Keeping Watch Over The Holidays

“FIRST LINE OF DEFENSEâ€

This year, as in the fourteen previous years since the 9/11 attacks, the FBI and Homeland Security will caution the country about the increased possibility of terrorist attacks during the Holiday Season.

In fact, as the first line defense in most public access facilities, Uniformed Security Operatives must be ever vigilant about public safety issues not just from the terrorist threat but also increased possibility of active shooter / violent attack, bomb threats, criminal activity, medical emergencies, crowd & traffic control issues and the risk of fire, flood, power failure & other physical plant issues that could create serious risk for our Clients and their patrons.

The increased crowds and traffic create several challenges in public access infrastructure such as Retail Malls, Airports, Public Transit, Hotels, Financial Institutions, Restaurants and other public use facilities. The increase in patrons or visitors will always create additional stress / risk for security during the Holiday Season. We as security professionals must prepare in advance for the seasonal change and ensure that we are prepared for the traffic increases and the change in human dynamic as non-regular patrons visit and patronize these facilities.

Those individuals or groups who wish to use the crowds to their advantage whether they have criminal or terrorist intent want to blend in and be anonymous. The Uniformed Security Operative’s role is to be the ever vigilant deterrent that hardens the target, recognizes unusual activity and frustrates criminals or terrorists to seek out other less secure facilities / operations to target.

Uniformed Security Operatives must act not only as a visible deterrent and reassure the general public by managing the flow of patrons at main entrances & exits, assisting with directions, investigating suspicious situation or persons, resolving minor disturbances & disputes and responding to on-site emergency situations with public emergency services.

The real challenge is – can your security team meet the challenge they may face and as the first response contain that challenge until public emergency services arrive? This does not mean the Uniformed Security Operative replaces the public emergency services professionals, only that the front line initial response in most facilities has changed and now focuses on the Uniformed Security Operative who initially responds. Their response can be anywhere from 5-20 minutes before the arrival of those public emergency services professionals. In any critical situation that 5-20 minutes could cost Owners and Operators serious risk and lives.

At that point, the Uniformed Security Operative must meet the threat or risk and use his training or expertise to control that environment. They must have the capability to in turn minimize or stop the effects of the incident or situation until the specific public emergency service arrives to assume control.

Realizing the risks and acting responsibly ensure the safety of those under our protection, securing our Client’s facilities, personnel & interests thus making it more difficult for those who wish to disrupt or take advantage of the Holiday Season.

To every security professional the objective this year is to meet the challenges facing your clients, protect those under our protection, stay safe, investigate all suspicious persons or activity and remember we are “THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSEâ€.

Copyright © 2016 Anthony G. Arcaro, President / Owner Special Protection & Patrol
Special Protection & Patrol is one of Arizona’s leading specialty private security firms.
Provides comprehensive security and investigative services to the corporate, financial institution, retail, and government sectors.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form. Permission requests, write to the author at [email protected].