deal with it anymore,” Webb said.

For Webb, the memory of that day won’t be going away soon.

“Every day I think about it, and it just doesn’t seem real. I’m just glad I had that opportunity to act, and I was in the right place at the right time,” he said.

Making the body cam video public was an easy decision for Moss Point Police Chief Brandon Ashley.

“I have to show this video. I have to let people know that these officers are willing to put their lives on the line to save a stranger, a person he’s never met,” Ashley said.

This was not the first time Webb put his own life at risk for others, according to the chief.

“Sgt. Webb, as a matter of fact, was Officer of the Year two years ago for pulling two people out of a burning vehicle after an accident,” Ashley said.

This story of going above and beyond the call ends the way it should for Webb, with a phone call from the woman.

“She was very thankful for what had happened and said she appreciates it and was glad we were there to help her,” Webb said.

For that help, Webb has received the city’s Lifesaver Award.

Webb certainly has law enforcement in his blood. In addition to working full time with the Moss Point Police Department for the past seven years, he’s also a part-time deputy with the George County Sheriff’s Department.

To contract a sworn law enforcement officer to help protect your property, special event, or political campaign contact

Andy R. Hughes

Business Development Manager

FirstGuard LLC

andy@firstguardofficers.com

firstguardofficers.com

The post WATCH: Police officer praised as hero after saving woman’s life appeared first on FirstGuard LLC .

Farmington officer saves woman in house fire

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 15:37:00 GMT

By: Sherri Kolade | Farmington Press | Published February 25, 2019

A Farmington Public Safety officer helped save a woman from her smoke-filled duplex in the area of Grand River Avenue and Cass Street at around 2:15 p.m. Feb. 15, according to a police report.

Police were dispatched on a medical alarm to the duplex, and encountered the Farmington woman on the upper level of the duplex, where fire was. The woman, according to the police report, had left food unattended on the stove, and it caught fire.

Investigators later discovered that the victim had been in the kitchen preparing food when she slipped and fell. She did not have the ability to get up, and she activated her medical alert button, which brought the police out.

When an officer arrived, a resident of the lower level of the duplex informed the officer that resident’s mother in law lived in the upper unit.

The officer made his way up the stairs to the upper unit to check on the woman and opened the door to the stairway, revealing heavy smoke coming from the inside of the home, the report states. The officer called out to see if anyone was inside and heard the voice of a woman calling for help. The officer could not see the woman through the smoke.

The officer returned to his patrol vehicle and retrieved a fire extinguisher, then returned to the upper-level home and extinguished a portion of the fire to try to locate the victim, who “continued to call out for help,” the report states.

The officer then crawled into the unit and had made it in about 15 feet when he saw the woman’s legs. He grabbed her and pulled her to safety; she remained alert and responsive.

Other officers arrived to assist and helped bring the woman down the stairs, where she was given care by paramedics.

The victim and the officer were transported to Beaumont Hospital, Farmington Hills, for smoke inhalation. The victim remains in stable condition, and the officer was treated and released.

Farmington Public Safety Director Frank Demers said in the release that “Farmington Public Safety officers put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect our residents. This incident serves as a shining example of their commitment to do whatever it takes to save a life, including sacrifice their own.”

To contract a sworn law enforcement officer to help protect your property, special event, or political campaign

Andy R. Hughes

Business Development Manager

FirstGuard LLC

andy@firstguardofficers.com

firstguardofficers.com

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Church Security: A Growing Concern Nationwide

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 18:07:00 GMT

FirstGuard helps churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship across the country hire off-duty sworn police officers to help keep congregations safe. Informative article by Coleen Harry of WBTV, Charlotte can be found by clicking the link below --

http://www.wbtv.com/2019/01/18/weekday-security-churches-minds-pastors/

To contract a sworn law enforcement officer to help protect your property, special event, or political campaign contact

Andy R. Hughes

Business Development Manager

FirstGuard LLC

andy@firstguardofficers.com

firstguardofficers.com

The post Church Security: A Growing Concern Nationwide appeared first on FirstGuard LLC .

What challenges will law enforcement face in 2019?

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 13:35:00 GMT

By PoliceOne Staff

As 2018 comes to a close, it is time to look ahead to the critical issues, challenges and trends law enforcement faces in 2019.

PoliceOne asked 19 law enforcement experts to share their predictions of the biggest issues police will face in 2019 and their top tips for how to navigate the path ahead. Read their predictions in this slideshow – which you are welcome to download, print, or share on your social networks. You can also read the full text of the predictions and tips below the slide share and keep scrolling to the end of the article to add your predictions in the comments area for the top issues confronting law enforcement and police officers in 2019.

ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSE

The active shooter trend will not abate in 2019. While attacks from garden-variety crazies will certainly continue, it’s possible that we’ll see an increase in politically motivated attacks, as disaffected political groups continue their slide toward the violent radicalism that plagued America from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s. My hope for 2019 is that law enforcement leaders will take a more active role in promoting training the responsible citizens in their communities in the lawful and ethical use of force in self-defense .

Top Tip: If you’re not already carrying an individual first aid kit (IFAK) on your person while on duty, fix that immediately. You can easily bleed out before you reach the kit in your patrol vehicle.

— Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Mike Wood is the son of a 30-year California Highway Patrolman and the author of “ Newhall Shooting: A Tactical Analysis ,” the highly-acclaimed study of the 1970 California Highway Patrol gunfight in Newhall, California.

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

2019 will usher in three major technologies – Next Generation 911 (NG911), Artificial Intelligence for 911 (AI911) and FirstNet . Implementation of NG911 infrastructure will allow emergency communications centers to accept text, photos and videos from citizens. This rich data, which will be supplemented with robust artificial intelligence search engines, will provide emergency call takers with more complete information before dispatching first responders. A social media dashboard, integrated into the CAD system, will generate mind-blowing possibilities. Even if only location accuracy is augmented for the caller with NG911 and AI, this will be a significant improvement compared to the current capabilities of most emergency call centers. FirstNet is being rapidly deployed to first responders, which will allow for quick and seamless transition of the super-rich data collected by call takers to first responders in the field.

Top Tip: An unintended consequence of this intelligent information will be that some call takers will find it challenging to witness the images coming into call centers, which will create vacancies in 911 centers and require a major training shift in order to replace those who depart and ensure that those being hired are capable of processing graphic information.

— Eddie Reyes is director of the 911 center in Prince William County, Virginia. He retired from the Alexandria Police Department with the rank of senior deputy chief after 25 years of service. He also served as a project manager at the National Police Foundation.

CROWD CONTROL

Civil unrest will continue to be a challenge for law enforcement in 2019. Currently, most agencies do not address crowd control training until they are found ill-prepared by a large disturbance. I predict that more academies and agencies nationwide will begin to deliver training to ensure every police officer is equipped to respond to civil unrest and the challenges posed by today’s professional rioters.

Top Tip: Team training should take place shortly before any anticipated event, and at least once a year. The latter can be an opportunity to have officers clean and inspect their tactical equipment .

— Lt. Dan Marcou is an internationally-recognized police trainer who was a highly-decorated police officer with 33 years of full-time law enforcement experience. He is a co-author of “ Street Survival II .”

DIGITAL FORENSICS

Law enforcement needs to prepare for the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) such as wearable technology, internet-connected home assistants and vehicle infotainment systems. The growing reliance on digital evidence in both cybercrime and conventional criminal investigations will necessitate that agencies re-evaluate how to address the subsequent increased inventory of “virtual evidence” that must be preserved. Police agencies need to be able to substantiate the authenticity of digital evidence, while still providing access that offers verifiable accountability. This has the potential to become a mounting financial and logistical challenge.

Top Tip: Cloud-based storage options may offer an affordable solution over investing in servers maintained on an agency’s premises. However, departments must diligently consider various issues such as rules of evidence, cybersecurity and fiscal sustainability before deciding what solution meets their needs now and in the future.

— Major Christian Quinn is a 22-year veteran law enforcement officer and currently serves as the commander of the Cyber & Forensic Bureau with the Fairfax County Police Department in Fairfax, Virginia. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

DNA TECHNOLOGY

Genetic genealogy will successfully be used to identify active serial offenders in addition to solving cold cases . New forensic technology advances, such as DNA methylation analysis and phenotype prediction of novel physical traits, will assist with these identifications.

Top Tip: Don’t wait for a case to go cold before employing advanced DNA analysis.

— CeCe Moore is the lead genetic genealogist at Parabon NanoLabs , and an internationally recognized DNA investigative expert, educator and pioneer in the field of genetic genealogy.

EVIDENCE-BASED POLICING

My hope is that evidence-based policing will enhance strategy, operational deployments, initiatives and policy while being aware of policing’s inherent uncertainty. Unfortunately, we will continue to resist research and data partly because U.S. policing is decentralized (18,000 individual police departments) and based mostly on tradition, culture, politics, law, agency-specific values and public opinion. However, if we look deeply at our roles in a democratic society and restructure reward systems that focus at times on deterrence/prevention (where appropriate) and legitimacy, then we may align our actions to desired outcomes. The result might be the institutionalization of evidence-based approaches to policing based partly on analyzing and assessing data with the exponential growth of leveraged technology and more crime analysts.

Top Tip: If police leaders can build a receptivity to scientific research in policing, then we might understand the impact of our responses by reviewing and using the best available evidence to inform, challenge and strategically inform our long-term decisions, policies and practices, and place cops at times and locations of crime to make us more effective in improving public safety.

— Jason Potts is a lieutenant with the Vallejo (Calif.) Police Department, a NIJ LEADS scholar, an American Society of Evidence-Based Policing (ASEBP) executive board member, a Police Foundation Fellow and a reserve special agent with the Coast Guard Investigative Service.

HOMELESS OUTREACH

I predict that law enforcement agencies will push for more social service involvement with their homeless populations , as most issues facing these populations are best handled by those outside of law enforcement. Communities across the country have already begun to make this shift and I expect this to continue in 2019.

Top Tip: Engage your social service community and encourage them to respond to calls involving those who are experiencing homelessness alongside your officers. By doing so you can start the process of getting people the help they need from those who are best suited to provide assistance.

— Dr. Booker Hodges has been a police officer for over 11 years and currently holds the rank of undersheriff for the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Hodges is the only active police officer in the history of the NAACP to serve as a branch president.

MEDIA RELATIONS

More law enforcement agencies will hire civilian PIOs. This concept has been trending upward for approximately five years and it makes sense. Former journalists or candidates with communications backgrounds make for strong storytellers, which is traditionally a skill set law enforcement has lacked. This is not to say sworn PIOs can’t do the job and do it well, but hiring media professionals to do a media job makes sense. Having a PIO who knows how the media operates, what “sells” and the ability to do it on a reporter’s timeline generally generates positive press for the agency.

Top Tip: The civilian PIO or lead spokesperson should be a direct report to the police chief of sheriff. Barriers cause delays and there is little time for delay in today’s split-second news cycle.

— Julie Parker is a former TV news reporter in Washington, DC, turned media relations director for two large suburban DC police departments, turned communications consultancy president.

MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE

Local law enforcement agencies will be asked to assist federal law enforcement in the handling of potential targeted mass violence subjects who suffer from mental illness . These subjects often do not reach the threshold for prosecution and diversion to mental health linkages is a more appropriate response.

TOP TIP: Local agencies should reach out to their local mental health authority to determine what resources are available for these subjects. Federal agencies need to reach out to their local agencies to learn about their law enforcement/mental health collaborations and develop a system to refer subjects.

— Lieutenant Brian Bixler is a 22-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department and is in charge of the Mental Evaluation Unit and Threat Management Unit. He is the LAPD’s Mental Illness Project Coordinator and is appointed to the Los Angeles County EMS Commission.

OFFICER TRAINING

There will be continued training emphasis on responding to persons in crisis, the mentally ill and impaired. Health and wellness programs will be adopted by more agencies as part of officer survival. Technology will become increasingly important to the delivery of training from use-of-force simulation that approaches virtual reality to the development of on-demand learning modules that will enable officers to call up training they need while working on a problem in the field much as we might ask Alexa or Google for the weather forecast.

Top Tip: Body worn and other cameras are providing us with improved feedback on the effectiveness of training and increased transparency for law enforcement. Trainers can be of value in educating the public, politicians and pundits of the realities of use of force and other aspects of police work. Without this context we may be burdened with politically motivated training/policy that will not increase safety for anyone.

— Harvey V. Hedden is ILEETA’s executive director, having previously served as deputy executive director for six years. He served 38 years in law enforcement in ranks from patrolman to chief.

OFFICER WELLNESS

Millennial officers will continue advocating for increased resources for emotional wellness and a stigma-free culture in policing. While many administrators will see the value, they will be challenged in successful implementation if they are resistant to seeking out mental health services for themselves, having come up through the ranks when counseling and psychiatric medications were viewed as only for the weak. As a result, clinical depression, anxiety disorders and PTSD will go untreated in police officers and suicides will remain the same or increase because continued stigma prevents cops from seeking out services from a licensed mental health professional.

Top Tip: Make emotional wellness as important as tactical training. In order to be tactically strong, an officer needs to be emotionally intelligent as well. Begin implementing a wellness check program where officers are able to see a licensed mental health professional of their choosing in a completely confidential setting , three times a year. This will de-stigmatize the act of seeing a counselor, provide a therapeutic outlet and foster a relationship with a professional before a crisis hits.

— Officer Mike Wasilewski, LCSW , is a full-time police officer for a large Chicago suburban department. Both Mike and his wife, Althea Olson, LCSW, are psychotherapists at Fox Bend Counseling in Oswego, Illinois.

OPERATIONS

In the latter half of 2019, policing will begin to feel the effects of the coming global recession. This will be exacerbated by the impact of climate change on policing in the form of increased flooding, hurricanes, fires and drought, and flare ups of civil unrest in urban centers resulting from controversial police use-of-force incidents gone viral via social media. This will begin a noticeable reduction in personnel in many policing agencies and force the re-examination of basic service delivery models, civilianization, volunteers in policing and regionalized or consolidated/contracted services. It will also accelerate the expansion of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, biometrics and drones in policing . These technological advances and integration in policing will outstrip practitioner understanding of their consequences and policy/legislation development, which will lead to increased tension in community-police relations.

Top Tip: To prepare for an increasingly unstable operating environment, agencies should make an organizational decision that focusing on the department’s future is a priority and take definitive steps to operationalize and support the decision. Agencies should designate an organizational champion to lead the “developing organizational foresight” initiative.

— Chief Jim Bueermann (ret.) began his policing career in 1978 with the Redlands (Calif.) Police Department, retiring as chief and director of housing, recreation and senior services in 2011. In 2012 he was appointed the President of the National Police Foundation , America’s oldest non-membership, non-partisan police research organization.

OPIOID RESPONSE

We recognize that we cannot arrest our way out of the opioid epidemic. This has led to a shift in police culture toward proactive non-arrest programs that prevent overdose deaths, improve public safety and enhance trust between police and communities. Police now have tools in their toolkit that enable them to create pathways to treatment and recovery. As more departments join PAARI and see the benefits to their communities, my prediction is that these non-arrest responses to the opioid epidemic will become a widespread practice in many more police departments across the country.

Top Tip: As police officers, you have a front row seat to the opioid epidemic. You are problem solvers and you got into this job to help people. Your community and your agency need a champion to take action. I encourage you to be that champion. Get started and PAARI will be here to help.

— Allie Hunter McDade is the executive director of the Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (PAARI) , a movement of law enforcement agencies that believe in treatment over arrest.

PTSD

In 2018, agencies continued to make significant progress in establishing programs and policies to assist personnel recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder. However, the reality is that not all officers will be able to recover. Individuals seeking PTSD-related workers’ compensation and/or a disability pension continue to face many obstacles to obtaining such benefits. While some individual states have attempted to reduce obstacles, the pace of change is far too slow. Law enforcement agencies and administrators need to work with state legislators to improve access to workers’ compensation and enact pension laws to help officers who are unable to recover from non-visible, career-ending injuries.

Top Tip: It is important that agencies address the cognitive, emotional, physical and behavioral symptoms associated with traumatic stress by implementing CISM interventions and peer-support programs .

— Dr. Chuck Russo is the program director of criminal justice at American Military University . He began his career in law enforcement in 1987 in central Florida and was involved all areas of patrol, training, special operations and investigations before retiring in 2013.

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION

Hiring the right people is critical. Recruiters will focus more on looking for candidates who display integrity, effective communication skills, empathy for others and a spirit for public service. Creating a culture where these traits are valued and rewarded will keep those employees professionally fulfilled.

Top Tip: Every encounter with the public is an opportunity to build trust, or harm trust. When the public believes that they are being listened to, and that their police department is well intended in their actions, trust is built.

— J. Thomas Manger has been a cop for 42 years, and served as the police chief in both Fairfax County, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Maryland. For the past four years, he has been the president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association .

SCHOOL SAFETY

School safety will continue to be a major challenge for law enforcement and educators in 2019. When we put police in schools, we must use a community-based policing approach. If we put police in schools only to stop school shootings, we will fail. If we put police in schools only to solve a gang problem, we will fail. The number one goal of any police officer working in a school must be to bridge the gap between law enforcement and youth. Achieving that goal produces valuable intelligence that helps prevent active shooter situations.

Top Tip: Have at least one carefully selected, specially trained law enforcement officer in every school.

— Mo Canady is the executive director for the National Association of School Resource Officers, which provides training for school resource officers.

SOCIAL MEDIA

A 2018 Pew Research survey concluded that 91 percent of U.S. adults use a smartphone and 97 percent use the internet. As more people prefer to do their business online through smartphones, police departments must begin to understand the benefits of deploying a “mobile-first” strategy as it relates to their ongoing use of social media platforms to communicate and should begin to shift their social media and outreach efforts to provide a better customer service mobile experience for their residents.

Top Tip: Think about everything residents can do or ask for when they walk into your police department lobby. Would they be able to ask the same questions or request the same services through their smartphone? If it’s less, you disappoint. If more, they’ll thank and praise you for it and you’ll earn a loyal follower.

— Captain Chris Hsiung from the Mountain View Police Department in California is an internationally recognized speaker, trainer and blogger on law enforcement’s use of social media to engage communities and change the narrative about policing.

SWAT

SWAT teams need to increase their focus on protecting communities from terrorist and homegrown extremist attacks. As more cowards attack our citizens as they enjoy themselves socially, SWAT teams need to step up and provide protection details. This level of regional, preventive cooperation may be problematic at first. Teams will have to work with emergency management and fire rescue agencies to develop a matrix to determine when these protection details are needed and what resources are to be deployed. The impact on staffing, costs and equipment will necessitate teams work together to share responsibilities. This may mean a neighboring team is on standby to assist if a call occurs while the home team is providing security, or it could be a mutual response at the venue.

Top Tip: While many SWAT teams conduct great training, they often fail to seek training on terrorism awareness and response. SWAT members need to understand current terrorist threats and train team members on IED response.

— Lt. Matt Hardesty is a 26-year veteran of law enforcement who served 22 years on the SWAT team as an operator, grenadier, rappel master and team leader and executive officer.

USE OF FORCE

Use of force in response to mass gatherings of individuals at protests, political gatherings and concentrated population areas such as dealing with the border caravan and homeless encampments with a focus on de-escalation will continue to be a high-profile issue.

Top Tip: The ability of officers to recall, articulate and implement the training, procedures and policies that they have learned will be more significant in the defense of officers’ choices and actions. Remember: You only get one chance to tell your side of the story for the first time. LEOs need to be better prepared to explain their understanding of laws, policy and training in support of their choices, whether that is in a report, interview, deposition or courtroom .

— Attorney Mildred O’Linn is a trial lawyer with over 30 years of experience defending law enforcement. She is a former peace officer, FTO, defensive tactics instructor trainer, academy manager and accreditation manager

Credit: Policeone.com

For more informative articles related to nationwide law enforcement please visit www.policeone.com

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Don’t Worry There’s a Policeman With Me

Tue, 24 May 2016 15:42:00 GMT

Originally posted on Dec 4, 2015,

Article written by Kenneth Kuebler –

What a week in contradictions for American law enforcement.

The week began with the forced resignation of Chicago Police Superintendent Gary McCarthy and the associated reemergence of the perpetually aggrieved anti-police crowd. Having apparently done everything that the protesters could have possibly hoped for – fully investigating and criminally charging an officer for what the protesters deemed an unjustified shooting, and releasing the unedited video of the shooting in its entirety – he was shown the door anyway. Unsatisfied with criminally charging officers for shootings the protesters find unjustified, apparently their new standard is to demand that the leaders of associated departments must be let go as well. Irrespective of the fact that the Superintendent wasn’t the one doing the shooting and irrespective of the fact that the process worked as it is supposed to, the protesters demanded the opportunity to make an example of a well-respected, hard-working and nationally-recognized leader. Being the hand-selected appointee of the President’s right-hand man wasn’t even enough to save Superintendent McCarthy.

If this is the new standard, I’m not sure how we will find good men and women willing to serve at the top of America’s largest agencies. Every self-reflective person in our profession can recognize that police officers make mistakes. Some of those mistakes may even prove fatal. Once in a great while, one of those fatal mistakes may rise to the level of criminal charges. However, the vast majority of those mistakes are honest, human mistakes which occur for reasons not very different from those made by doctors and hospitals every year. Well, there is one big difference of course. Doctor and hospital errors are responsible for an estimated 100,000+ deaths per year, at least 100 times the number of deaths attributed to police officers – the overwhelming majority of which everyone agrees are justifiable and legal.

We recognize as a society, however, that making an occupational mistake that results in death and being criminally culpable are very different things. If we criminally charged doctors for mistakes that resulted in death, would anyone become a doctor? If we fired the CEOs of hospitals in which a single doctor egregiously erred, would anyone be willing to run a hospital? The national dialogue regarding police force is one that I find useful and valid. However, when it results in knee-jerk reactions and destroys the freedom or careers of men and women as the result of human errors made under high stress, it becomes terribly unproductive.

We had just barely digested what transpired in Chicago before the pendulum quickly returned to the pro-police sentiment which had become so quiet in recent months. The horrific attacks in San Bernardino reminded America of the resilience and commitment of the men and women in law enforcement. The very same tactical gear, weapons and vehicles recently demonized as being overkill suddenly looked sensible and rational. The bravery and persistence of those who located, pursued and then violently confronted the evil doers cannot be overstated. Faced with substantial gunfire and the possibility of suspects protected by explosives, the officers did not waver and did not rest until residents were again safe. Before and after the final shootout, officers brought comfort and a sense of safety to those who had been traumatized and victimized at the scene of the initial attack.

Perhaps you’ve heard the story of 24 year-old Kevin Ortiz who was shot multiple times by the attackers but survived. Knowing his family would be concerned, he called his father to assure him that we would be okay. His father reports that Kevin told him, “I’ve been shot three times, Dad. I’m in pain. Don’t worry. There’s a policeman with me.” Faced with the most terrifying moment of his life, he recognized that a policeman’s presence meant he could stop worrying. Calm was returning and help had arrived. This is the essence of our calling, and it is what dignifies and validates what we do. I’m proud to part of a profession which rises to this calling. I’m proud to work with so many talented, brave, compassionate, caring and yes, sometimes very violent men and women. The whole incident reminded me of two seemingly contradictory truths. Violence done on the behalf of the innocent is no vice. Comfort and compassion shown to the innocent is the ultimate virtue.

Let us hope and work to ensure that the pendulum of support for the men and women of law enforcement doesn’t quickly swing back.

Article Written by Kenneth Kuebler

Originally posted on Dec 4, 2015

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-kuebler-66793857

Also reference:

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-san-bernardino-shot-three-times-man-calls-father-wife-to-say-i-love-you-20151202-story.html

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Supplement ER Security Nationwide With Off-Duty Police Officers

Mon, 09 May 2016 14:50:00 GMT

(From CNN) A man accused of walking into a hospital emergency room with guns and demanding drugs Saturday morning has been arrested, according to police in Lockport, New York.

Adam Kibler, 24, was charged with first-degree robbery, police said.

Eastern Niagara Hospital told police the man walked into the emergency room at 4:57 a.m. Saturday and demanded drugs. He was armed with two rifles and claimed to have a bomb, police Chief Michael Niethe said.

Police responded immediately and got there while the suspect was still in the building.

The man made off with some items. Police spokeswoman Julie Snyder told CNN he made off with some prescriptions.

The suspect dropped his weapons and a backpack and fled on foot. One of the officers fired two shots at the suspect. Police don’t think he was hit.

A bomb squad determined that an item in a backpack was an inert device.

“We got lucky at that end,” Niethe said. “We recovered a lot of evidence at the scene.”

Niethe said that the hospital was fully locked down for a number of hours and authorities told residents to shelter in place. Those directives were eventually lifted.

“It took a number of hours to search the area,” Niethe said.

Lockport is in Niagara County and is more than 20 miles north of Buffalo.

Images from CNN affiliate WIVB showed a police SWAT team outside the hospital and a helicopter surveying the area.

Police described the suspect as a white male, 6 feet tall with blond hair. He was wearing khaki pants, a khaki shirt and a ski mask.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

The hospital issued a statement saying, “Patients and staff at the facility are safe.”

CNN’s David Shortell contributed to this report

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Supplement Your Security Force Today with Off-Duty Police Officers!

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 20:04:00 GMT

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Support the Police – Hire Off-Duty Officer’s Dedicated to Your Business!

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:43:00 GMT

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andy@firstguardofficers.com

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The post Support the Police – Hire Off-Duty Officer’s Dedicated to Your Business! appeared first on FirstGuard LLC .

Interesting Article about Church Security and The Rise in Violence

Tue, 15 Mar 2016 12:03:00 GMT

Forming a Church Safety Team

Written by Ron Borsch, a retired police officer and well known law enforcement trainer, originally published by Greg Ellifritz at: activeresponsetraining.net

This is a guest post from my friend Ron Borsch, a retired police officer and well known law enforcement trainer. He has been doing some consulting in the field of church safety and has come up with some great ideas about forming a church security team. Check out his article and all the additional references he provides.

-Greg

Checking our Stopwatch of Death© database back to 1975, we find that church murders have been increasing with alarming frequency. Regrettably, ignoring the problem is only trolling for a tragedy. It is perfectly normal for us to not want to think about violence, much less murder, or mass murder in church. Today, however, safe havens do not occur naturally, they require our personal attention, intention, planning, and effort. A Volunteer Safety Team (VST) is certainly a practical consideration.

Until our legislators and decision makers for schools, churches, malls, theaters and workplaces become enlightened to the primary factor in saving the most lives (on-site good guys with guns), these locations will continue to be the preferred hunting grounds for active killers. Before we detail suggestions for forming a volunteer safety team, we need a closer examination of the problem.

Churches are certainly not the respected sanctuary they once were. The problem with failing to consider the evil intentions of those who would introduce a homicidal invasion in a church, is a very serious risk. While this risk is admittedly of low frequency, it is also a high probability for catastrophic tragedy. Calculate the risk for yourself here by reading the patterns from our Stopwatch of Death© database:

One occurred in 1985,

No RMM for the next eight years;

One RMM in 1994;

No RMM for four years;

One RMM in 1999;

No RMM for the next five years, now pay attention hereon …

One each RMM in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008;

Two RMM in 2009; No RMM for two years;

Three RMM in 2012;

No RMM for two years;

One RMM in 2015.

We are not the only ones concerned, see “FBI Offers Security Training for Houses of Worship”

Rapid Mass Murder© at any church was unheard of for a long while. Abruptly, five years in a row we had one or two a year. The three RMM we had in 2012 made churches the third most frequent active killer target, after educational facilities and workplaces but ahead of malls, theaters, Etc. Laws, rules and signs that forbid guns in these locations are obeyed only by the law-abiding. Criminals with homicidal intent are not dissuaded by laws, rules or signs. In fact, it appears evident that they depend on these exact laws, rules or signs for their very own safety, to guarantee that innocent victims will be disarmed and defenseless. Clearly, being ready and prepared for a potential active killer attack is so much better than gambling with parishioner’s lives by doing nothing to counter a documented existing threat.

ONE PREPARED CHURCH

On Sunday, December 9th 2007, an active killer arrived at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado with a rifle, at least two pistols, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and massacre on his mind. Twelve hours earlier and 70 miles away, this cowardly but determined murderer had already attacked the Arvada missionary church, murdering two and wounding two others. New Life is a mega-church and had about 7,000 parishioners on campus at the time of the attack. Arriving at the church, this predatory rogue human began by shooting five, (murdering two, wounding three), parishioners in the parking lot.

The fact that no one was harmed inside the church was by design. New Life church had the foresight to prepare, and was enlightened enough to form a cadre of volunteer armed security guards. A very special church guard on duty that day was Jeanne Assam, a former police officer. At the start of the attack, she was the first to act, moving towards the shooter’s entry point to keep him away from the congregation. Assam opened fire on this rogue human with her personally owned, concealed firearm. Police say that after suffering multiple hits from Assam’s gun, the coward fatally shot himself. Assam later stated that “God guided me and protected me [and I] did not think for a minute to run away.”

TWO TYPES OF RANDOM ACTORS

The random acting active killers that we formally track are not the only threat that churches face. Informally we also track terrorists who may also be inspired by, if not actually directed by criminal Islamists, both foreign and domestic. As evidenced by the slaughter of Jews and Christians in the Middle East and Europe, terrorists will inevitably spread terror into numerous other countries including America. For reference on this topic, see Islamic Terrorists, Today!

Utopian belief that a law, rule or “No-Guns” sign would be obeyed by criminals or terrorists does not meet any common sense standard, and certainly pales in the light of a study: “Pretend “Gun-Free” School Zones: A Deadly Legal Fiction” by David B. Kopel. Who are these Active Killers that commit Rapid Mass Murder© almost anywhere? What are their traits and what can we do to stop them? A four minute preview of a video presented by LTC/Ret. Dave Grossman may be helpful in understanding how they operate.

WINNING WITHOUT FIGHTING?

What these two different types of mass murderers have in common is the fact that neither type of coward arrive at the crime scene expecting a fight. They fully intend to be totally dominant in their slaughter of innocents. They carefully select their target locations by insuring that their victims are disarmed and utterly defenseless. Inevitably, among specific targets in America, will be Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, and moderate Muslim Mosques. Unlike Junior and Senior High schools, colleges and workplaces where Rapid Mass Murder© incidents have an age and familiarity connection, churches typically are targeted by homicidal killers with no connection to whatsoever to the congregation.

When an active killer or terrorist pre-plans and scouts a facility or church, they may judge it to be too hard of a target and pass it up for a easier location. The harder-appearing church has then won the fight without bloodshed or actual fighting. In states that allow the option of having on site armed church security, it is certainly preferable to utilize that option. If a surprise attack occurs, the on-site armed good guys can minimize the carnage.

CONGREGATION SAFETY

We have documented that it is evil individuals with Numerous Unstable or Troubling Symptoms© who have committed Rapid Mass Murder© at various locations such as educational facilities, malls, theaters, workplaces, and churches. Outside of being a generally documented location where a group of disarmed and defenseless innocents are gathered, so far there does not seem to be any rhyme or reason for the killer’s choice of church or the worshipers within. Therefore, it is more than prudent to seriously consider congregation safety. Having appropriate foresight to anticipate this risk is both responsible and realistic. To not do so is subscribing to the Roulette Wheel of Risk©. While this risk may be low, the consequence of tragedy is high. When murders occur in church, you can only imagine how devastated the entire congregation and community would be.

PLAIN CLOTHES SURPRISE

A low-profile or plainclothes approach is more comfortable for both the volunteers and fellow parishioners. More importantly, having plainclothes security is an important strategic and tactical advantage against a potential active killer. Actually, any number of armed good guys with CCW permits is much preferred over disarmed innocents in church. Some enlightened pastors have a welcome mat out for their faithful parishioners with CCW permits. That is one approach, the other approach is more formal. Having an armed Voluntary Security Team, (VST), for church functions and services has become an intelligent and knowledgeable safety precaution in today’s world. As Chad Baus points out in his excellent piece, CCW in places of worship: “I believe this speaks quite strongly to the idea that insurance companies – even one that has strong roots in pacifism – have come to realize that there are significant liability risks from banning guns altogether”.

There does not seem to be much information in the area of forming a church safety and security team. Having been published on several prestigious law enforcement Internet sites regarding the active killer problem and Rapid Mass Murder©, I previously authored a successful piece on church safety. I have also consulted with advocates of armed, on-site good guys from their churches locally as well as an advocate from a mega-church who traveled to meet with me.

It therefore seems natural to share information that others may find helpful in creating their own church policy on armed good guys being welcomed in church and some fundamentals in forming an on-site church safety and security team. Interested groups are free to modify and expand upon my suggestions for a custom solution, appropriate for their own churches. I am open to share-back from readers. We suggest, you decide. Let’s start with selecting security team members…

RESPONSIBLE SELECTION:

An important consideration in the selection process is that candidates already have or are receptive to developing a proper Guardian-Mind-Set training for the duty of protecting the congregation against lethal threats. For example, some of my law enforcement students suggested they knew of volunteer armed church guards that cowered and or fled when the shooting started. Applicants should be stable, sober, level headed, mature adults, generally able-bodied, with skill-sets and psychological makeup approved by the judgement of the Pastor.

Team members should be familiar with how the mind works under stress, (natural “freezing” before fight or flight), how Reality Based Training scenario repetitions reduce the freezing time process, and the four stages of John Boyd’s OODA Loop, and Rebooting the OODA Loop.

Generally speaking, present or prior service military or police would be a good place to start looking for volunteers for your team. However, trusted parishioners, interested enough to have earned their own concealed carry weapon permit, should not be overlooked. The CCW folks are already pre-vetted by having passed a criminal history background check. At a minimum, the CCW folks have also been certified in a state mandated class which includes gun safety and safe gun handling. As a group, they are documented as being quite well behaved since there are penalties for malpractice on their part that could cause them to lose their valuable carry license.

What size should a Voluntary Safety Team be? We can say with certainty that when an active killer actually strikes, most reasonable people would have wished that there were more on-site armed good guys present. Operating at minimum staffing is not recommended, people get sick, injured, Etc. Church size is the main consideration for the size of the VST. A suggested ratio for a smaller church (under one hundred worshipers) is a minimum of two on-site armed good guys at every service. A mega-church may well have two on-site armed good guys for every one hundred worshipers. One church we know of has a minimum of six VSTs at each service.

Church records should maintain a file category for the Volunteer Security Team, along with a list of all CCW permit holders given written permission to carry a firearm in the church. A separate personnel file for each, with a copy of their driver’s license, state, police or military ID card, photograph, copy of their CCW permit should be created. Periodically, the team, including new team members, should review recent ID photos of all CCW permit holders so they can recognize and be familiar with them in case of an incident. Training volunteer candidates is our next challenge.

Volunteering must include follow through with training commitments. Shooting is a perishable skill, and many CCW permit holders actively shoot for recreation or competition. Many are even better marksman than the average police officer. Getting enough of the right sort of volunteer candidates to form a team may be difficult due to various considerations such as: church size, training and meeting time demands, personal cost of ammunition for practice, targets, etc. Costs may be subsidized by donations from time to time. Larger churches can sometimes absorb these costs into their budget.

TRAINING:

Within the congregation may be folks with useful skill-sets and credentials that would be helpful in training the Voluntary Safety and Security Team. For example, medical doctors, nurses, or firemen could assist with basic first aid skills. Parishioners with military and police backgrounds could help out with multiple skills such as handgun training and education in other skill-sets. Resources outside the congregation could be local police and fire departments, a local hospital, the American Red Cross, etc.

The state of Ohio requires law enforcement officers to qualify with their firearms at least once annually. Most progressive police departments have firearm training sessions more often. While police are far more likely to respond to a firearm confrontation, it is still possible that church security teams might have to engage a shooter. Regular ongoing training is a must. Once in possession of a permit to carry, VST team members should, at minimum, shoot their state’s law enforcement qualification test at least once per year.

Live fire practice on a quarterly basis is even better. Reality-based humanoid targets and decision making skills (shoot, don’t shoot targets), and shooting in a crowd of innocent people should also be required. Periodic hands-on scenarios and on-site training with Air-Soft, (training handguns projecting only plastic BB’s, not as powerful as Paint-Ball guns), is also recommended.

USE OF FORCE:

Training should also include awareness in identifying pre-incident crises, verbal de-escalation methods, and police notification procedures. Training must include appropriate use of force and the necessary mind-set for the justifiable use of deadly force. Other training consisting of use of less-lethal force (empty-hands, weapon grade flashlights, OC/Pepper-spray, baton, etc.) is also recommended. Periodic meetings and training sessions will enhance the VST’s overall awareness and group cohesiveness.

All training should be documented and include an attendance list, subjects taught, and dates the training took place. VST personnel who pursue extra training or shooting on their own time should document that training as well. Additional selected resources for basing training presentations can be found at the end of this article. Pastors should consider introducing their church security team leaders and trainers to other churches’ teams for the potential of cross-training, accelerated learning, and even VST teams training together.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING RESOURCES:

What to Do in an Active Shooter Situation

Video: “Surviving An Active Shooter”

Video: Armed citizens can and have stopped mass shootings

Video: Active Killer Prevention Training with OSHA Message

Video: Surviving An Active Killer

Video and brief article: What To Do if You Face an Active Shooter

Video and article: READY. AIM. TRUTH: Can Armed Citizens Defeat Active shooters?

Video: (OFFICE RELATED) Run-Hide-Fight, Surviving an Active Killer Event.

Videos: Left of Bang

Video: Options For Consideration Active Killer Training Video

About the author: Since the 1990’s, Ron Borsch has been the manager and lead consultant of the PACT Consultant Group. Supported by the seven SEALE Chiefs of Police, he is also the founder and from 1998 to 2015, was the manager and lead trainer for the SEALE Regional Police Training Academy in Bedford Ohio. Ron built this academy from this seven police department cooperative to eventually serving over one hundred law enforcement agencies from ten states. Ron’s three decade law enforcement career was with Bedford Ohio PD, (Range-master, SWAT, Defensive Tactics, Etc.). He is a Viet Nam veteran, (1965-66), serving as a U.S. Army Paratrooper with the 101st Airborne. Ron has also presented practical arrest control subjects in five states and co-designed a triple stimulus firearms target with state approved scoring specifications.

Church Safety

Your Tactical Training Scenario…Violence at Church

New “Rapid Mass Murder” Research from Ron Borsch

Active Killer Activity- Good News and Bad News

10 Lessons Learned from the new FBI Study on Active Shooters

– See more at: http://www.activeresponsetraining.net/forming-a-church-safety-team#sthash.SKoSEFB1.dpuf

To contract a sworn law enforcement officer to help protect your property, special event, or political campaign contact

Andy R. Hughes

Business Development Manager

FirstGuard LLC

andy@firstguardofficers.com

firstguardofficers.com

The post Interesting Article about Church Security and The Rise in Violence appeared first on FirstGuard LLC .

Hotel Security and ROI, from Marko Cabric

Tue, 15 Mar 2016 11:42:00 GMT

Marko Cabric Chief Security Officer, Lecturer and Author Hotel Security: The Correlation Between Security, Risk, Marketing and Pricing Security and Marketing Security is often more usable when explicitly advertised in marketing campaigns of services than those of physical products. In certain cases, such as in the hospitality industry, the relevance of security for the product and the marketing appeal of security are equal. Basically, security is namely one of the criteria that would determine if a guest would choose a certain hotel and as such it would be logical to use security as a factor in marketing campaigns. The same goes for, for example, airlines and airports, internet providers and cell phone operators, software manufacturers, companies that are handling the sensitive data of clients, etc. In some cases, the way that security supports a product is much higher than its actual marketing potential. For instance, the important role that security plays in protecting the integrity and ensuring the safety of drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, or basically any manufactured product, is obvious. However, emphasizing security in the marketing campaign for medications wouldn’t actually make much sense as it would not really appear relevant to the consumer. On the other hand, in certain cases, the marketing value of security is higher than its practical importance for the speciﬁc product or service. Having security guards in bank branches is more about addressing the clients’ need to feel secure than providing actual security.

SECURITY AND HOTEL PRICE SEGMENTS

So, we have the ideal situation that the actual importance of security for a hotel and its marketing appeal are equal. How about the correlation between price segment and the level of security? Even for laymen, a higher price equals luxury which is the outcome of the combination of brand, performance and reliability. So, while the quality of performance of the product is directly related to its purpose, reliability addresses the quality of its other features that are not necessarily visible, such as safety and security. Basically, as consumers, we expect all the elements of a product to follow the price. When we buy an expensive electrical appliance, we buy a brand, better performance, and more attractive design. However, we also naturally expect the product to be proportionally safer than its cheaper alternative. But is this opinion actually founded when we talk about the hotels, their grade, room rates and security? Yes! According to the investigation of the security features of US hotels conducted by the Cornell University, there are signiﬁcant differences in the level of security that is related to hotel price segments. Overall, luxury and upscale hotels recoded the highest scores for safety as security.

SECURITY, RISKS AND PRICING

We have reached an interesting point. We have basically established that higher rates mean better security. But can we use pricing to promote security? Let’s take the example of the Tunisia hotel industry. Would it be good to decrease the prices of rooms in order to attract guests that were chased away by terrorist attacks? Most hotels would think so. They would try to use the prices as decoy. However, as price and risk are interdependent it would be clear to most of the potential guests that the prices have decreased because of the higher risk. Basically, the higher the risk that the guests have to take on themselves, the lower the price that they have to pay. Furthermore, the gusts were not discouraged by the prices in the ﬁrst place but by the risks. Moreover, keeping the prices as they were and pretending that nothing has changed will not do much good either. So as absurdly as it may seem at ﬁrst glance, a successful strategy would have to be based on advertising security improvements and even backing it up with higher prices. Basically, if we are presented with a challenge (which the real risk of terrorism certainly is), every action or lack of action makes a statement. When offering cheaper service, we are stating that our guests will be compensated for accepting it. When keeping the prices as they were, we are mocking their genuine and well-founded concern by pretending that nothing is happening. With tighter security and higher prices, we are telling our clients that we understand their concerns and that we are actually doing something about it.

To contract a sworn law enforcement officer to help protect your property, special event, or political campaign contact

Andy R. Hughes

Business Development Manager

FirstGuard LLC

andy@firstguardofficers.com

firstguardofficers.com

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FirstGuard Celebrates 10th Anniversary!

Tue, 15 Mar 2016 11:30:00 GMT

Prattville, Alabama – FirstGuard, LLC was founded in 2006 as a small family-owned business providing services to a single client who desired an onsite law enforcement presence. The company has grown to provide jobs to thousands of sworn law enforcement officers in addition to its office personnel team located in central Alabama.

“For the past ten years, we have invested heavily in building a large network of law enforcement officers across the United States capable of serving our clients,” said Keith Gamble, Owner of FirstGuard LLC. “Today, this ten-year long investment is a great benefit to the customers we serve. Our nationwide network of sworn officers gives FirstGuard the ability to deploy a privately contracted law enforcement presence anywhere our clients need us throughout the country – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

About FirstGuard LLC

First Guard LLC is a Law Enforcement Services Company that provides contracted police officers to clients across the United States. For more information about First Guard LLC, contact:

To contract a sworn law enforcement officer to help protect your property, special event, or political campaign contact

Andy R. Hughes

Business Development Manager

FirstGuard LLC

andy@firstguardofficers.com

firstguardofficers.com

The post FirstGuard Celebrates 10th Anniversary! appeared first on FirstGuard LLC .