Breaking News: One of the two suspects implicated in the Boston Marathon bombings that occurred on Monday April 15^th was shot and killed in a police shootout today. (http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/19/us/boston-area-violence/index.html) Only 3 days after the bombings, not only have the suspects been successfully identified, but one is now deceased. If we look at the Atlanta Centennial Park bombing on July 27^th, 1996 perpetrated by Eric Robert Rudolph we see that on October 14^th, 1998 Rudolph was formerly named as a suspect and was arrested on May 31st, 2003! After seven years he was finally in captivity but not before planting three more bombs, one of them killing a police officer and seriously injuring a nurse. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Rudolph)

Without a doubt one of the significant differences between these two events, besides almost two decades is the proliferation of the presence of cameras, most notably the digital type. Not just digital cameras but CCTV camera systems on the streets and in and around businesses and other public establishments. With today’s technology advancements we have the ability to record almost every inch and every hour of any major North American city.

As authorities began to unravel the events of the Boston Marathon bombings they immediately began focusing on this digital record. Not only did they start going over the footage from the CCTV cameras installed along the route of the marathon but they also asked the public to submit all photographs they may have taken in the vicinity. Authorities went an unprecedented step further stationing officers at Boston’s Logan Airport stopping travellers at the departure gates and viewing the photographs they had snapped if they were at the event. In only a few days law enforcement had released photographs and video of the two suspects they believed were responsible for planting the explosive devices killing three and injuring hundreds. By the 18th of April, one is dead and the other is still at large, but with a net so tight his freedom can only be counted in hours.

This leads to my question, is the mere presence and proliferation of this digital record diminishing our freedom as a society, invading our right to privacy or is it to be viewed as an evolutionary step needed to safeguard our freedom? Either way as of today, the legal view is that there is no invasion of privacy as long as images recorded are done in such a way that there is no “expectation of privacy”. The act of walking down a public street, entering a public area of a business or entertainment implies there is no expectancy of privacy and the images are public knowledge. This is the mainstay of the paparazzi industry; anything captured in public view is fair game although celebrities will argue this is an invasion of privacy. I would debate that it is distasteful to camp outside of a celebrity’s home in hopes of capturing an unflattering image worth thousands of dollars. (http://media.gunaxin.com/britney-spears-circus-comeback/4590)

As for my question of it being an invasion of privacy or necessity of our day – being a security industry professional I will let you decide which side of the argument I am on. In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers go out to the dead and injured as well as their families in this terrible and difficult time. To law enforcement, please take care and we appreciate your dedication, courage and pursuit of justice and preservation of our freedom.

“Flight attendants, pilots and air marshals lead backlash against move that would allow small knives, baseball bats on plane”

This headline is from the National Post: http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/08/flight-attendants-pilots-and-air-marshals-lead-backlash-against-move-that-would-allow-small-knives-baseball-bats-on-planes/

As a former police air marshal, I have to agree. I was initially a police courier responsible for the safe transportation of gold, platinum and diamonds from 1990 to 1992 for the government of South Africa to Europe. I went on to apply to become an “anti-hijacker” responsible for the safety of aircrafts traveling both internally and internationally as terrorist activity was high due to a number of threats made by the then banned anti-apartheid movements.

We underwent vigorous training including but not limited to hand to hand combat, terrorist ideology and tactical communication. This included an ongoing joint fitness program, weekly shooting practice and other forms of training. However with all the training and exercise, one aspect out of our control was the prohibition of items that could be potentially used in a hijacking attempt. This was always a point of concern for us, regardless of the amount and frequency of our training. The very presence of a folding pocket knife, golf club or other sporting instrument posed a risk to passenger and aircraft safety. We absolutely needed the training given the potential threat but the fact that we couldn’t limit the ability to introduce a weapon always stuck with us. Finally a decade later, only after 9/11, were these limitations made a reality and it finally made sense. Since then for another decade the traveling public became accustomed to the restrictions and it has become a reality of everyday travel.  The fact that these restrictions have now been relaxed should be of great concern to the traveling public and officials challenged with the security of aircrafts and passengers. Although during my time responsible for aircraft security I never experienced an incident of terrorism, I did intervene in numerous incidents involving unruly and intoxicated travelers. In my current role as Senior Vice President for AFIMAC Canada, we service the airline industry screening for potentially harmful items and objects shipped in cargo destined for passenger aircrafts; so this issue is very relevant in my current role. The excerpt below is from the linked article above in The National Post:

“The policy change was based on a recommendation from an internal TSA working group, which decided the items represented no real danger, the agency said”.

I find this extremely short sighted. No real danger, really? That statement just doesn’t make sense. When responding to a case of domestic abuse in my policing days, my partner and I were confronted by an angry spouse with a golf club, which even as an armed and trained police officer I would argue presented a “real danger”. Let’s momentarily forget about the real threat of terrorism, and just think about the increase of so called “air rage”, intoxicated passengers and unruly passengers that also pose a threat to not only passenger safety but also crew and aircraft safety. Add this threat to that of terrorism and this announcement just doesn’t make sense. One can only hope that the huge outcry from unions, relevant organizations and safety officials will prevail. For now, I will add my objection through whatever means possible including this blog in the hope that this rule will be rescinded.

The government of India has recently announced a plan to use GPS enabled devices as a deterrence for sexual assault.

See story here: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/india-works-on-gps-watch-in-fight-against-rape/

With this type of announcement made by a government with such a controversial backdrop – (23 year old woman gang raped on a bus by six depraved miscreants), its no wonder the debates have begun, should we address a socially rooted problem with a quick technological fix or begin at the grassroots level and reshape the thinking of a nation instead?

For me the answer is simple, if the technology exists to immediately begin making a difference, use it. I am by no means suggesting we only rely on technology to address the issue but what I am saying is let’s not discount using every tool, device, methodology or service we can to end this brutal and savage crime against our sisters, wives and mothers. We use GPS technology to protect our monetary assets like vehicles, trailer loads of cargo and even laptops and cellphones, why would we even debate the use when it comes to protecting life and limb? It’s cheap, smart, reliable and more importantly available.

As a provider of GPS enabled devices to our clients when traveling abroad or in high risk situations what I can add is that there has to be a response protocol of some sort to go along with the device otherwise it simply becomes a technological trinket. In our industry we would typically supply a GPS device to a company employee that finds themselves in a situation where they are subjected to violence in the workplace or have been a subject to a high risk termination. The device has a panic button which when activated not only sends out coordinates in the form of a text message or email but also acts as a two-way communication device allowing direct audio communication. If audio contact cannot be made our operation room simply logs in and can see in real time where the subject wearing the device is located and we can dispatch appropriate levels of response as needed. For a brief overview of this you can view a short video here: Under Two/Desmond talks GPS.

As with any technology there are flaws, batteries will discharge, signals can be blocked, devices can be broken or discovered by criminals. This is why it’s important to have the device properly managed by a service provider and not simply handed out to individuals without protocols in place. You have to ensure not only the wearer has been educated on how to properly utilize the device to maximize its potential but also the receiver of the panic signal should it be activated. If this is properly done and managed, GPS technology can be a game changer and while society does what is necessary to change the mindset of a nation, which can take a generation or two, our women can at least cling to the hope that there is indeed something that can be immediately done to help prevent a horrific, life altering event from happening to them. If you want further information how GPS along with a sound protection protocol and plan can help you protect yourself or employees from potentially threatening situations feel free to reach out to me directly.

The government of India has recently announced a plan to use GPS enabled devices as a deterrence for sexual assault.

See story here: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/india-works-on-gps-watch-in-fight-against-rape/

With this type of announcement made by a government with such a controversial backdrop – (23 year old woman gang raped on a bus by six depraved miscreants), its no wonder the debates have begun, should we address a socially rooted problem with a quick technological fix or begin at the grassroots level and reshape the thinking of a nation instead?

For me the answer is simple, if the technology exists to immediately begin making a difference, use it. I am by no means suggesting we only rely on technology to address the issue but what I am saying is let’s not discount using every tool, device, methodology or service we can to end this brutal and savage crime against our sisters, wives and mothers. We use GPS technology to protect our monetary assets like vehicles, trailer loads of cargo and even laptops and cellphones, why would we even debate the use when it comes to protecting life and limb? It’s cheap, smart, reliable and more importantly available.

As a provider of GPS enabled devices to our clients when traveling abroad or in high risk situations what I can add is that there has to be a response protocol of some sort to go along with the device otherwise it simply becomes a technological trinket. In our industry we would typically supply a GPS device to a company employee that finds themselves in a situation where they are subjected to violence in the workplace or have been a subject to a high risk termination. The device has a panic button which when activated not only sends out coordinates in the form of a text message or email but also acts as a two-way communication device allowing direct audio communication. If audio contact cannot be made our operation room simply logs in and can see in real time where the subject wearing the device is located and we can dispatch appropriate levels of response as needed. For a brief overview of this you can view a short video here: Under Two/Desmond talks GPS.

As with any technology there are flaws, batteries will discharge, signals can be blocked, devices can be broken or discovered by criminals. This is why it’s important to have the device properly managed by a service provider and not simply handed out to individuals without protocols in place. You have to ensure not only the wearer has been educated on how to properly utilize the device to maximize its potential but also the receiver of the panic signal should it be activated. If this is properly done and managed, GPS technology can be a game changer and while society does what is necessary to change the mindset of a nation, which can take a generation or two, our women can at least cling to the hope that there is indeed something that can be immediately done to help prevent a horrific, life altering event from happening to them. If you want further information how GPS along with a sound protection protocol and plan can help you protect yourself or employees from potentially threatening situations feel free to reach out to me directly.

I have been following stories and incidents of workplace violence, bullying and harassment for most of my 24 years in law enforcement and security. Most of these stories, if not all, when investigated further, reveal patterns or previous signs and indicators that a bully or perpetrator of workplace violence has previously engaged in similar activities and in retrospect should have been easily predicted. Details of the headline story, see link here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/11/18/bc-saanich-red-lion-stabbings.html are at this point sketchy at best and I am sure more details will come to light in the coming days, however the details available at the time of penning this blog entry, seems as if the boss who stabbed 5 of his employees was a stable stand-up guy with no previous history of violence. In fact, he was also known to the police. Usually when this term is used, it is negative; however the police stated to members of the press that on more than one occasion the accused actually assisted them with providing evidence against bar brawlers. This should serve as a warning to us all that we should always be vigilant and aware of our surroundings, particularly to mood swings and sudden ‘out of character’ behaviours. What is particularly disturbing about the story is that the perpetrator calmly walked through the hotel stabbing a total of five employees. My first thought is that clearly these employees were not provided with adequate training to deal with an incident of this magnitude. The details point to the fact that the accused had time to walk through the hotel stabbing employees at random. Although it isn’t always possible to predict when a work colleague will snap and cause harm to others, there is certainly training available on how to minimize risk of injury should you find yourself in circumstances similar to those highlighted in the headline story. I implore company management at all levels to set training employees a priority as it is at least something tangible that can be done before an unpredictable situation manifests through a disgruntled colleague causing harm to those around them. I have seen an increase in levels of training that is provided to employees but I feel we are not doing enough, fast enough. More can and should be done to arm employees with as much as possible to prevent harm not only to themselves but also colleagues, clients and members of the public.

Some may say it begins by instituting a ‘zero policy’ attitude. Others may say it begins as an incident of workplace bullying or violence begins and disciplinary steps are undertaken.  Others may say it begins at the onset of an internal investigation into an alleged occurrence of bullying or workplace violence. For me, it starts with understanding what actually constitutes workplace violence and bullying, and how to recognize when you are either a victim or an actual perpetrator of workplace bullying. I can imagine many readers rolling their eyes at this statement. How can a bully not know when he is bullying? Of course he or she knows that they are a bully! They have probably been bullies their whole lives and thrive on being one. Ironically, most times this is not the case.

I have been investigating workplace violence and bullying for almost 24 years as a police detective and as a private investigator, and I have concluded that when it comes to interviewing the alleged bully they are totally ignorant that their actions have caused the outcome leading to an investigation. Now I am not saying that everyone is blissfully ignorant of their scathing comments, angry glares and sarcastic management styles, but there are many out there that have grown up in different cultures with diverse backgrounds that may not understand what is not acceptable.  For this group it sometimes comes as a huge shock when they become the subject of a workplace bullying investigation.

Prevention starts at training, informing and guidance. If it is clearly outlined to employees what is considered as bullying or violence they will have a clear understanding and will recognize these behaviours when they occur. Even if they don’t agree, they will still have a point of reference and will be able to recognize and refrain from these actions deemed as bullying. Once there is a clear understanding, the task of investigating and rectifying a situation is left to the mere facts and not to the interpretation or the subjective opinion of any one person. There are many forums for acquiring training related to workplace violence and bullying and I recommend exploring these avenues and starting the process of prevention from the beginning.

A recent story posted in the Ottawa Sun by Doug Hempstead highlights the rising trend of organized crime and its targeting of the cargo supply chain, see video and story here: http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/08/08/mob-robbing-cargo-from-ottawa-trucks

Imagine this; you have a trailer load full of electronic equipment. The load is worth almost $2 million. You have a padlock and an unarmed and untrained driver in total control of your precious product and a world full of organized criminals waiting for their chance at easy money. No need to imagine, a truckload of BlackBerry Playbooks was recently stolen from a truck stop and the estimated value was between $1.7 million and $5 million. http://mobilesyrup.com/2011/12/16/truck-containing-5200-blackberry-playbooks-was-stolen-estimated-value-between-1-7-million-5-million/

There has been a startling increase of not only theft from truck stops or manufacturing yards but now transportation companies are forced to increase security levels in the form of GPS tracking, escorts and other security measures because hijackings are also on the increase. The idea of having mobile cash rolling down the highways poses too much of an attraction to unscrupulous thieves reminding them of the days gone by when Jesse James and his gang would stop and rob trains travelling on the plains. Not much has changed in the modus operandi of these heists, namely: obstruct and stop the vehicle, gain entry to the vehicle, overcome any form of resistance to said entry, make your getaway. The means of achieving this may have changed but the method remains the same. As we develop ways to curb the rising problem, the perpetrators now reliant on their addiction to easy money, simply use force to overcome the ill-equipped drivers. The solution to the problem is complex but transportation companies can do a few things to mitigate the risks of transporting high value shipments:

• Don’t advertise the fact that your shipment is high value, use unmarked trailers
• Provide security awareness and truck hijacking training to drivers of high value shipments
• Know the movements of your shipments intimately with GPS, constantly check-in with drivers, geo-fencing, monitor and know the times of departure and arrival
• Provide additional security for high value shipments by using counter surveillance operatives or armed security escorts
• Use different shipping routes, know the trends of crime on regular routes and don’t be predictable
• When planning to ship cargo of high value keep the circle of ‘need to know’ tight
• Consider using innovative methods of deterrence specifically designed to curb cargo theft (there are a few great products on the security market)
• Work with a security company to conduct a security audit of your supply chain
• If transporting on a regular basis to the same destinations, identify law enforcement agencies along the routes and obtain valuable contact information in case of emergencies – an increasing number of agencies have specialized cargo theft divisions: see this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1hXqt49brc&feature=youtu.be

Above all be aware and know that if you are in the business of transporting any type of valuable cargo, you are a target and never take your safety or that of your employees for granted, be proactive and safe travels.

The old saying that it takes a village to raise a child fits just as well when dealing with bullies in the workplace. The essential meaning of this famous phrase relies on the premise that a parent cannot always have their eyes on a child to monitor every action they take or try to correct all negative behaviour to create a balanced and contributing member of society.

As we mature and turn into adults, legislation, laws and government replaces the role of the parent, as traditional parents lose control and influence over their child. I would say the exact same applies to the adult as to the child; it takes a village to raise an adult. What I am saying is that just as a parent cannot possibly follow a child every waking hour to discipline and correct, the same goes for the government. Just recently Unions Tasmania chief Kevin Harkins told a Federal Government inquiry that current laws were no match for a new breed of ‘workplace psychopaths.’ As a former police officer I can recall countless times while on patrol and responding to incidents involving multiple witnesses where they would either decline to cooperate on grounds of fear of reprisal or a general unwillingness to become involved in the inevitable lengthy legal process. It was sometimes these same detractors that demanded that the police do something to curb the crime in their areas but were unwilling to either stand up and testify in court or report suspicious behaviours thereby preventing a crime whether it is an assault, robbery or a simple case of vandalism.

So must employees working in an environment where a bully cultures thrive stand up and be counted? Yes. And there may be consequences to being the one that makes the stand, in some cases it may be isolation from co-workers, further targeted bullying, or loss of employment. However living with constant bullying has its own set of consequences such as stress, sleep deprivation, onset of depression and in extreme cases there are clear links to the bullied person snapping and taking matters into their own hands. There are many examples of this but one of the more famous is the Ottawa shooting at the OC Transpo in the spring of 1999. Once the motive was dissected, it became apparent that the shooter, Pierre Lebrun, was the target of constant bullying to a point where he snapped and entered the workplace with a firearm and shot four colleagues before turning the gun on himself.

If there is one thing I have learned from both my childhood schoolyard days and my subsequent years in law enforcement and private security, is that the bully thrives on the ability to get away with their actions without interference or challenge. Standing up to the bully exposes their actions and focuses a spotlight on their behaviour forcing a change in the status-quo; which in my experience is a good thing. In fact I would contend that many individuals categorized as bullies are mostly unaware that their actions or management style amounts to bullying and only once confronted, investigated and sent for training do they realize the errors in their ways.

In my next blog I will give tips on how to exercise your rights as an individual in affectively dealing with reporting the actions of the workplace bully thereby minimizing your exposure to incidents of workplace violence, work related stress and other negative effects of being the victim of bulling or violence in the workplace.

AFI International Group Inc. (AFI) and International Management Assistance Corporation (IMAC) come together as one super firm to bring leading-edge security and crisis management services to clients across the globe

CLEVELAND, OH — August 1, 2012 — Five years after partnering to assist clients with their security operations, AFI, a leader in crisis management and response, and IMAC, with expertise in emergency response, risk management and business continuity services, have announced a merger into one company: AFIMAC. This new firm will deliver a stronger, more unified array of security services and will continue to provide the highest levels of customer service to its diverse client bases globally.

Through the merger, AFIMAC, becomes a single source solution for companies across the globe, no matter where they require top quality security and crisis services. Unifying the culture of the two companies has been an easy transition as employees in both firms have been interacting regularly on joint accounts.

By combining forces in this way, AFIMAC also brings together more than 55 years of industry-leading experience in emergency response, strike security, risk management, and business continuity services to protect its clients’ people and property, both during times of crisis and regular business operations.

“More and more clients have been turning to AFI and IMAC for a full range of services on both sides of the border,” says Peter Martin, AFIMAC president & CEO. “Merging the two companies streamlines how we can deliver this, with the highest quality levels and the greatest cost-effectiveness in the security industry.”

According to Martin, exceptional service will continue to be the hallmark of the new company:

“100 percent of our clients have been able to maintain their desired level of operation during a crisis … and 100 percent of client projects have been on budget, met projections, and delivered the promised services. The bottom line is clients come to us when they are facing significant risk and need operations executed flawlessly.”

With the security industry’s leading senior management team at the helm, AFIMAC promises to deliver unrivalled security and crisis expertise to its markets. The new firm offers an assortment of pre-crisis contingency planning and premium security and emergency response solutions to government and businesses in nearly every sector and industry with proven results.

“AFIMAC brings a refreshing cohesion in the corporate security sector,” says Stephen Anderson, AFIMAC vice president. “The new venture clearly shows that we have invested heavily in assembling a global group of services and experts, instead of informal partnerships, which is truly exceptional in our industry.”

About AFIMAC
Combining the strengths of AFI International and International Management Assistance Corporation (IMAC), AFIMAC is a leader in the provision of comprehensive corporate security and contingency planning services globally. Its diverse capabilities include labor dispute planning & response, cargo security & escorts, disaster & emergency response, corporate investigations, workplace violence assessment & response, and executive protection. With a distinguished management team and highly skilled personnel, AFIMAC is well known for its high quality service delivery and immediate responsiveness.

About AFI International Group Inc.
AFI International Group provides elite security, risk management, business continuity and investigative services to protect people and property both during labor disruption and regular business operations. AFI also offers an assortment of pre-crisis planning and premium security solutions to businesses representing nearly every industry.

About International Management Assistance Corporation
International Management Assistance Corporation (IMAC) offers elite security, risk management and business continuity services to image conscious companies across North America. IMAC has partnered with their clients to protect people and property both during times of crisis and regular business operations. The company also offers an assortment of pre-crisis planning and premium security solutions to businesses representing nearly every industry.

For media inquiries, please contact Kathy Hungerford, AFIMAC, 1-800-554-4622

I have recently come across dozens of online articles dedicated to bullying and violence in the workplace; which begs the question, has this always been a problem or a new social evil that has only recently reared its ugly head? One could say it’s on the increase brought about by the anonymity of social media and the ability to bully from behind the safety of a computer screen, or stress caused by a global weakening of economies. Alternatively, is it at the same levels it has always been but only now being exposed by heightened awareness of the issue as we evolve as a society, our general lack of appetite for bullies similar to what has been occurring with the overthrow of dictators around the globe, or again, is it the nature of the hive mentality of the internet, making the dissemination of information instant and voluminous? I would like to suggest it may be a bit of each of the above but the underlying theme in both questions seem to be social media and the internet. If it is on the increase, we as a society need to quickly dissect the reasoning behind it so that it can be stopped in its tracks.  If it is the opposite and the publicity currently sweeping the media airwaves is simply due to the internet, then I believe this is the beginning of the dissection I am referring to and we should start to see the decrease of incidents of bullying within our societies. As our reporting and recording of statistics and incidents of bullying, harassment, and violence becomes more prolific, my belief is that we should start seeing a decrease in incidents but an increase of reporting, tweeting and blogging of them as they occur.  Social media is here to stay and I believe is a double edged sword in that it can be used to both inflict the pains of bullying but also expose the bully and suggest remedies to the halting of this social evil.  To this end we need to:

• Show zero tolerance when dealing with incidents of bullying
• Provide adequate reporting structures designed to expose the bully
• Provide means for employees in dealing with the bully including education
• Educate potential bullies as to what bullying is, what won’t be tolerated and the consequences of bullying actions