Body Cameras Have Arrived at Select Patrol

I HAD DECIDED to equip my patrol employees with body cameras . I had been aware of body cams for sometime, and I knew that somewhere down the road we would  have them. However, a recent event that involved one of my employees accelerated the process.

 THE EVENT that kick-started my move towards cameras occurred early one Saturday morning after 2:00AM. We provide nighttime patrol for a large church campus in the San Gabriel Valley. My patrolman, Hector, (pseudonym), happened upon a man who had built something of a shelter from a cardboard box and was presumably asleep inside. This was within the walls of the sanctuary courtyard and the man and his "fort" had to go. However, no sooner had the patrolman called out to the sleeping man inside the box, when suddenly the box flew off and Hector was immediately set upon by a burly man in his 20s who came at Hector with clenched fists. Fortunately,  Hector is an experienced patrolman and had positioned himself to his best protective advantage; he stood over 20 feet away from the encampment and held is chemical defense spray at the ready.

As soon as Hector's assailant came within the 20 foot perimeter the man was hit with a steady burst of 1.3% Oleoresin Capsicum and the assailant was halted in his tracks. At that, the man turned heel and stumbled out of the courtyard and to a motel across the street. There, he used the lobby desk phone to call the police claiming that he had just been "attacked by a security guard".

Now, what usually happens in circumstances such as these, the police generally regard the first person to make the call to be the "Victim" and the other party involved to be the "suspect". The police arrived within a few minutes along with a paramedic unit to de contaminate Hector's attacker of the residue OC particulates. Predictably, the man told the officers that Hector  approached the man as he slept on the pavement , and hosed him down with pepper spray without warning. The officers then approached Hector and he gave the officers his account of what happened. Hector sensed the officers were familiar with his attacker and were not buying the sprayed-while-asleep story. On the other hand, Hector did not have anything or anyone to corroborate his account of how things went down.
 Good New/Bad News

The outcome of the police officer's  investigation had mixed results. The good news for my employee Hector was that he was not taken into custody on the dubious word of his attacker. The bad news was Hector's attacker also avoided jail time. Given the circumstances, this outcome is not unusual.  In my 30 plus years in the private security field it is more or less standard practice to for police officers to handle similar  incidents as mutually contentious "fights" as opposed to a self-defense action on the part of the security officer. It is a default position law enforcement will check when corroborative evidence is not available.
The right tool for the job

Clearly, as the above incident illustrates our need is for a camera that above all allows the patrolman to view recorded events in real time. After researching the available products on the market I chose the Patrol Eyes SC-DV1. 

The device is loaded with advanced features and is very user-friendly. The video camera offers instant play-back and displays 1080 dpi video on a two inch wide LCD screen located on the back of the device. The instant play-back is probably the most useful feature as it eliminates the need for a patrolman to have to scroll through batches of video clips to find the one he needs at a critical moment.

The camera can also shoot still photos in 16 megapixel quality . Both video and still images can be shot in infared mode with the press of a button located on the side of the device. Additional clip-on wide angle camera lenses in both infared and daytime modes can be purchased separately for about $150.00 a piece. 

These are only the highlights of the many features offered by the Patrol Eyes SC-DV1.  Lastly , I will say the price was very easy on my eyes. (under $250.00 per unit). I believe the Patrol Eyes will be the standard for many private security organizations based on its price. 

In researching policy guidelines for the body cameras I found law enforcement sources supported the concept of allowing police officers descretionary authority to record or not to record within policy prescriptions. For example, officers could turn off the camera in casual conversation or when interviewing witnesses  who may be concerned about confidentiality. Similarly,  most sources agreed that officers ought to be able to review video following an incident.As I had mentioned previously the instant play-back feature of our camera of choice was the deal maker as far as I was concerned. For the private patrolman who finds himself surrounded by skeptical police following an incident, the patrolman  must have the ability to produce video evidence that will immediately exonerate him. Otherwise,  in the absence of such evidence, he  will likely find himself suffering the indignity and potentially hazardous circumstance of being taken into custody in uniform for further questioning at the police headquarters.

Overall, the policy considerations were pretty straightforward; patrol staff cannot erase or edit any video clips. Unless a particular video loop is needed for either a criminal investigation or client-related inquiry, all videos are erased from our system after a 30 day period.
I will write a follow up article once our program has been implemented company wide and share our experiences.
DW

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Sanctuary and Safety

The house of worship is universally regarded as a sanctuary both
 in spiritual and literal terms. The church is often sought as the last refuge for people in the most desperate of circumstances. However, as the numbers of the nation's homeless populations have grown exponentially, many religious campuses have found themselves reluctant hosts to scores of homeless men and women camped at their doorsteps. This has led many congregations to adopt measures to discourage itinerant lodging in the interests of safety. Not surprisingly,churches and their affiliated schools, account for about 10 percent of our client roster. Short of hiring a private patrol service there are things that can be done by churches to discourage itinerant lodging on their premises.
First, the most effective way for church staff to handle the the matter is to be proactive, and to address the issue immediately whenever it occurs. As always speak respectfully, and to the point. Avoid the pitfalls of exceptions to the rule; allowing personal belongings such as bicycles,clothing bags, etc.to be stored on property. This will lead to confusion and make matters much more difficult to deal with. The goal is to communicate a clear-cut policy without misunderstanding. It is also a good idea to have a printed hand-out that spells out Church policy in regard to lodging on campus, and also to offer information about other homeless resources available in the community such as meals, shelter and mental health.

Second, prepare for the long term. Properties that have had a long-established homeless presence require time and patience to bring under control.One resource that must not be overlooked is law enforcement. Many police agencies in towns large and small now have officers whom are specialized in working with local homeless populations. Do not hesitate to call the authorities for help.

SELECT PATROL REPLACES iBUTTONS WITH QR CODES

 Select Patrol is in the process of replacing its current patrol tour system with a newer technology that will eliminate the wand scanner commonly used throughout the security industry. The new system is actually a feature of the real-time reporting software that has been used by Select Patrol since 2011. Select Patrol employees can now scan checkpoint locations on their routes with  android phones without the need for a separate scanning device.

The benefit for Select Patrol customers is the ability to see the patrolman's reports in real time, and also view time-stamped location patrols in a single reporting format.

In addition, the scanning software uses pressure sensitive QR code decals that are easier to remove than the former systems' metal ibuttons that were installed with screws or adhesives.  The decals measure one inch by one inch square. For clients who currently use the ibutton system known as Deggy, Select Patrol will discontinue the weekly reports as soon as the new decals are in place.

COMMUNITY ROBOTS

In December of last year, Amazon.com made headlines when the company announced plans to develop a drone to deliver small packages within small geographic areas in under 30 minutes. At the same time, other stories appeared that described robot technology designed specifically for security applications. One example is the Knightscope Inc K5, a five-foot tall, 300lb bowling pin whose makers describe as an “Autonomous Data Machine”. Among its many features, the K5 has a 360 degree camera, a night-vision camera, Optical Character Recognition (The ability to read license plates), Behavioral Analysis software and the ability to detect biological, radiation and chemical elements within its environment. While the K5 and offerings from its competitors; the Robotex Avatar lll and Mobilerobots’ Patrolbot, are far from the bipedal humanoid of science fiction, these devices represent what lies directly ahead in today’s world of security technology. Now of course, one cannot say "Security Robot" without acknowledging concerns about privacy and job elimination. In my view the robots headed our way are no more ominous than all of the other cameras and sensors that capture our movements every day. Another feed of telemetry gathered about our not-so private lives, to me, is not going to reveal much more than is known about each of us already. In terms of jobs, I do not see the coming generation of robots as a threat to the relevance of private security guards. The purpose and abilities of the machines are matched to roles that augment, rather than replace, human security forces. In other words a more a capable K9 and without the bite. From my perspective as a security contractor I see the technology as a good thing. For one, the robots will perform the most mundane of security assignments and relieve human guards to complete other tasks. For example, a group of robots can be deployed in a condominium to provide continuous coverage of the gated parking garages and leave the human guard to handle noise complaints, after-hours pool use, and all of the other issues that can require the complex social skills that are unique to humans. If the robots in the garage do happen to detect suspicious activity, that data can be relayed directly to the guard’s smartphone with streaming video and audio. The guard can evaluate the data from a safe location and decide if police are to be notified. Safety and efficiency will be the strongest assets that robotic technology brings to the private security industry. DW

Select Patrol Update

First news is that we have added a new EPSA page to selectpatrol.com. The EPSA page features an interactive membership application which allows Echo Park residents to join without delays and the hassles of paperwork. We accept Paypal and membership is immediate upon completion of the application. Point, click and the patrolman brings a yard sign to your door. Select Patrol is on the move. In late March, we located our offices from Atwater Village to the City of Pasadena. In 20 years' time we have come full-circle. We had originally moved to Los Angeles from the corner of Colorado Bl and Euclid in 1992. Now, we are a few blocks from our former location at Colorado and El Molino across from Vroman's. The decision for our move was based primarily on economics. For the past five years we paid for an office and a separate parking facility for our vehicles. The new location consolidates the office and parking onto a single site. In addition, there were also the tax considerations which favored relocation outside of Los Angeles. The revenue-based formula in Los Angeles worked out to be a huge chunk of money that we have had to part with the first of every year. Now we can get some relief and do something that truly benefits the patrolmen of Select Patrol. Something that had concerned me for a long time was the fact very few of my staff can afford to buy new body armor. Not difficult to understand, however since new protective panels and carriers run in the range of $350.00 to $1000.00 and higher. As an alternative, most patrolmen either receive hand-me-downs from law enforcement friends or buy used vests at gun shows.These pieces are well beyond their warrantied life and do not provide the optimal level of protection they offered when new. This is a circumstance that I have found unacceptable. Especially in the face of statistics which show that out of 112 US private officer fatalities in 2012, 65 were caused by armed assailants. In many of these cases the officers were unarmed. By the end of this year, I am resolved to provide each of my patrolmen with new body armor free of cost. I cannot think of a better cause. DW

Mental Health Public Safety

In the weeks since the mass murders in Newtown, Conn., many voices have articulated theories as to the “how” and “why” of this particular mass murder, and the preventative steps that can be taken to avoid future atrocities. In addition to the calls for a renewed federal ban on so-called assault weapons and tighter restrictions on firearms purchases, there have been productive discussions concerning mental health. I believe that addressing the issue of mental health care – and ensuring access to services by families of the mentally ill – is the overarching component in preventing mass killings in schools, the workplace and the family home. I recently came across a report about Laura’s Law, named for Laura Wilcox, a 19-year-old college student who was murdered in 2000 by a man who suffered from late-onset schizophrenia. She was shot four times at point-blank range while she worked as a volunteer at a mental hospital during Christmas break. Passed by the State of California in 2002, Laura’s Law was designed to provide housing and treatment for dangerous mentally ill persons reluctant to seek help. Under Laura’s Law, a judge can order outpatient treatment for up to six months for a seriously mentally ill individual proven likely to pose a danger either to himself or others. The process can be initiated by family members, social workers or the police. The irony is that despite having been passed into law more than a decade ago, Laura’s Law has been effectively nullified, through lack of funding, in nearly all but two counties in the state. Nevada County, where Laura Wilcox had lived, is the only county in the state where Laura’s Law has been used as an instrument of the court in 54 cases. Los Angeles County has recently begun a smaller pilot program based on Laura’s Law. Critics of involuntary treatment say the process takes way the rights and dignity of the individual. This argument has been at the core of opposition to Laura’s Law and similar measures throughout the US. The public is hesitant to empower the State with the ability to force citizens into care too swiftly. The image of the State Hospital runamuck with corruption and unchecked powers is an indelible one. No one wants a return to the dark days of mental health care and all of the ghastly images that era conjures. Despite this understandable reluctance, I believe we must acknowledge that the current voluntary care system does not meet the public safety needs of modern society – a point proven all too well by the cases of Jared Loughner, James Holmes, Adam Lanza and too many others to name. To effectively take control of public safety, the State must have the ability to step in and administer care when necessary for the severely ill who have long refused treatment and are likely pose a threat to themselves or others. To learn more about Laura's Law, you can visit the website www.mentalillnesspolicy.org.org. To encourage Los Angeles County to continue and expand the Laura's Law pilot program, please contact Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina's office at molina.lacounty.gov. DW

Private Security Training Day at North East Division

Over the years, I have participated in several police-private security summits. For the most part these events were geared towards bettering the relationships between senior police officials and their private security counterparts. No complaints there. However, I have always preferred those events which provided practical tools for the officer in uniform.
The information presented at the March 7th seminar, was absolutely spot-on. This meeting was not about lofty speeches. It was strictly nuts and bolts for the working security officer. The meeting got underway just after 9:00AM in the Northeast Roll Call room with about two dozen security officers and managers from different organizations which operate with within the North East Division’s geographical area. Select Patrol was represented by five officers including two of the three Echo Park patrol officers, Ed Aguero and Raul Lopez.
Opening remarks were made by Lt. Steve Flores, of the North East Detective Division . According to Lt. Flores, the inspiration for Northeast’s outreach to the local private security industry owed much to the court-ordered release of 34,000 state prison inmates which began in late 2011. The goal of the training summit was to multiply the numbers of eyes and ears of the police on the street level in anticipation of the thousands of repeat offenders returning to their old neighborhoods.
The training itself was divided into three segments. The first was communications and included an overview of the LAPD communications system and a step by step tutorial in how to make an effective report by phone to the police.
The second segment was titled “Being a Good Witness” and focused on definitions of the types of crimes a security officer may encounter on the job as well as a review of the laws relevant to private person’s arrest. The presenter, Detective Armando Romero, established good rapport among the meeting’s attendees and fielded many questions from the audience.


After a terrific lunch provided by our hosts, we attended our third and final evolution in which participants were selected to view and then give their feedback on different, potential use of force scenarios. The live-action video clips were projected onto a screen which gave the effect of separate, life-sized encounters with an agitated emergency room patient, a bar fight, and a drunken bar patron. The instructor, Officer Craig Orange emphasized the point of the exercise was provide private officers with options to successfully navigate through potentially volatile encounters, and avoid the pitfalls of a no-win situation.
I thought Officer Orange clearly understood the extremely grey world in which private officers operate. For example, a private officer may be summoned to intervene in a situation not necessarily covered under a contractual agreement but simply because the private officer was the first uniform in sight. Unfortunately, it has been precisely this kind of circumstance and the resulting actions of the security officer, which has contributed to what has been a muddled perception in regards to private security’s role not only with the public but also in the eyes of the police. I thought this element of training and the low key approach that was encouraged demonstrated a better understanding of what is expected of private officers.
No doubt our instructors had as much opportunity to access our collective skill level as much as we had the opportunity to learn. It is my hope that our March 7 training date will be something to build upon for the future. My thanks our host Senior Lead Officer Nina Preciado and the other officers who participated in the event.



DW