I did not realize how dangerous a job it is being a security guard.
According to this story, slightly more security guards died in the line of duty in 2002 than LEOs!
In Florida, this year alone, 5 security guards have been murdered, according to this article.
I used to laugh about the so-called Mall Ninjas, but may be they have the right idea!
I think this story is a good "heads up" for all those people working in private security.
For those of you who work as security guards and LEOs, let's be careful out there!
Here is the story's link:
from: ap.org
Security guard death at Tampa mall is Florida's fifth this year
Saturday, September 20, 2003
By VICKIE CHACHERE, Associated Press
TAMPA — A man was arrested on a first-degree murder charge Friday in the death of a mall security officer who was caught in the door of a stolen getaway car that then crashed.
The death of University Mall security guard John Tauer is at least the fifth of a private security officer in Florida this year. Those in the profession say it is becoming an increasingly dangerous job.
Tauer, 39, was killed Thursday evening when he tried to stop two men suspected of shoplifting at a J.C. Penney store at the north Tampa mall. Tauer, who was also a volunteer sheriff's deputy, chased the men into the parking lot and reached into the open driver's door to grab one.
The stolen Lexus traveled about 250 yards and crashed into a pine tree at about 65 mph. Tauer died less than three hours later at Tampa General Hospital.
"It's a sad day for all of us," said Hillsborough County Sheriff's Maj. Gary Terry.
Jontue Davis, 20, was arrested and jailed without bail on felony murder, robbery and grand theft auto charges. Steven Sinadinos, 15, was being held in juvenile detention on a grand theft charge.
Tauer will be given a full law enforcement funeral Tuesday in Tampa and will be buried in Ohio. Sheriff Cal Henderson has ordered flags be flown at half-mast that day; deputies will wear black bands on their badges.
Tauer, a former deputy in Palm Beach County and in Oklahoma, is survived by his wife, an emergency room physician. He had been a reserve deputy since March, but was working as a private security guard Thursday.
Sheriff's officials said he had volunteered as a reserve deputy in hopes of being hired on full-time.
"He was a wonderful, caring individual," said James Barth, a fellow reserve deputy. "He was the perfect kind of person you would want in law enforcement."
Tim Lyons, spokesman for J.C. Penney, said Tauer had worked at the University Mall store for about six months and at other Penney's stores for about three years.
He said he could not comment further on the death because of the pending investigation. He said there are guidelines about pursuing shoplifters, but "the associate has to make judgment calls about how to respond."
"Obviously, we are extremely sad and very much shocked by the death of one of our associates," he said.
Davis has been arrested seven times in the past year, mostly on misdemeanor drug and theft charges, sheriff's records show. He was free on a $2,000 bond for an April auto theft arrest. The name of an attorney representing him was not immediately available.
Tauer's death comes in a year in which at least four other security officers have been killed in Florida, including a similar case in May that killed officer Keith Poore in Merritt Island.
Luchreasy Shawanda Reese, 21, and Denise Anderson, 16, both of Titusville, are each charged with first-degree murder in the death of Poore, who was struck and dragged by a fleeing car. Authorities said Reese and Anderson were trying to steal a swimsuit.
Less than a month ago in Davie, tobacco store security officer Curtis Leonard was shot to death by an assailant who, police believe, had robbed the establishment.
In April, Broward County Sheriff's Deputy Philip Billings was shot to death while working a security detail at a Pompano Beach automobile dealership. Two men suspected in his killing were found dead four days later in what detectives said was a murder-suicide.
In January, five men wearing black ski masks shot and killed Luis Brito, 56, as they robbed the Mayors jewelry store in the Village of Merrick Park, one of South Florida's ritziest malls. Five men were arrested within weeks and are facing first-degree murder and armed robbery charges.
According to statistics released this week by the U.S. Department of Labor, slightly more security guards were slain on the job in 2002 than police officers. Nationwide, there were 46 security officers killed, compared to 41 police officers.
Last year in Florida, eight security officers died on the job. Three were homicide victims and the others were killed in accidents, according to state statistics. That's compared with seven law enforcement officers killed on the job.
K.C. Poulin, the founder of the Clearwater-based security company Critical Intervention Services, said most people don't realize what a dangerous job private security officers have.
"Security officers are on the front lines," he said. "The are the first responders in whatever environment they face. They end up putting themselves in harm's way."
Those dangers are present even though Florida has the highest training standards for security officer in the nation, requiring 40 hours of training and strict certification standards, Poulin said.
Florida Sen. Victor Crist has six times tried to increase the penalties for assaulting state-certified security officers from a misdemeanor to a felony. Crist said Friday he intends to refile the legislation because of Tauer's death.
Crist, R-Tampa, said he hopes the increased penalties would deter would-be assailants at a time when private security officers are playing a more important role in a security-conscious nation.
"These are individuals who are providing a service to their employer and the people the employer serves," Crist said. "They have families, they have wives and husbands and children. They are loved by their friends and they deserve protection too."
******
According to this story, slightly more security guards died in the line of duty in 2002 than LEOs!
In Florida, this year alone, 5 security guards have been murdered, according to this article.
I used to laugh about the so-called Mall Ninjas, but may be they have the right idea!
I think this story is a good "heads up" for all those people working in private security.
For those of you who work as security guards and LEOs, let's be careful out there!
Here is the story's link:
from: ap.org
Security guard death at Tampa mall is Florida's fifth this year
Saturday, September 20, 2003
By VICKIE CHACHERE, Associated Press
TAMPA — A man was arrested on a first-degree murder charge Friday in the death of a mall security officer who was caught in the door of a stolen getaway car that then crashed.
The death of University Mall security guard John Tauer is at least the fifth of a private security officer in Florida this year. Those in the profession say it is becoming an increasingly dangerous job.
Tauer, 39, was killed Thursday evening when he tried to stop two men suspected of shoplifting at a J.C. Penney store at the north Tampa mall. Tauer, who was also a volunteer sheriff's deputy, chased the men into the parking lot and reached into the open driver's door to grab one.
The stolen Lexus traveled about 250 yards and crashed into a pine tree at about 65 mph. Tauer died less than three hours later at Tampa General Hospital.
"It's a sad day for all of us," said Hillsborough County Sheriff's Maj. Gary Terry.
Jontue Davis, 20, was arrested and jailed without bail on felony murder, robbery and grand theft auto charges. Steven Sinadinos, 15, was being held in juvenile detention on a grand theft charge.
Tauer will be given a full law enforcement funeral Tuesday in Tampa and will be buried in Ohio. Sheriff Cal Henderson has ordered flags be flown at half-mast that day; deputies will wear black bands on their badges.
Tauer, a former deputy in Palm Beach County and in Oklahoma, is survived by his wife, an emergency room physician. He had been a reserve deputy since March, but was working as a private security guard Thursday.
Sheriff's officials said he had volunteered as a reserve deputy in hopes of being hired on full-time.
"He was a wonderful, caring individual," said James Barth, a fellow reserve deputy. "He was the perfect kind of person you would want in law enforcement."
Tim Lyons, spokesman for J.C. Penney, said Tauer had worked at the University Mall store for about six months and at other Penney's stores for about three years.
He said he could not comment further on the death because of the pending investigation. He said there are guidelines about pursuing shoplifters, but "the associate has to make judgment calls about how to respond."
"Obviously, we are extremely sad and very much shocked by the death of one of our associates," he said.
Davis has been arrested seven times in the past year, mostly on misdemeanor drug and theft charges, sheriff's records show. He was free on a $2,000 bond for an April auto theft arrest. The name of an attorney representing him was not immediately available.
Tauer's death comes in a year in which at least four other security officers have been killed in Florida, including a similar case in May that killed officer Keith Poore in Merritt Island.
Luchreasy Shawanda Reese, 21, and Denise Anderson, 16, both of Titusville, are each charged with first-degree murder in the death of Poore, who was struck and dragged by a fleeing car. Authorities said Reese and Anderson were trying to steal a swimsuit.
Less than a month ago in Davie, tobacco store security officer Curtis Leonard was shot to death by an assailant who, police believe, had robbed the establishment.
In April, Broward County Sheriff's Deputy Philip Billings was shot to death while working a security detail at a Pompano Beach automobile dealership. Two men suspected in his killing were found dead four days later in what detectives said was a murder-suicide.
In January, five men wearing black ski masks shot and killed Luis Brito, 56, as they robbed the Mayors jewelry store in the Village of Merrick Park, one of South Florida's ritziest malls. Five men were arrested within weeks and are facing first-degree murder and armed robbery charges.
According to statistics released this week by the U.S. Department of Labor, slightly more security guards were slain on the job in 2002 than police officers. Nationwide, there were 46 security officers killed, compared to 41 police officers.
Last year in Florida, eight security officers died on the job. Three were homicide victims and the others were killed in accidents, according to state statistics. That's compared with seven law enforcement officers killed on the job.
K.C. Poulin, the founder of the Clearwater-based security company Critical Intervention Services, said most people don't realize what a dangerous job private security officers have.
"Security officers are on the front lines," he said. "The are the first responders in whatever environment they face. They end up putting themselves in harm's way."
Those dangers are present even though Florida has the highest training standards for security officer in the nation, requiring 40 hours of training and strict certification standards, Poulin said.
Florida Sen. Victor Crist has six times tried to increase the penalties for assaulting state-certified security officers from a misdemeanor to a felony. Crist said Friday he intends to refile the legislation because of Tauer's death.
Crist, R-Tampa, said he hopes the increased penalties would deter would-be assailants at a time when private security officers are playing a more important role in a security-conscious nation.
"These are individuals who are providing a service to their employer and the people the employer serves," Crist said. "They have families, they have wives and husbands and children. They are loved by their friends and they deserve protection too."
******
