Archive for April, 2015

New security management degrees designed to address complexities of business risk and crime prevention

PHOENIX, April 30, 2015 – The U.S. security industry is a $410 billion annual market, with millions of jobs that span nearly every sector of the global economy[1], according to data from ASIS International. Demand and interest in this field are aligned as 42 percent of working adults have some level of interest in security-related careers or have worked in security, law enforcement or other criminal justice-related fields.[2] University of Phoenix® College of Security and Criminal Justice today introduced two new degree programs in security management designed to meet the demands of this expanding industry by providing aspiring professionals with advanced training. To emphasize the importance of the security industry alignment, the College also changed its name.

“The increasing complexity in the security industry has resulted in expanding demands for educated professionals,” said Spider Marks, executive dean of University of Phoenix College of Security and Criminal Justice. “University of Phoenix is working closely with industry leaders to ensure our students are trained to meet the demands and challenges of the modern security industry. The curriculum is aligned with industry standards and is designed to equip job seekers with the education needed to pursue a position in the security field. Changing our name sends a strong message to the industry that we’re committed to the security space.”

The Associate of Arts in Security Management will prepare students to work in loss prevention and asset protection, specifically in the retail industry. Potential jobs include surveillance, investigation, loss prevention and asset protection. Nationally, organized retail crime alone costs the industry $30 billion annually[1], making these positions critical components to supporting and protecting the U.S. economy.

The Bachelor of Science in Security Management will train students in risk mitigation and crisis management applicable across multiple industries, including energy, manufacturing, hospitality and gaming. This degree will prepare students for jobs in risk assessment, risk mitigation, crisis management and continuity planning.


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THE ARMY IS TESTING HANDHELD RAY GUNS

Pew! Pew! Soldiers with handheld energy blasters are the stuff of G.I. Joe, not real life … until now. The U.S Army is currently testing electricity guns for possible use against electronics on the battlefield.

They don’t look like props from the popular cartoon show but, rather like regular standard-issue M4 rifles with a pair of antennas that shoot out from the barrel and then spread, giving the front end of the gun a musket-like shape.

Soldiers “already carry rifles. Why not use something that every soldier already carries,” said James E. Burke, an electronics engineer with the U.S.Army’s Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, or ARDEC. Burke spoke with Defense One at a National Defense Industry Association event in Baltimore on Tuesday.

Burke’s apparatus, which he’s named the “Burke Pulser,” consists of two wide antennas, a piezoelectric generator and a few other small bits and pieces. It has a blast shield to protect the user from electricity levels that the inventor describes as “hazardous.”

The Pulser takes the explosive energy released when the gun fires and converts it into pulses of electrical energy. This is done via the piezoelectric effect, which derives an electric charge when pressure is exerted on crystalline materials such as quartz, changing the balance of positive and negative ions.

The Pulser isn’t the first electricity gun ever invented. One of the more interesting prototypes that have emerged over the last several years came from, Seattle-based hacker Rob Flickenger, who cast a Nerf gun in aluminum and rigged it to shoot 20,000 volts of electricity a short distance.

The military, too, has been experimenting with so-called energy weapons for decades, including lasers. “Most of these are vehicle-towed and require a huge power system,” Burke noted. “The antennas are sometimes seven feet.” The Burke Pulser, meanwhile, fits onto an M4 rifle like a standard suppressor. Burke estimates that the cost to mass-produce them would be less than $1,000 each.

What do you do with an energy gun? You don’t shoot people. The gun is intended for use against electronics, potentially giving dismounted soldiers an edge against the ever-wider range electronic and cyber threats that they might face on patrol:Bluetooth-enabled improvised explosive devices, consumer drones modified to be more deadly, and the like.

The Army is currently testing the Pulser against an assortment of devices, a 555 timer, a bipolar junction transistor and a yellow light emitting diode, or LED, combined into a single target. “All these things pretty much generalize all the common electronics you’ll find in a circuit board,” Burke said.“What we’re going to do is fire at it. If the LED light stops blinking, it was defeated and if smoke comes up, it was destroyed.”

As for the range, “we’re still investigating,” said Burke The capabilities measured so far “turn classified very quickly.” He couldn’t go into detail about how the tests were progressing, but he called them “very promising.”


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Fifteen new Aviation Security Officers and Passenger Screeners have successfully met the “Post-September 11th” international requirements that are designed to protect travelers, moving within the nation’s borders and throughout a chain of Bahamian airports.

“A safe airport environment is the economic lifeblood of an archipelagic nation, such as The Bahamas. Our numerous airports and ports of entry require that we not only secure these facilities, but also that our citizens and visitors arrive and depart from safe airports,” said Lorraine Armbrister, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation.

“Over the years, the regulatory framework and the security requirements for airports have changed. In some cases, the security regimes which you now follow, they have no resemblance to that which was experienced even 20 years ago.”

On April 24, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and the Airport Authority attended a graduation ceremony to congratulate and recognize the 2015 graduates at the New Providence Community Centre on Blake Road.

“As the threat and the nature of threats to civil aviation have evolved, so have the duties, required levels of training, and expertise of security screeners. Today, you are exposed to the most advanced, cutting-edge, security technology that money can buy because it is important that we safeguard our nation and its citizens. Additionally, we must do our part in complying with our international obligations,” said Mrs. Armbrister.

The 2015 graduates found an amusing way to laugh at the vulnerability of the Caribbean’s intimate cultural flaws, regarding identity and entitlement, as they performed a skit called “No Access”. In the skit, the actors depicted and acted out an all-too-familiar airport security scenario, of when a local traveler forgets his I.D.

Members of the graduation class, recognized were: Shavon Arthur, Krishna Campbell, Raquel Carroll, Tarnario Cooper, Neco Ferguson, Anthony Forbes, Mikhilo Forbes, Samuel Fox, Ricardo Knowles, Angelo Lamm, Andrew Pennerman, Derrick Williams, Jarrod Williams, Kassim Williams, and Kish Williams.

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CINCINNATI — Cincinnati City Council’s Law and Public Safety Committee voted Monday to repeal a law that’s been on the books for decades that allows the city to hire private police officers.

After its fourth meeting on issue, which arose earlier this year after a Hamilton County prosecutor said he was not going to prosecute those arrested by private officers, the committee voted 3-1 to repeal it. Only Councilman Charlie Winburn voted against the repeal.

Since 1983, the city law has allowed Cincinnati’s police chief to grant specially-trained citizens full police powers, including the ability to make arrests. Businesses and organizations have used private officers — who receive Cincinnati police training — to provide security at various venues including the Ensemble Theater, the Regional Chamber of Commerce, Avondale Town Center and some apartment complexes.

There are two groups that employ the private officers: Cincinnati Special Police and the Cincinnati’s Private Police Association. Combined, they employ 10 people — seven of whom are commissioned officers.

The vote is expected go to council for a full vote on Wednesday.

At issue is concern raised by the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office that private officers do not receive adequate training and some have made erroneous errors on reports.

Hamilton County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Richard G. Gibson wrote a letter sent to the county’s clerk of courts in January outlining his concerns, which sparked the debate. In part the letter stated:

“We have recently had criminal complaints signed, and arrest and investigation reports completed by such officers which were legally erroneous, factually deficient, and almost completely unintelligible.”

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Haslam signs guns-in-parks bill

The governor signed the controversial guns-in-parks bill Friday morning.

Gov. Bill Haslam acknowledged he had initial concerns about the bill, but he approves of the latest version that passed the House and Senate.

“Overall I believe the legislation in its final form is a vast improvement from the bill as initially introduced,” Haslam wrote in a letter to Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and House Speaker Beth Harwell explaining his decision.

“However, I am concerned that an unintended consequence may be operational challenges for local leaders in managing their parks in a safe, effective and consistent manner, due to events and situations that could not have been anticipated in drafting this law.”

Haslam told reporters Thursday he’d reviewed the legislation and would take action soon.

The bill nixes any local bans on people with handgun permits taking their guns into parks.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean has outspokenly criticized the bill. Friday morning he said he didn’t know what the governor planned to do with the legislation.

“I was opposed to the bill, opposed to having guns in parks. And if that becomes the law in the state of Tennessee and our local option is taken away from us, we’ll have to follow the law,” Dean told reporters Friday.

Dean said he planned to work with the Metro legal department to better understand how the law could be enforced.

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An estimated 30 Ohio school districts include in their security plans guns that are locked in safes, ready to be used by trained staff in case an active shooter enters school grounds.

Sidney City Schools superintendent John Scheu firmly believes the move to improve security with more weapons, while controversial, is necessary in the wake of the tragic 2012 school shooting in Connecticut.

“Sandy Hook took us to an entirely different level in terms of taking a real serious look at what we are doing system-wide in our seven buildings to provide better security for our staff and for students,” Scheu said. “We decided to be proactive instead of reactive.”

While Sidney has added guns and training, the Springfield City School District has spent $1.6 million on security technology. Much of that went to new door-lock systems and high-definition video cameras. The cameras capture virtually every square inch of all 16 buildings in the district.

Superintendent David Estrop recently granted a tour of the Clark Pre-School building as parents dropped off their kids.

“We had to respond and we are continuing to have to respond, and I do not think it is one of those things where you ever say we have done enough,” Estrop said.
Mandy Crabtree, whose son attends Clark Pre-School, said she supports the move to add the new security.

“You always want to hear that they are making improvements in security, especially nowadays when you know what people are capable of,” she said. “It makes me happy and relieved that they are going to be watching out for my kids.”

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CHICAGO–The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today announced the expansion of Mobile Passport Control (MPC) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. MPC is the first authorized app to expedite a traveler’s arrival into the United States.

Eligible travelers submit their passport information and customs declaration form to CBP via a smartphone and tablet app prior to arrival. Android and iPhone users can download the Mobile Passport app for free from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

“On behalf of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the CDA is very pleased to partner with CBP to offer this innovative technology at our global gateway, O’Hare International Airport,” said Michael Boland, Acting Commissioner, CDA. “Mobile Passport Control is the latest of many new initiatives we have implemented at Chicago O’Hare that create a faster and more efficient CBP processing experience.”

“CBP is pleased to offer Mobile Passport Control as an option to expedite travelers’ entry into the United States at four of the country’s busiest international airports,” said Assistant Commissioner for Office of Field Operations Todd C. Owen. “CBP remains committed to making the international arrivals experience as traveler-friendly as possible through innovation and collaboration with stakeholders while maintaining the highest security standards.”

MPC currently offers U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors a more secure and efficient in-person inspection between the CBP officer and the traveler upon arrival in the United States. Much like Automated Passport Control (APC), the app does not require pre-approval, is free to use and does not collect any new information from travelers.

Travelers opting to use the app will no longer have to complete a paper customs declaration form and will have access to a designated MPC lane to clear customs instead of entering the traditional CBP processing lanes. As a result, travelers will experience shorter wait times, less congestion and faster processing.


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FRANKFORT, Ky. (WHAS11) – A Franklin County man who escaped a North Carolina prison in 1972 turned himself into Kentucky authorities Monday after being on the run for more than four decades.

Franklin County Sheriff Pat Melton confirmed Monday night the man who identified himself as Clarence David Moore is the same person identified by North Carolina Department of Public Safety records as escapee David Edward Moore.

Moore, 66, called the sheriff’s office around 4 p.m. to turn himself in, Melton said.

“I need to make this right and get through this,” the sheriff recalled Moore saying.

Melton said deputies took Moore to the Frankfort Regional Medical Center to be checked out before transferring him to the Franklin County Jail.

According to North Carolina Department of Public Safety prison records, Moore had been convicted of larceny in July 1967 and was 23 at the time of the reported escape from the former Polk Youth Institute in Butner, North Carolina on June 10, 1972.

The records show he was originally scheduled to be released from the facility June 1, 1978.

During his time on the run, Melton said, Moore was involved in a 2009 car accident in Franklin County but did not have any identification to verify his identity, allowing him to evade capture.

Melton said, as a result of now learning his true identity, deputies obtained a contempt of court arrest warrant in connection to that wreck.

Melton said Moore would be arraigned in court Tuesday morning. It’s unclear whether the existing escape charge would supersede the local charge.

“If he agrees to be extradited willingly, our extradition office will make arrangements to have him returned to NC to serve the remainder of his sentence,” North Carolina Department of Public Safety Spokesperson Keith Acree said in an email, “If he fights extradition, then a more complicated legal process begins to get him returned to NC.”

When calculated, there have been 15,654 days between Moore’s escape and capture.

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DESTIN, FL (WSFA) – A bale of cocaine worth $600,000 washed up on a beach in Destin, FL, over the weekend, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Beach safety personnel found the drugs in the surf behind a condominium complex on the Gulf of Mexico around 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

The 21 kilos of cocaine was packaged into bricks and labeled “Adidas,” according to authorities.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to call 850-651-7400 or contact Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-TIPS, emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com, or Text “Tip214 plus your message” to CRIMES 274637.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio — After nine months of debate, Cleveland City Council on Monday passed legislation that Mayor Frank Jackson says will encourage responsible gun ownership and help prevent firearms from ending up in the hands of criminals.

One of the provisions requires gun offenders to register with the city’s safety department within five days of either being released from prison or moving to Cleveland.

Others replace the city’s current gun ordinances with language that mirrors state law, including prohibitions against using a gun while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, defacing a gun’s serial number or allowing a minor to use a gun without supervision.

The duplication allows police to charge offenders under the city code instead of the state statute, which means the city keeps any fines collected, Chief Counsel Rick Horvath told members of City Council’s Finance Committee Monday.

The ordinance sets the following restrictions:

Prohibits carrying a concealed deadly weapon or handgun, unless the person is a police officer or a person who holds a license to carry a concealed weapon.

Requires a person who sells or transfers a gun, and who is not a licensed gun dealer, to report such transactions to police.

Requires an owner to report a lost or stolen gun to police.

Creates a gun offender registry, requiring people convicted of gun crimes to register their names with Cleveland’s Safety Director.

Prohibits the display, marking or sale of a facsimile firearm and prohibits brandishing a facsimile firearm in the presence of law enforcement or with the intent to frighten people.

Prohibits the negligent transfer of a firearm to a felon or intoxicated person.

Sets restrictions for firearms in the hands of minors and restricts discharging firearms in public areas, including schools, churches, cemeteries, playgrounds and parks.

Requires owners to safely store firearms to keep them from being stolen or out of the hands of children.

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