Interested members should submit their articles in a word document and email them as an attachment to Sandi J. Davies at sandiifpo@earthlink.net.

BOSTON—Battery Ventures will acquire video surveillance and PSIM provider NICE for $100 million. Battery Ventures' Jesse Feldman talks to Security Systems News about how Battery will use the business as a platform for growth, and Battery's interest in possibly acquiring access control capabilities. Learn more details about Battery's plan and who will lead the new business.

Security Supervision and Management

KEY FEATURES

• Core text for completing the Security Supervision and Management Program/Certified in Security Supervision and Management (CSSM) designation offered by the Foundation.
• Contributions from more than 50 experienced security professionals in a single volume.
• Completely updated to reflect the latest procedural and technological changes in the security industry.
• Conforms to ANSI/ASIS standards.
• Offers expanded international coverage, including best practices from around the globe.

Click here for more information and to download the flyer

Tom M. Conley

Mr. Conley has been designated a Certified Protection Professional (CPP), by ASIS International, has been designated as a Certified Anti-terrorism Specialist (CAS), a Certified Master Anti-terrorism Specialist (CMAS) and a Certified Maritime Security Manager (CAS-MSM) by the Anti-Terrorism Accreditation Board, has been designated as a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, has been designated as both a Certified Protection Officer (CPO) and a Certified Protection Officer Instructor (CPOI) by the International Foundation for Protection Officers, has been designated a Certified Private Investigator (CPI) by the Academy of Private Investigators, has been Certified in Homeland Security – Level III (CHS-III) by The American Board for Certification in Homeland Security, and has been designated a Certified Fraud Investigator (CFI) by the International Academy of Investigative Professionals. He is also a graduate of Executive Security International, a highly regarded executive protection academy, where he became certified as an Executive Security Specialist. He is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), has earned a bona fide Black Belt in Karate, and is a certified expert with the handgun and rifle.

Mr. Conley has earned a Master of Arts Degree in Business Leadership with an emphasis in Quality Management from Upper Iowa University, where he graduated with a 4.0 GPA. He also earned two undergraduate degrees from Upper Iowa University; a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. He graduated with honors from both degree programs. He is a graduate of the Management Certification Program at Drake University.

Under his leadership and during his nearly 40 years of experience in the private security and investigative professions, he has provided services to Amoco Oil Company, General Electric Corporation, Principal Financial Group, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the State of Iowa, NBC Television, the Des Moines International Airport, the Des Moines Skywalk, the United States Federal Aviation Administration, Union Pacific Railroad, Federal Express Corporation, and ConAgra, Inc., just to name a few. The Conley Group, Inc. is well known for their high level of organizational professionalism, their consistent ability to effectively deal with difficult security challenges and their ability to effectively manage demanding assignments.

"Know your audience" is a cardinal rule in business that is often repeated, sometimes heeded, and often deeply regretted when it is ignored. In business, not knowing who your customers are can result in loss of revenue or advertisers. As unfortunate as these instances are, the consequences are not nearly as serious as when developing training for the security industry. Not knowing what roles the officers fill or what tasks they perform can result in injury, loss of data and property, a breach of national security and even death if they are not properly trained for what they do.

The need for current job delineation research for the security industry has never been greater, as the market for qualified security officers continues to grow and the roles expand.

Private security officers already outnumber public law enforcement officers, some estimates say by as much as 4 to 1 or more. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the need for private security officers will continue to increase as they increasingly perform duties that were once handled by public law enforcement.

Read the full article

Thirty percent of mass killings appeared to have been inspired by a past mass killing, according to research findings published in the July 2 edition of journal PLOS ONE.

Extensive media coverage of a horrific shooting can be the tipping point for overstressed employees, jealous domestic partners, vengeful ex-employees, and unstable customers.

It’s time to eradicate the fatal flaw in your active shooter response. Read the full article

Don't Become a Victim of Summertime Crime

Washington, D.C. (August 17, 2015) – As the number of days left of summer decrease, household property crime does not. The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), and AlertID are working together to provide important safety tips to make the rest of your summer safe and enjoyable.

"Summer is the perfect time for a family break, but criminals don’t take a summer break," said NCPC’s CEO, Ann M. Harkins.  "You can avoid becoming a victim to lurking property predators by staying alert and following a few basic prevention measures."

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, – "Household property crimes exhibited a pattern of seasonal fluctuations from 1993 to 2010. The most common pattern for household property crimes was that victimization occurred at higher rates during the summer than during other seasons."  NCPC and AlertID have collaborated to bring to the public the McGruff Mobile app, which delivers critical public safety information to users through alerts on their mobile devices and computers.

"By taking preventative measures to safeguard your home before leaving for vacation, you can relax and have peace of mind while away," said AlertID Founder, Keli Wilson. "With the McGruff Mobile app, you’ll be able to stay informed and have the information at your fingertips to protect your family wherever you travel".

Home Safety Tips

• Be aware of what’s happening in the neighborhood: Download the McGruff Mobile to stay up-to-date regarding home and vehicle burglaries near your home. Receive and share information on the virtual neighborhood watch about suspicious activity in your neighborhood and receive alerts when you are away.
• Lock your doors, including the garage door. Unlocked doors are open invitations to intruders.
• Ask a trusted family member, friend, or neighbor to keep a watchful eye on your home or have your mail held at the local post office until your return.
• Put lights on timers to give the impression that someone is home.
• Don’t post on social media that you are leaving town, and wait post photos after you return from your trip.

Vacation Tips

• Lock your room and remember not to give out your room number or invite strangers into your hotel room.
• Be friendly but be vigilant. Watch for and report any suspicious behavior.
• Plan your route – stay within well-traveled routes and walk in groups.  There’s safety in numbers.
• Keep your belongings secure - Purses should be securely closed, backpacks are zipped, and wallets are kept in your front pocket. When dining in restaurants do not hang your purse or backpack on the back of your chair.

Tips for Parents

• Be proactive – make a backup plan in case the group gets separated during a family outing and have a scheduled meeting place and time.
• If your child or teen will be alone a significant amount of time, have him/her check in with you if they plan to leave the house and when they arrive back home.
• Monitor Internet and social media activity to establish children and teens are visiting appropriate sites and following guidelines.

Car Safety Tips

• Always lock your doors and roll up your windows when you leave your car.
• Do not leave valuables in the car.  If you must leave prized possessions in your vehicle keep them out of sight or hidden in the trunk.
• Before you get into your car, check the backseat and around the car.  Lock your doors once inside the car.

These prevention tips are simple steps to avoiding summertime crime. If you would like more information, please visit www.ncpc.org. To get the free McGruff Mobile App, download for free on iTunes or Google Play.

About the National Crime Prevention Council
The National Crime Prevention Council is the nonprofit leader in crime prevention. For more than 30 years, our symbol of safety, McGruff the Crime Dog®, has delivered easy-to-use crime prevention tips that protect what matters most—you, your family, and your community. Since 1982, NCPC has continuously provided the American public with comprehensive educational materials, training programs, and effective crime prevention messaging, delivered in large part through its vast network of more than 4,600 state and local law enforcement agencies, crime prevention associations, community groups, foundations, and corporate partners.  For more information on how NCPC can be a public safety expert for you or how to "Take A Bite Out of Crime®," visit www.ncpc.org.

About AlertID
AlertID, the neighborhood safety network, is free to use and helps protect families and neighborhoods. AlertID's mission is to help people live safely by providing a secure way to receive trusted public safety alerts and share information with family members and neighbors. AlertID uses technology to help citizens and federal, state and local authorities share information about crime, sex offenders, natural disasters, missing children and severe weather that can threaten public safety. AlertID is accessible to members online as well as by email and mobile app. For more information visit www.AlertID.com.

1. The practice of security awareness operates best when a reasonable plan is put together with policies and procedures that support a comprehensive team concept.

a. True.
b. False.

2. When we talk about "security awareness," we are talking about which of the following?

a. The need to focus attention on security throughout the organization.
b. The establishment of links with external professionals to instill a sense of partnership through interactive activities.
c. The orientation of all employees, at the time of hiring, to the policies and procedures of the company relative to safety and security.
d. All the above.

3. Double loop communication is which of the following?

a. "Stove-pipe" communications.
b. Top-down/Bottom-up communications.
c. Top–down only communications.
d. Horizontal communications and "Grapevine" communications.

4. Argus and Schon, in 1978, developed a theory known as the "double loop learning" model. With this double loop communication in an organization, all employees can experience which of the following?

a. Becoming harder workers because they will know how to do their jobs better.
b. Becoming more loyal to their unions for union participation in the communications process.
c. Becoming stakeholders who have a vested interest in the success of the security awareness effort.
d. Becoming more dependent on their employers and therefore reducing turnover and increasing company profits.

5. Repetition of the security awareness message will breed familiarity and complacency with the message. Employees would begin to ignore the messages and therefore repetition of the security awareness message through the use of posters, emails, and newsletters would be counter-productive and not a good idea.

a. True.
b. False.

6. Security awareness meetings should be held with all departments every quarter.

a. True.
b. False.

7. Security department managers should reach out to available resources provided by professional groups when setting policies and procedures regarding safety and security awareness. Which of the following is one of those groups?

a. IFPO.
b. ASIS.
c. All the above.
d. None of the above.

Answers: 1. True, 2. D, 3. B, 4. C, 5. False, 6. True, 7. C