Security Officer Mini Training Camp www.privateofficer.com

SECURITY OFFICER MINI TRAINING CAMP http://www.privateofficer.com

Atlanta Ga. May 20 2008

Security Officer Mini Training Camp
Part Three of Five Part Series

USE OF FORCE LEVEL OF FORCE

Whenever a security officer puts on his uniform, gun and badge, he or she faces the same level of threat as their counterparts, the police.
Security officers assigned to high risk areas such as shopping malls, bars or taverns, patrol duty or bodyguard work are constantly in contact with the general public and as a result they are often faced with the split second decisions of using force.
Disturbances, fights, robberies, assaults and even murder or the attempted murder may occur at any time while the officer is on duty. It is therefore essential that the officer be well prepared and properly trained on the use of force. No two incidents will be the same and therefore no two types of force can be used.

The law is somewhat different when dealing with security personnel as opposed to sworn law enforcement officers. When a security officer uses any level of force, the investigating police agency is going to consider whether or not:

(1) Was force of any type necessary; (2) Was the force reasonable; (3) Does the level of force meet the state statue requirements of defending yourself or acting prudently.

How can you be absolutely sure that you should use force, or what force should be used?? If you use force, will you be in trouble, arrested or even imprisoned?

Here are some guidelines to help you make those split-second decisions.

There are two types of force. Non-Lethal and Deadly Force. You must know when to use each!

1. At all times, you must ONLY use reasonable force. Enough force to overcome the force coming against you.

Example 1: A man threatens to stab you but you see no knife. You shoot him anyways. This is unreasonable force!

Example 2; You are attempting to detain a suspect in a burglary and he is fighting you so you use pepper spray to subdue him. This is reasonable force!

2. Deadly Force….is used as a final and last resort. Although in most situations you have virtually less than a second to makethat decision. Shoot or don’t shoot…..You must know when to pull the trigger! Once you do, there’s no taking the bullet
back, no saying “oops it was a mistake”, “I’m sorry”. NO SECOND CHANCE!

The Rule Of Thumb: Use of deadly force is allowed to protect your life or the life of someone else….PERIOD!….You CANNOT shoot someone for property crimes, shoplifting, breaking into a car, or stealing. You cannot shoot someone just to prevent
them from escaping or getting away.

Remember that this is not the movies, it’s real life. You MUST act reasonable and prudent in all situations!

There may be times when you will find it hard to know just what level of force to use But that’s where training and education will kick in.

In recent months, numerous security officers have been involved in deadly force incidents. Some were justified and some were not.
Here are three situations, similar to those that have recently taken place. Take time to ponder them and determine if you would Shoot or Don’t Shoot.

A- While on foot patrol of an apartment, a car speeds by and someone fires 3-4 rounds toward you. You’re not injured and you chase the car as it exits onto the street and sppeds away. You run after it and have your gun out.
SHOOT DON’T SHOOT

B. You and a driver of a vehicle that is illegally parked at a shopping mall have a few words and he slams his car in drive and backs away in a reckless manner. Then he speeds around the parking lot and comes toward you.
SHOOT DON’T SHOOT

C. Stationed at a factory post, you are inside an office area when someone shoots into the office window. You can’t see anyone but you know they must be out there.
SHOOT DON’T SHOOT

Have you thought about each situation and placed yourself there, on the scene as the security officer?
What would you do faced with each situation? Are they life threatning enough to shoot or don’t shoott shoot?

The correct response in all three examples is don’t shoot!

The reason is simple, you are not in driect danger.
In example one, the car left the property after shooting and you no longer are in danger at this moment.

In this example, a security officer in Birmingham Alabama ran after the car, fired several shots and killed a man in the back seat. He was charged with and found guilty of manslaughter and is in prison today.

In the second example, the car may be heading toward you, but it is your duty to move to avoid being struck. A situation in Memphis Tennessee that was similar to the example coast the driver his life and the security officer sent to prison.

Again, in example three, it is don’t shoot because even though someone fired shots into the building, you can’t see who it was. Should you recklessly and nlindly fire outside you could strike an innocent person.
As with hunting, you NEVER fire unless you have a clear sighting of your target.

LEVELS OF FORCE

HAND-TO-HAND – Hand to hand combat should be used to defend yourself from whoever has assaulted you, or someone that you are assigned to protect, when the offender is of similar statue and is unarmed. Only enough force should be used to either ward off or detain the suspect. If excessive punching, kicking or assault occurs the security officer may be charged.

CHEMICAL SPRAYS- Pepper or mace chemical sprays are the next level of force. These sprays should be used as a secondary level of defense to either defend you or detain a suspect. Spraying a person or a crowd just because they are cursing or threatening or refuse to move IS NOT allowed! You must always use any level of force with great care!

IMPACT WEAPONS – Batons, nightsticks, ASP’s, PR-24’s are all types of impact weapons. These weapons are designed to be used to strike and jab your opponent inflicting pain and damage and may be life threatening. When using these weapons keep the strikes limited to arms, legs and torso. Not the head! Use these impact weapons only when hand to hand combat
and chemical sprays have not stopped the suspect.

HANDGUNS – Deadly Force is the last and least desirable level of force in any incident, but sometimes it’s the only force that can be used. Warning shots should never be fired. If you must pull your weapon, be ready to shoot. The use of deadly force should only be applied when the suspect is armed with a deadly weapon such as a knife, baseball bat, handgun or rifle and
has made threats verbal or through physical actions to use these weapons to harm or kill you, or someone else.

Should you have any questions, suggestions or comments, email rick@privateofficer.com

College student jailed over HOV ticket www.privateofficer.com

College student jailed over HOV ticket http://www.privateofficer.com

ATLANTA GA. May 20 2008 College student Casey Metcalf received a citation for riding alone in an HOV lane. She said she had no idea it was one. When she didn’t have all the money to pay the fine, she had no idea she’d end up in jail.
“I was in shock. I was in complete shock,” said Metcalf.
Metcalf was in shock when in less than 45 seconds, Atlanta Municipal Court Judge Elaine Carlisle sentenced her to five days in jail. Her offense? Not having the money to pay an HOV lane violation fine.
“I just thought it was awful and completely ridiculous that I was going to jail for this,” said Metcalf.
The courtroom video showed Judge Carlisle first sentencing Metcalf to a year in jail.
After Metcalf pleaded guilty to driving in the HOV lane as a single occupant, the judge said, “The prosecuting attorney is recommending a baseline of $75 and with all of the state required surcharges that actually comes to a fine $119.25. I’m imposing 1 year in jail, which will be suspended upon payment of the fine. Are you prepared to pay the fine in full immediately?”
Metcalf said no. The judge then asked her if she was employed and Metcalf responds in court, “I’m a graduating senior in college.” That’s when Judge Carlisle says, “OK. Then unfortunately I can’t place you in the probation program. I’m going to impose five days in jail. Someone will have to pay that for you before you can be released. You need to step over here.”
Metcalf spent about six hours in jail until her sister paid the fine. What Metcalf didn’t know is the judge had no right to put her in jail.
“That was an illegal sentence,” said attorney Mazi Mazloom. Mazloom said the law is clear. A $75 fine is the maximum punishment for a first offense HOV violation. “Not five days. Not five minutes. Not five seconds in jail,” said Mazloom.
Atlanta’s solicitor general agrees Metcalf shouldn’t have been locked up.
“I can’t explain it. The statute clearly says for a first offence, $75,” said Atlanta Solicitor General Raines Carter.
Channel 2’s Tom Jones reached Judge Carlisle by phone. She didn’t want to talk on camera and told him our camera wasn’t allowed in her courtroom. She did admit she never should have sentenced Metcalf to jail time when she couldn’t pay her fine.
Carlisle told Jones she misinterpreted the law and didn’t realize the violation is a fine-only offense.
“I don’t want an HOV lane arrest on my record,” said Carlisle.
The college senior said she wonders how a judge could make such a mistake. “I think it’s appalling,” said Metcalf. “I have no idea how many other people this has happened to.”
A motion has been filed to set aside Metcalf’s conviction and get it off her record. No court date has been set yet.

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Young teachers cross lines with students www.privateofficer.com

Young teachers cross lines with students http://www.privateofficer.com

from The Tennessean.com

WASHINGTON DC May 20 2008 It’s almost like Googling someone. Log onto Facebook. Join a geographical network. Search the Web site for your favorite school system. And then watch the public profiles of 20-something teachers, unfurl like gift wrap on the screen, revealing a sense of humor that can be overtly sarcastic or unintentionally unprofessional — or both.
One suburban special education teacher displayed a poster that depicts talking sperm and invokes a slang term for oral sex. A Washington, D.C., public schools educator offered this tip on her page: “Teaching in DCPS — Lesson #1: Don’t smoke crack while pregnant.”
These are not teenagers. These are adults, many in their 20s, who are behaving, for the most part, like young adults.
But the crudeness of some Facebook or MySpace teacher profiles prompts questions emblematic of our times. Do the risque pages matter if teacher performance is not hindered and if students, parents and school officials don’t see them? At what point are these young teachers judged by the standards for public officials?
Some push limits
In states including Tennessee, Florida, Colorado and Massachusetts, teachers have been removed or suspended for MySpace postings, and some teachers unions have begun warning members about racy personal Web sites. But as Facebook, with 70 million members, and other social networking sites continue to grow, scrutiny will no doubt spread locally.
The probation terms of the former Warren County grade school teacher, Pamela J. Rogers, accused of sleeping with a student required her to stay off the Internet and have no contact with the boy or his family.
But Rogers, 28, managed to violate both provisions by starting a suggestive Web page on which she posted pictures of herself in a bikini and called the boy her hero and told him nothing had changed, authorities allege.
Her page on the teen-centered Web site MySpace.com implied that she would wait until the boy had reached the state’s age of consent in three years, according to court papers and District Attorney General Dale Potter.
Is youth an excuse?
The annals of teachers gone wild on the Web include once-anonymous people who’ve done something outlandish with a blog or online video, such as Virginia high school art teacher Stephen Murmer, fired last year for painting canvases with his buttocks in images on YouTube.
Many of the tens of thousands of Washington-area teachers put social networking sites or personal Web pages to constructive uses. Others push the limits.
Substitute teacher Erin Jane Webster, 22, keeps a page similar to other teachers’ pages. Portions are professional, but some parts suggest the author is in the throes of sorority rush.
Under a “Work Info” heading, the page reads, “Employer: Prince William County (Va.) Schools. Location: Parkside Middle School Language Arts Teacher,” and lists her college and high school.
But the page features multiple “bumper stickers,” including one that says: “you’re a retard, but i love you.”
Teensy problem: Webster teaches students with emotional and learning disabilities. In an interview, she acknowledged her use of “retard” could be misconstrued.
The word, generally considered offensive, circulates among some young people as acceptable derogatory slang.

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Jackson objects to police armed with rifles www.privateofficer.com

.Jackson objects to police being armed with rifles http://www.privateofficer.com

CHICAGO IL. May 20 2008 Renewing a call to ban assault weapons nationwide, the Rev. Jesse Jackson objected Saturday to the Chicago Police Department’s plan to arm officers with combat rifles.
“These weapons, they’re only used to kill people,” Jackson said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Jackson, a longtime advocate for gun control, said giving officers M4 carbines will “intensify violence” and create more tension between citizens and law enforcement officers.
Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis recently announced that approximately 13,000 police officers be equipped and trained to use M4 carbines, a short assault rifle used by Chicago police SWAT team members.
Weis has said the weapons will help ensure officers can better match the fire power of street gangs.
But Jackson said Chicago residents, particularly youth, need more “summer jobs, summer school and summer recreation” instead of guns.
“I can understand police feel outgunned and out armed by gangs, but that is why we need a ban on assault weapons,” he said. “The killings coming from these weapons happen to be Northern Illinois University, Columbine and Virginia Tech.”
Jackson, founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, called for stricter background checks and restricting gun manufacturers, among other things. He said he planned to continue meeting with city officials to lobby his cause.
Chicago police defended the plan to arm officers with semiautomatic assault rifles.
“Banning assault weapons is common sense gun legislation that we support,” said Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “But we must also ensure that our police officers are safe, because when they are safe, the communities they protect are even safer.”
While Chicago ended 2007 with the lowest number of homicides in 40 years, the past months have shown a spike in shooting deaths and violence, including a weekend in April when 36 people were shot.
The city recorded 134 homicides January through April, a 9 percent jump compared to 2007, when 123 homicides were recorded in those same months. Overall, violent crime also saw an uptick. It was up 6.1 percent during the first four months of the year compared to the same time period in 2007.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, a longtime advocate of gun control, has supported the department’s plan to arm officers with combat rifles.

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Shoplifter arrested for assault on security agent www.privateofficer.com

Boston police nab shoplifter after assault of security agent http://www.privateofficer.com

Boston Ma. May 20 2008

Last night around 9:24pm, officers from District C-11 (Dorchester) responded to 130 Bowdoin St. in Dorchester for a fight in progress.
On arrival, officers observed numerous items strewn on the floor of the front door of the Walgreen’s. Officers spoke to the store security guard who told officers that he earlier stopped a young male who had shoplifted from the store before he walked out of the door. The security guard reported that the shoplifting suspect left the area when he was confronted but left his backpack, which contained an I-Pod and some personal papers behind. The backpack was recovered by the security guard and brought back to the store.
The suspect later returned to the store to get his backpack and when the security guard attempted to talk to him about the earlier incident he assaulted the security guard, and attempted to grab his firearm. The suspect was unsuccessful in his attempt to get his backpack and fled the store. The incident was however captured on video and during viewing of the video, members the Bowdoin Street Safe Street Team recognized the suspect and identified him as a young male who lived in the area.
Officers responded to the suspect’s house in attempt to arrest him but were unsuccessful in gaining access to the suspect’s house and recovered the bag and took it back to the station to log it into evidence. While officers were writing this report, the suspect confronted officers from the Safe Street Team about his bag. Officers then placed a 16-year old juvenile from Dorchester under arrest and charged him Assault and Battery for assaulting the security guard and Shoplifting.

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Two found guilty in security officer murder www.privateofficer.com

CORAL GABLES, Fla. May 20 2008 A jury convicted two men on Friday in the murder of a Mayor’s jewelry store security guard five years ago.
The last two men accused in the killing of 56-year-old security guard Luis Brito on Jan. 13, 2003, learned their fate five years after the robbery and shooting.
“We the jury find…the defendant is guilty of first-degree murder as charged,” the jury foreman

A jury found that Ehren Witt and Milton Hall were responsible for Brito’s death. The victim’s daughter was seen in the courtroom wiping away tears after the verdict was read.
The security guard’s final moments were seen on surveillance video at the Merritt Park Mayor’s jewelry store in Coral Gables.
Cameras caught Witt and Hall robbing the jewelry store with guns, and subsequently shooting Brito. The pair’s convicted getaway driver and lookout man, Shird Myrick and Andre Williams, were outside.
Myrick and Williams both received life sentences.
Outside the courtroom, the defendants’ families had no comment. However, Witt and Hall’s attorney said she believes her clients should not have been convicted because the DNA was flawed.
“I don’t believe that a match was made,” defense attorney Ree Sheren said. “So we’ll appeal that issue.”
While the assistant state attorney said she was satisfied with the ruling, she said their work is far from over.
“Thank you very much, but we’re going to continue on,” assistant state attorney Gail Levine said. “We have a penalty phase that’s coming up, and we’re going to concentrate on that.”

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