Industry News

Guards Arrested; Charges Dismissed

In August of 2008, two unarmed security officers were on evening shift duty at a construction site in Philadelphia. The New United Corporation was renovating the site of a former hospital it owned. The guards encountered what they believed were two burglars looking to steal supplies, equipment, and materials. The guards confronted the burglars and called 911 for assistance. One suspected burglar ran away. Depending on what you believe, one of the guards hit the remaining suspect with a bat, or the suspect tripped and hit his head. The police arrived and took the apparently injured burglar to a hospital where he was released a few hours later. The police also arrested the security guards for aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. In a plea deal, the Philadelphia prosecutor offered the guards 3.5 years.

One of the guards obtained the services of Eric Breslin, a lawyer for Duane Morris, a Philadelphia-based firm employing over 700 lawyers in 24 offices. The grand jury indicted the guards. Trial was next. The Duane Morris team was able to obtain 911 call tapes which caught the desperation of the security guards in their confrontation with the burglars.

In the end, Breslin reviewed the evidence with the prosecutor’s supervisor. The decision was made to dismiss the charges. By the time of the dismissal, the burglar involved in the case, who previously had been convicted of burglary seven times, was back in jail on a new charge. Source: Security Letter, 166 East 96th Street, New York, NY 10128, Telephone 212-348-1553.

International Foundation for Protection Officers

Part of the problem with employment of a security officer is that the industry regrettably has not promoted self esteem, on-going training, and career advancement for line security officers. In 1988 Ronald Minion and Chris Hertig, with others, founded the International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO). Its goal was to “provide meaningful career opportunities for line security officers.” IFPO soon provided a training manual. In the manual is common sense guidance that might be of help to guard companies that read this newsletter. Among the guidance is:

• Traffic. Graphics provide guidance on the basic stance of security officers to garner attention while directing traffic, traffic control gestures, and use of the whistle.

• Lighting and fencing. The minimum height for a chain-link fence should be 7 feet, excluding top overhang. Wire fencing must be 9-gauge or heavier.

• Workplace violence. According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the workplace violence incident rate is 5% generally. However, companies with 1,000 or more employees, the incident rate jumped to 50% in a single year; criminal incidents represented only 17% of the total; worker-to-worker violence numbered 34%; violence by customers/clients registered 28%; and domestic issues accounted for 24%.

Source: Security Letter, 166 East 96th Street, New York, NY 10128, Telephone 212-348-1553.

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California: 800.221.3386 • 661.393.4710 • Fax: 800.700.0126 • 661.393.4771
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Doing business in California under License #OE59720, dba El Dorado Security Services Insurance Agency.