California Security News

Bank security guard is shot and killed in South L.A.

From the LA Times

LOS ANGELES - Two attackers wrested a handgun from a security guard at a Los Angeles bank Thursday, then fatally shot him with his own weapon, police said.

The guard, whose name has not been released by authorities, was approached about 10:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Bank of America branch at 29th Street and Crenshaw Boulevard in Jefferson Park, police said.

The victim, described as a middle-aged Latino, was pronounced dead at a hospital while undergoing surgery, said Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Kate Lopez.

An employee at a nearby store said she saw two men bend down and grab something before fleeing on foot.

"It made me cry," she said. The security guard "woke up thinking it's another day of work, another day of life.Some regular bank customers said they did not know the security guard by name but described him as a friendly man who had worked there for several years.

Leticia Bellez, 36, who went to the bank with her 96-year-old grandmother to withdraw money before the Labor Day weekend, said she was stunned to learn of the killing.

"He was friendly and very courteous," Bellez said. "He would always open the door for us."

Jimmie James, another bank patron, said his initial thought when he arrived at the bank was that the guard had killed someone. "Then I found out he was the one that got killed," James said.

"He was telling me the other day about how he was going to quit, because he didn't feel safe over here," James said. "It's strange, you see someone every day and don't ask for a name."

Future of Policing: More Security Guards and Fewer Cops

An article in Law Officer.com by Keith  Lavery

"Strike breaking, executive protection, loss prevention, technical and physical security have been services historically provided by private security contractors. However, some cash strapped communities today are looking to private security companies again to help police their cities."

http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/columns/Lavery/future_policing.html;jsessionid=E9FF59675E01648BDDEEFC08AC5C8EA3

Shopping mall security guard beaten

From Recordnet.com

STOCKTON – A 19-year-old security guard at a Stockton shopping mall was punched and kicked when he tried to detain other teens who had been in a fight near one of the stores.

The security guard at Weberstown Mall in the 4900 block of Claremont Avenue found a group of teens in the parking lot there, according to a Stockton police report, and tried to detain a member of the group

An 18-year-old man then got out of a gold Dodge Neon and punched the security guard in the head, according to the report. Three females 16 to 18 years old and a male who was 16 to 18 years old approached the guard and also punched and kicked the guard several times.

The man who had left the Neon then retrieved a plastic baton and hit the guard in the head, knocking him to the ground. The attackers left in the Neon and a black Honda.

There was not detailed description of the attackers.

The security guard was taken to Dameron Hospital for treatment.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Stockton Police Department at (209) 937-8377.

Security Guard Shoots Bandit, Trio Leads Car Chase

From CBS2.com

LOS ANGELES--A security guard shot one of three robbers in South Los Angeles, police said Saturday.
Three men were robbing a pedestrian at Broadway and 48th Street about 10:30 p.m. Friday, when a security guard who saw the crime confronted the bandits, Los Angeles police Sgt. Guillermo Perez said.
The security guard then fired a shot, wounding one of the suspects as the trio fled in a vehicle, Perez said.
Police responded and chased the vehicle, stopping the suspects about 11 p.m., he said.
The bandit who had been shot was taken to California Hospital Medical Center, where he was said to have stable vital signs, Perez said.
The other two men were arrested, he said.
Detectives were working to link the men to another robbery that occurred about 6:30 p.m. in another LAPD patrol area, Perez said. Details of that holdup were unavailable.

Rubber Slapper

Police Batons, What Type is Best for Duty Use?

I was just communicating with a friend about which baton to purchase for duty use as a security officer.  I decided that I can further voice my opinions and baton reviews here for more people to ignore.  Hopefully this is a start of private security product reviews that I will to expand upon in future posts.

First a small look into my background and why I feel I am entitled to share my opinion about police batons:  I have had training in baton use while in the US Navy, at the Riverside County Sheriffs and the San Francisco Police Academy.  I am a certified baton instructor from ASP and Monadnock.  I am also a certified master baton instructor from G-tek.  Most importantly I have carried and used different batons while on duty to defend myself and in one case defend another security officer.

BSIS used to regulate the type of baton you could carry.  BSIS did away with this requirement and now only requires that you are certified in baton use and carry a permit with you while on duty.  There are two main baton designs, the straight baton and the side handle.  I have seen other baton designs such as the Handler 12 and the Rapid Rotation Baton, but these are not that popular for private security use.

The straight stick baton

The straight stick is self explanatory; it’s the oldest and simplest baton design.  They are often made of hardwood, but in modern times are available in other materials such as aluminum, acrylic, or plastic.  The major benefit of these batons is low cost; I have seen wooden straight stick batons on sale for less than $10.  Another benefit is that the tactics required to use this type of baton are simple and easy to use in combat.  Use of a straight stick is reliant upon gross motor skills and the officer only has to commit to memory certain no-strike zones.  Remember a baton can be considered a deadly weapon if used as such.

The side handle baton (PR-24)

The side handle baton was introduced to the American law enforcement community in 1958 by a former US Marine.  The side handle baton is a baton with a handle attached at a 90-degree angle near the gripping end.  The concept for the side handle baton was borrowed from the ancient Okinawans who used a similar side-handle stick called the tonfa.  One of the first and largest suppliers of these batons was Monadnock and the model was the PR-24.  The model number stuck and is now used to reference most side handle batons.

There are advantages of the side handle baton over the straight baton:  Some officers may be able to deliver a strike of greater power when used in conjunction with certain techniques.  There are a far greater number of defensive maneuvers and take-downs that may be used.  If the side handle baton is dropped, it shouldn’t roll around on the floor and end up a tripping hazard.

I recommend the straight baton over the side handle for one main reason, the techniques and tactics to use the side handle are complex and hard to remember without regular practice.  Do you remember the last time you practiced with your baton against an aggressor?  In my experience when the adrenaline is pumping and the fight is on, the side handle baton gets used more often like a club.  This is exactly what got the LA police officers in trouble during the Rodney King beating.  Another disadvantage is the extra bulk on the duty belt.  There are collapsible PR-24 batons of good quality, but only decrease about six inches of baton length and are not much help in reducing bulk.

A note on collapsible straight batons

A collapsible baton is easier for an officer to carry and to sit in a car wearing it. This is contrasted with non-collapsible batons, which the Officer may, as a measure of convenience, often resort to removing from his or her belt when seating themselves in a vehicle.  What good is a baton if it’s left in the car when you need it?  The main problem with most collapsible batons is the light weight of the baton.  This translates to less power during impact.  Don’t get me wrong, these steel batons sting like a mo-fo, but they lack the impact power of a traditional straight stick.  Because of this lack of power the officer may have to make multiple strikes to gain compliance.  There are some new collapsible batons introduced to the market that are thicker and heaver than the popular ASP and Monadnock models.

I hope to post detailed product reviews in the future.  If you have an opinion please feel free to email me or leave a comment on the blog.  Thanks and stay safe!

7 Security Companies in 2 Months Get Fined by BSIS

Just in the months of February and March of this year, seven security companies were cited by BSIS for having employees without proper security registration.  In all but one of these violations the fine was $5000 or more.  It looks as though BSIS is finally doing their part to professionalize our industry.  I only hope that our governor fulfills his promise and hires even more BSIS investigators.

The following is a list of the companies that received fines for skimping on employee registrations for the months of Feb. and Mar. 2008:

• Knight Shield
• United Protective Services
• Veteran Security
• Venco Security Patrol Service
• RJ Security Services, Inc.
• VSP Private Security Agency
• Cinema Security

Lawsuits target how companies pay trailer security guards

From the Press Enterprise

A handful of Southern California companies that provide security guards for construction sites all over the state have been hit with several lawsuits and citations claiming they routinely underpay their guards and limit their freedoms.
The guards work in trailers equipped with devices that alert them when alarms on the job site go off. These trailer guards typically work from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., but they are considered on call from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. All other types of security guards work straight hours.
Security companies say guards can do whatever they want during their on-call hours, and should be paid only if they respond to an incident. But critics say guards' freedoms are severely restricted, and, thus, they should be paid for the entire on-call period.

"They can't be with their families, they can't go to the movies, they have to stay in the trailer," said Joel Bander, a lawyer involved in some of the lawsuits. "It is nothing more than a ruse to avoid paying wages."
Even if guards sleep during their on-call hours, they are still working, Bender contends. He used the analogy of two detectives staking out a house: One sleeps while the other keeps watch. "Even if there is down time on the job that allows sleeping ... they are still 'on the job.' "
Gardena-based Construction Protective Services is the target of two pending lawsuits, including a class-action suit, and has settled at least two others.
Company officials insist guards can leave their job sites during on-call hours. The guard just has to call a dispatcher so a replacement can be found.

Security Officer Shot Outside San Diego Nightclub

NBC San Diego

SAN DIEGO -- A security guard was shot in the neck outside a downtown nightclub early Friday when he tried to break up a fight, police said.
The shooting happened at about 1:15 a.m. outside the Static Lounge at 634 Broadway near 6th Avenue.
"There were a lot of people on the street, a number of rounds were fired," said Lt. Ken Hubbs from the San Diego Police Department. "Only one person was wounded."
The guard was taken to a hospital for treatment. His injuries were not life threatening, police said.

Security Officer kills man in Carson after gang fight

ABC 7 News

CARSON- A gunfight between rival gangs at a Carson festival ended with one man dead and three others injured, police said.
Dozens had gathered at Victoria County Park for a Samoan Flag Day festival when shots were fired just after 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Investigators said one of the suspects fired into the crowd. Three bystanders were wounded, including a 10-year-old boy. The other two were a man and a woman. Their injuries were reported as not life threatening.
A security guard exchanged gunfire with one of the suspects, killing him.

The city of Los Angeles must rebid $7 million in security contracts

Los Angeles Daily News

The city of Los Angeles must rebid $7 million in security contracts after a judge found that the city violated its own competitive-bidding laws.
National security giant Wackenhut Corp. sued the city last year, saying a prominent labor union used its ties to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to derail the company's bid for a multimillion-dollar security-guard contract. The Mayor's Office and city staffers denied any undue influence by the Service Employees International Union. Last month, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge decided that L.A. didn't follow its own contracting rules, and ordered the city to redo contracts for security guards at the Griffith Park Observatory, police dispatch and other city buildings. The ruling didn't address the company's allegations of discrimination or bias. The court decision likely won't have an impact on security at public facilities. Still, the fight over city security contracts continues as part of a national campaign by the SEIU to unionize security guards at Wackenhut. Today, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is considering renewing a temporary contract for Wackenhut security guards, after the SEIU challenged that $133,000-a-month contract to guard DWP facilities. The SEIU has sought to unionize security guards in Los Angeles and in other cities, and has targeted Wackenhut.