Children’s bodies being sold. Human Trafficking is not a new topic, however, with the lack of resources and ever evolving technology, putting human trafficking operations to a stop has become even more challenging. We sat down with Detective Sgt. Brandon James of the Seattle Police Department and Jim Fuda of Crime Stoppers to talk about the issue.
To lend perspective, 1 in 25 children will be solicited for sex online. That was a 2017 pre-pandemic study, so Fuda suspects that number is even higher. Think of the level or resources it takes to try to combat that amount of predators. We are seeing the trickle down effect of vaccine mandates and the labor shortage across our country, including in the security world. The Seattle Police Department is also seeing that.
The number of investigators they have solely for trafficking, just fell and the job is already more demanding because of new technology. Calls come in all the time about incidents involving exploited children. One of the more recent, elementary school kids who sent inappropriate pictures through apps. What concerns both James and Fuda, is the ongoing lack of awareness of the danger that lurks online.
James often has to parent the parents, explaining that a child does not have a right to privacy on a device. We preach stranger danger, but he reminds us all that when we allow a child to speak with strangers online, we are inviting into our homes. It is the same thing. Children need to realize just because someone says they’re 12 years old, doesn’t make it true.
The hard part is once these children are targeted, the grooming and trafficking begins. It starts innocently enough, questions like, what’s your favorite hobby, do you have a dog, what kind of music do you like. Then the perpetrator finds out details, like where the child goes to school and uses them. It goes from asking for pictures of a puppy, to the child’s “pretty face” and the decline progresses. Then if the child wants to tell, sometimes they can’t because of fear.
Predators will threaten harming loved ones. Once inappropriate pictures are out there, there’s no way for them not to be. The bottom line is parents should be monitoring everything online, especially video chats. It is very hard to recover evidence from chats.
Click on the video to see the interview and learn more valuable information to help keeps kids safe! Visit our website for more videos just like this one!
Our CEO of PRS, Michael Delamere was featured as a panelist at the MSSGreat Lake Forum. In case you missed the panel discussion, we are linking it here in our blog. Along with Delamere, Craig McKim, Drew Neckar and David Schlecte, Mike talked about the skills security professionals need to have, our usage of behavioral sciences in our hiring process and advice on where and how to utilize social media. A big thanks to Phelim Rowe for featuring our company in this event!
Mike talked about how valuable soft skills as security professionals and how key the ability to communicate with the C-Suite is. We use people sciences when we onboard new hires to clearly define what abilities employees have and what tools they need to be effective and engaged. That ultimately leads to a better level of efficiency in organizations.
The one thing we pride ourselves on at PRS is using our platform to educate. When asked about usage of social media as a way to engage clients and do business, Mike articulated our primary goal. We used LinkedIn primarily and as a tool to share information not fear monger, but to disseminate valuable knowledge. We make it a point to provide original content and do it on a regular basis, so our base knows what to expect and when to expect it.
Listen to the rest of in interview in the video to hear about Mike’s view on business acumen and what the current climate is in higher learning institutions regarding private security. Be sure to visit our website for more videos like this one.
In this week’s video series, we talk about the level of security at stadiums and sporting venues across the country. With the ongoing labor shortage and lingering COVID concerns, security teams at sporting venues are facing an increasing number of challenges. James DeMeo, a sport security consultant and former police officer, knows these challenges well and shares his expert insights.
DeMeo says more now than ever, risk assessments are vital in keeping fans safe and ensuring that sporting venues are doing everything possible to safeguard their spaces with the available resources. One of the most prevalent issues, he notes, is a lack of help. With a shortage of security officers to work large-scale events — including sporting venues — it can prove to be quite difficult. He points to an example of a state fair to illustrate the challenges.
Communities are (in some areas) having to pull in from multiple agencies because of a lack in law enforcement. That could mean officers from many different departments who may have been trained differently or are not used to working with each other responsible for being prepared in the event of an emergency. There’s also the issue of the long days. Some of these officers are working normal hours and then have hours on a bus to help out with events and they show up tired. This is just one of the “new norms” that security is dealing with.
With all that is going on in today’s world, DeMeo wants to not only educate people on the current climate challenges, (in a non-fear mongering type of way), but also present some tips for spectators. James tells us an educated fan is a safe one, so here are five tips for a seamless fan experience:
1. Plan on arriving at the venue well ahead of the scheduled event/performance start time. This way you’ll be able to find parking, gain entry, purchase some soda & popcorn and get to your seats with plenty of time to spare.
2. Know exactly where you parked your vehicle’s location and its proximity to the venue.
3. Ensure that everyone in your family has a fully charged cell phone in case you are separated as a result of a true emergency situation at or near the venue.
4. Make sure you read over the venue’s code of conduct. Located on your Team’s website, you find out if you will be required to wear a face mask, provide proof of vaccination and/or negative Covid-19 test along with other pandemic and safety requirements.
5. Create a pre-determined meeting spot for you and your family in the event you have to evacuate the venue due to an emergency. Always follow the direction and guidance of first responders, law enforcement working at the venue.
DeMeo also addresses Covid and the challenges that is bringing to sports security. Click on the video for more and be sure to continue to visit our website for more videos just like this one!
As a society, the group of people we want to protect the most is children. This week in our video series we talked to Michele Gay from Safe and Sound Schools. This mom lost her daughter, Joey, in the Sandy Hook shootings. Out of the tragedy, Michele founded her organization to raise awareness about school safety. She spoke to us about not having the luxury to defer security in schools, “We don’t have the privilege, and when it comes to our kids, why would we want to do that?”.
Schools across the country are now back in session and while Covid is a top priority, it shouldn’t be the only one. Michele travels the country talking to schools and she finds about twenty percent have a property emergency response plan. The main culprit in not having a higher number goes back to a mentality I saw far too many times in the news business. The notion that something as horrible as a mass school shooting just can’t happen in safe, quiet towns. Michele says Newtown, Connecticut is the perfect example of why that mentality has to be changed.
Something PRS finds when we conduct risk assessments is also what Michele sees as the number one problem in schools, access control. Often schools are left wide open and have no surveillance systems to see who is coming in and out of the building. She encourages schools as a first step, to reach out to public safety officials and then adopt formal plans using private security professionals.
Michele also talked to us about what it’s like to endure losing a child in such a violent way and what carries her through the day. Click on the video to hear that and be sure to visit our website for more videos like this one.
Safe and Sound Schools is holding its annual National Summit of School Safety from October 26-28, where a lineup of experts will talk about school safety, share best practices and lessons learned. For more information on that, click here.
School crossing guard (Hispanic mature woman, 50s) helping children walk across street. Focus on woman.
In this week’s edition of our video series, we are introducing you to our newest consultant, Jeff Anspaugh. PRS is elated to have Jeff join us as he brings decades of experience in law enforcement, military service and corporate security!
If you really want to get to know Jeff, you can always ask our CEO, Mike! Jeff just happened to be Mike’s best man in his wedding! I can tell you Jeff’s kind nature and positivity are infectious! Jeff also doesn’t shy away from talking about his faith. Something that has pulled him through the tough times and gives him that much more joy during the good times! Jeff also can’t talk enough about his love for his wonderful wife. Ideal weekend day? Hosting dinners, playing cards and hanging out in their neighborhood.
Jeff says his years as an officer provided so many life changing moments but his favorite was seeing others change. He describes the relief and happiness from watching someone turn their life around. Listen to the video for one story in particular! Be sure to continue to check out more blogs on our website.
