Re: Titan’s Civil Disturbance Support

Dear Clients and Contacts:

As the City of Chicago, and surrounding areas continue to navigate through volatile protest activity, Titan Security remains positioned to support our clients during these challenging times. 

• Titan’s 24/7 Security Operations Center is active to take all calls at any time and can be reached at (312) 902-3400.
• Titan’s Director of Emergency Management Services, former OEMC, Certified Emergency Manager, and Vice-Chair of the BOMA/Chicago Preparedness Committee, is leading our communication efforts including gathering and providing information to our clients and team members.
• Titan’s Managers including Senior Leadership team members are active and visiting sites to support staff and clients.
• Titan’s Field Supervisors remain active in marked vehicles to respond to incidents and support onsite staff members.
• Titan Electronics Service Technicians are active and available to service any electronic security equipment that may have been impacted by recent activity.
• Titan is working with our active CPD partners to provide Off-Duty Law Enforcement support.

The protest activity that started on Friday, May 29, 2020 resulted in a series of events beyond the reasonable control of Titan including street closures, partial lockdowns, and suspension of public transportation through the Chicago Loop area.  In response to these events, Titan’s managers have taken extraordinary measures including but not limited to the items below, which may result in additional billing for our services during this time:

• Transporting security officers to and from work in company and personal vehicles;
• Arranging ride share or taxis for security officers to and from work;
• Coordinating parking for security officers that were able to drive to work; and
• Modifying schedules to ensure coverage is in place, even if it required overtime.

As we continue to prepare for ongoing protest activity, the safety of Titan’s employees, as well as the safety of our clients and their visitors, remains Titan’s top priority.  Titan’s Senior Leadership Team and our Safety Committee continues to work with our public sector partners to pivot our operations as necessary to support our clients and team members throughout these events.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding security coverage or Titan’s Civil Disturbance Support, please contact your Titan representative or the Titan office at (312) 902-3400.  We will continue to communicate with you via email and at http://securechicago.com/posts/.

Sincerely,

David Pack
President
Titan Security Group

Thoughts and Analysis by Tom Henkey
Director of Emergency Management, Titan Security Group

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak has had an enormous impact on American businesses. The overall economy, and the private sector in particular, is resuming operations in fits and starts. This uncertainty has sent the stock market into an unprecedented state of whipsaw ups and downs.

Much has been written about the disease itself, about mitigation and containment efforts, and about where to find the most current information on the outbreak. There can be no question that we are still in midst of an extended coronavirus outbreak that is likely to include one or more additional waves of widespread illness.

And yet it is not too early in this crisis to begin considering what the recovery phase will entail. Like all disease outbreaks before it – even worldwide pandemics – this coronavirus will reach a peak before its impact begins to decline. That decline could be due to the virus going dormant, to new and more effective treatment of symptoms, or ultimately due to an effective vaccine. Or our society could simply learn to live with it, adapting to a new seasonal risk to public health with social distancing and other mitigation measures.

This much is clear: at some point, we’ll need to get back to some semblance of normal. Kids will return to schools and employees will return to work. Store shelves will be fully restocked and supply chains will realign.

But what will that “normalcy” look like? And how do we get there?

The recovery process begins long before such steps actually occur. It is born during preparedness and prevention phases, and during continuity planning efforts prior to any emergency, such as a disease outbreak. It continues through the mitigation and response phases of emergency management, gaining steam as stakeholders express a need and desire to resume full operations.

The recovery process truly begins with taking an honest assessment of current status and needs. This has already begun even while the response phase is ongoing, still very much in the midst of the crisis event. Yet it might be best thought of as an “exit strategy” for transitioning towards normalized business operations in a controlled manner. Even if an organization has lagged behind in making such preparations prior to an incident or disruption, much progress can be made even late in the game. A few considerations:

• Identify core and essential functions. Prioritize absolutely key functions and activities that must be completed. This process will make it much easier to set specific objectives for when and how to achieve crucial organizational goals.
• Consider an internal Recovery Team. Designate a small group of operational professionals to achieve the core recovery objectives. A willingness to actively share expertise facility-wide or organization-wide matter as much as title or rank.
• Solidify your supply chain. Logistics is clearly one of the most important elements during any crisis. This initial recovery phase is the time to audit and improve the supply chain for critical materials – vital insurance against future disruptions.
• Contact key representatives to gauge intent and expectations. You know who your “go-to” points of contact are for every tenant or stakeholder. Now is the time to proactively reach out to get input on their plans and needs for ramping up business.
• Establish distancing measures for building common areas. Social distancing will be a part of the recovery process. Effectively communicating expectations may include elements such as email blasts, floor markings, and additional signage.
• Pre-determine trigger points for resuming services/staffing levels. Use this period of relative calm to set later decision points, such as when to add supporting staff, to allow access to common areas, to adjust access-control restrictions, etc.
• Assemble welcome-back messaging and expectations. This is also the time to control the message that employees and customers receive as they return to work, by crafting specific communications using your desired tone and content.

Finally, when it is time to go full-speed once again, you’ll likely require further assistance. Helpful federal resources include:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continuity planning
https://www.ready.gov/business-continuity-plan

https://www.ready.gov/business-continuity-planning-suite

Helpful professional organizations include:

Business Resumption Planners Association of Chicago
https://brpa.wildapricot.org/

Business Continuity Planners Association
https://www.bcpa.org/

Disaster Recovery Institute
https://drii.org/

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something”. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

Thoughts and Analysis by Tom Henkey
Director of Emergency Management, Titan Security Group

Long-term and systemic disruptions of any kind are quite rare. Hurricanes, terrorist attacks, and wildfires can be devastating to surrounding communities, yet almost never negatively impact the entirety of the American economy. They are, instead, largely regional events with some national implications.

A communicable-disease pandemic has proven to be an exception. COVID-19 has made immediate and extensive impacts on our economy and on our social behaviors. Perhaps the only analogs we may envision are a large-scale bioterrorism attack, or a widespread and extended failure of the electrical grid.

Such massive disruptions must be addressed by prevention, preparedness, and mitigation. If they are allowed to take place, and we find ourselves in a largely reactive respond and recover mode, then we are acknowledging that such massive social and economic impacts are inevitable.

Author Michele Wucker coined the phrase “Gray Rhino” to refer to events such as pandemic disease. At its core, the concept is the opposite of the widely referenced “Black Swan” event – a disruption so unexpected and unpredictable that it remains essentially unforeseeable. A gray rhino is a different type of animal entirely. In her 2016 book of the same title, Wucker defined the term as “the big, obvious thing that’s coming at you.” It is the risk that is entirely predictable, but fails to be acted upon.

Such as a pandemic.

Public health experts have been warning society for literally decades that a widespread outbreak of communicable disease was a “when” and not an “if.” It was a gray rhino bearing down on us, yet getting very little attention in terms of planning or preparation. We got gored because we failed to be proactive.

And yet this collective mistake offers us all an opportunity to absorb several critical lessons learned, and to improve our prevention, preparedness, and mitigation efforts for the next time. Because there will be a next time. Some obvious takeaways:

Put a subject matter expert in charge. The RAE concept works. The person with the responsibility, authority, and expertise to make educated and actionable decisions is the person who should be in charge of the overall effort. For a pandemic, this points to a senior Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official, a highly regarded former Surgeon General, etc.

Establish a clear chain of command. The pandemic response in the U.S. showed us what a confused and ineffective mess our society becomes if no formal system is established to address a crisis. Aligning federal, military, state, local, and private-sector resources into a formal, efficient structure is vital to success.

Structured logistics and distribution. Perhaps the most important lesson from the coronavirus outbreak is that logistics are everything. The systemic lack of planning and structure that led to a chaotic and counterproductive bidding war among state and local governments and medical providers for critical supplies serves as a perfect example of how not to manage a supply chain.

Cross-sector collaboration is mandatory. Another obvious shortcoming in the preparedness for and initial response to this pandemic was a lack of collaboration. Involving unique and varied resources and skillsets including the private sector and military is absolutely mandatory for future crises. It is vital to have such agreements in place before a crisis emerges.

Fixed and reliable communications channels. During this pandemic, confusing and contradictory messaging from the federal government caused unnecessary inefficiencies and cost lives. The designated subject-matter expert placed in charge of the nation’s response must be the key conduit of concise, reliable, and truthful information during a period of crisis.

Identify the other rhinos. Just because you’ve tamed one beast doesn’t mean there are not others roaming around. We cannot afford tunnel vision. For example, hurricane season begins in the U.S. in less than two months, and climate change has created sea levels and weather patterns we simply have not seen before. We need to be proactive in our assessment and planning for predictable large-scale hazards in the future.

In essence, now is the time and place for unified, decisive, and innovative leadership across all sectors. A vital portion of that responsibility lies in performing an honest after-action review of our preparation for and response to the coronavirus pandemic, and rapidly applying the lessons learned to the next crisis. And there is always a next crisis.

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something”. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

In these unprecedented times it remains important to stay vigilant and if you see something, say something. This is a summary from a portion of the recent Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Private Sector, document “Multi-Agency Partners Collaborate to Mitigate Community Violence.”

The occurrence of a violent incident is generally represented as the culmination of a gradually escalating behavior pattern from a troubled person. Certain behaviors and actions can help when evaluating a threat of impending violent behavior. However, organizations should evaluate the totality of aggressive behavior, message delivery, and other relevant circumstances when forming a threat assessment or a notification to law enforcement.

Below are certain behaviors and actions that are common in pre-event violence planning:

• Recent and significant grievance, injustice, personal loss, or humiliation; real or simply perceived.
• Statements/behaviors which seem to indicate end of life planning or an interest in destructiveness.
• Contextually inappropriate behavior, intense interest in previous violent attacks or mass shootings.
• Sudden withdrawal from life patterns, absence from work without explanation, failing to appear for an appointment, cessation of medications.
• Sudden onset of impulsive, reckless behaviors that may suggest desensitization, dehumanization, or a lack of concern for future consequences.
• Fixation, pre-occupation, or efforts to physically approach an apparent target/victim; stalking, evidence of items left for the target (such as flowers), evidence of surveillance, or attempts to breach or circumvent protocol, safety or security measures.
• Recent acts of experimental aggression, including trespass, animal cruelty, or vandalism.
• Drastic changes in appearance such as a shaved head, a large number of tattoos, contextually inappropriate law enforcement or military costuming, sudden weight loss or gain, cessation of hygiene, or a sudden unkempt appearance.
• Preparation of statement, leakage warning behavior to a third party, or farewell writings, including social media manifestos, or videos.

Additional Resources

United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Behavioral Analysis Unit. 2017 “Making Prevention a Reality.” A practical guide on assessing and managing the threat of targeted violence and contains concrete strategies to help communities prevent targeted violence. https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/making-prevention-a-reality.pdf/view

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something”. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

The recent outbreak of viral infections around the world shows how quickly exotic diseases can spread in modern times. As traveling worldwide only becomes faster, the chances of similar occurrences only increases. Symptoms to look out for that are flu-related include high fever, cough, headache, muscle pain, runny nose, and a sore throat. If you suspect you have the flu, see your doctor right away.

Below are tips and considerations for situations where you or people you know develop symptoms or sickness from a flu-like illness.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay at home when you are sick. The rest will help you recover, and seclusion prevents spreading the illness to others.
• You can carry an infectious virus for five to seven days after symptoms appear. Young children and people with weakened immune systems might be contagious for more extended periods.
• Make sure to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Sneezing and coughing both release fine particles of mucus and saliva into the air. Other people can inhale these particles. If a healthy person comes in contact with the germs and then touches their mouth or nose, they can catch the illness.
• To help maintain your body’s ability to fight against infections, make sure to get plenty of sleep, stay physically fit, reduce your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. This practice can help prevent the entry of germs and viruses into your body and can help prevent you from spreading germs and infections if you are infected.
• Wash your hands often to remove any traces of the virus.  
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, especially when someone is ill. Studies have shown that the flu virus can live for two to eight hours after being left on a surface.

Preventative Measures to Avoid Viral Infections in the Office

Taking precautionary measures is a significant step towards avoiding sickness. Below are tips and considerations for preventing illness from viruses.

• Provide hand-washing stations and hand sanitizer.
• Provide waste receptacles and ask that tissues be discarded immediately after usage.
• Keep work stations and office spaces routinely clean.
• Take the time to educate employees on the benefits of a healthy and clean work environment.
• Promote a healthy living culture to boost the immune system.
• Collaborate with your local health department and other organizations for the latest information.

For more information

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/flu/resource-center/freeresources
The US Government’s Flu Resource: www.flu.gov

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something”. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

The Chicago Police Department, Crime Prevention & Information Center recently released the following security preparedness bulletin to help in providing a safe and secure environment for Chicago’s private sector. Below are useful options for you to consider.

Scope

The Chicago Police Department has compiled the following options for consideration to assist the City of Chicago’s private sector in creating a safe and secure environment. Given the nature of mass gatherings, predicting who will attend and what their motivations will be is difficult and unreliable. It is possible that individuals unassociated with the group will imbed themselves to exploit the group’s emotions and/or to incite and/or conduct acts of violence.

Options for Consideration

• Secure items that can be easily used to cause damage such as construction materials, outdoor seating, tables, garbage containers, etc.
• Have security conduct outside sweeps and look in areas where items could be secreted such as in planters, bushes, and dumpsters. If anything is found of a suspicious nature, immediately report it by calling 911.
• Identify alternate egress and ingress for building occupants and first responders. If main entrance is not accessible, ensure that alternate access location is communicated via 911 and if safe to do so, have someone positioned to guide first responders to area of needed assistance.
• Identify alternate vehicular and pedestrian pathways in the event of roadway or sidewalk impediments.
• In the event of criminal behavior, utilize CCTV systems to capture relevant behavior and secure it for follow-up investigation.
• Review existing security plans and procedures to ensure they address issues such as shelter in place and/or lock-down procedures.
• If any information is identified that could impact public safety, contact 911 immediately.

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something”. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

When temperatures plunge, you need to prepare for the severe weather conditions ahead. Along with being careful of traveling and staying warm, consider reducing outdoor activities during the extreme cold, especially activities involving the elderly and very young.

Traveling when Cold Out

Colder temperatures produce dangerous conditions when ice surfaces on places such as sidewalks and roadways. That is why it is important to be especially careful and alert to prevent accidents from occurring.

By Car

• When driving in icy conditions, be careful about speeds and keep a safe distance between other vehicles.
• Take extra precautions of your surroundings, especially after dark, when there is bad weather, and around school zones.
• Prepare a cold-weather kit in your car and include items such as food, water, warm clothing, a flashlight, a windshield scraper, blankets, road salt, etc.
• If taking a long trip, notify others and let them know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.
• If possible, it is best to avoid driving all-together when weather conditions are dangerous.

Walking Outside

• Be careful and cautious about overhanging icicles, especially when walking in in a metropolitan area.
• Wear snow boots when ice is present outside as leather soles are more at risk of slipping.
• Take shorter steps when walking through slippery icy conditions to reduce the risk of falling.
• Avoid putting your hands in pockets to help in a situation when you lose your balance or fall.  

Staying Warm in the Freezing Cold

One of the most important ways to avoid the dangers of cold weather conditions is by planning ahead.

Dress Warm

• Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing along with a heavy winter coat.
• Wear a winter hat that covers your ears.
• If possible, cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
• Have some sort of covering for your hand, like gloves or mittens.

Frostbite

Frostbite is the most common injury from cold weather and is the result of exposure of skin to the conditions. The injury reduces feeling in your skin and affects the fingers, toes, ears, nose, and cheeks. Pay attention to any sign that may signal frostbite, such as:

• Numbness
• Skin that has an odd firmness
• Bright white or grayish-yellow skin
• If a pain in your skin or redness occurs, return indoors, as frostbite may be beginning.

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something”. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

The holiday season is a wonderful time to go shopping, enjoy holiday festivals, travel, attend New Years Eve parties, and spend time at home with friends and family. However, stores, malls, holiday festivals and streets downtown are packed with unsuspecting people not necessarily paying attention to their surroundings. This can make for an ideal situation for pickpockets, burglars, and robbers.

This is why we would like to share these safety tips below for you to consider to make your holiday experience a memorable one. Happy Holidays from Titan Security Group, and as always, feel free to reach out to us with any security or safety-related concerns.

Holiday safety tips for you to consider:

Be Alert

• Be aware of your surroundings, walk with confidence, with your head up and stay in well-lit areas. Those who appear to be pre-occupied are more likely to be targeted by an offender.
• When walking with purses, shopping bags, or other personal belongings, make sure to keep your items close to you, and not in reachable places for others to grab. Keep wallets in the front of your pants or the breast pocket of your coat.
• Keep a close watch on credit cards and balances– report any suspicious behavior right away.
• The Chicago Police Department may not respond to an incident that does not involve a crime in progress. Non-emergencies include crimes such as pickpocketing, theft from an automobile, deceptive practices, criminal damage to property, garage burglary, and other offenses in which the offender is no longer at the scene. The police non-emergency number is 3-1-1.

Be Discreet

• Never carry large amounts of money, use credit cards instead of cash.
• Dress comfortably and casually, thieves and pickpockets are more likely to be attracted to expensive clothing and jewelry.

Protect your Vehicle

• Try to park as close to your destination as possible and in a well-lit area.
• Put all shopping bags or valuable items in the trunk of your car, or in a space where they are not visible.
• When driving, be courteous of other drivers, stay alert, and allow extra time for increased traffic and slippery roads.
• Be prepared for emergencies on the road by having a winter “survival kit” in the vehicle. This includes items such as a working flashlight, extra batteries, cellphone charger, First Aid Kit, ice scraper, and snow-brush.

Secure Your Home

• When leaving the house for lengthier periods, make sure to leave lights on at home.
• Ask a trusted neighbor to grab any packages that may be delivered while you are away and hold on to them until you can get them.
• Be careful when using candles by making sure they are kept away from decorations or other flammable materials.
• Do not overload power strips. Do not plug space heaters or other devices that use extra current flow into power strips.
• Consider turning off holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
• Read tags and manuals of holiday toys, electronics, and appliances to make sure you are following safety and age guidelines.
• Take your time when decorating for the holidays, use ladders safely and ask for an extra hand when needed.

Holiday Package Theft

• Track your deliveries online and confirm when the delivery occurred. You can sign up for email and text notifications to track your packages from initial shipment to its arrival at your home, or the recipient’s address if you have the gift delivered directly to them.
• If possible, and allowed by your employer, switch the delivery location to your work where it can be received by someone and not left on the porch.

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something”. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

The holiday season is a great time to spend time with family and friends to enjoy the holiday festivities. The holidays are also a particularly busy time of year for many families. As you put up decorations and gather friends and family together to celebrate, keep these safety tips in mind.

Shopping Safety and Security Tips

Shopping malls are a popular place to visit during the holiday season. As with any place with large crowds, it’s important to be prepared and safe so that you can enjoy the holiday experience to the fullest.

Tips to consider when you are traveling:

• Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.
• Dress casually and comfortably.
• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
• Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible.
• Always carry your Driver License or Identification Card along with necessary cash, checks and/or a credit card you expect to use.
• Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
• Pay for purchases with a credit card when possible.
• Keep cash in your front pocket.
• Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.
• Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
• Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, transportation terminals, bus stops, on buses and other rapid transit.
• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.
• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, “con-artists” may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

Travel Safety and Security Tips

Often, the holiday season is a busy travel time for everyone. Here are some safety and security tips for you to consider to make your trip a memorable and relaxing time.

Tips to consider when you are traveling:

• Make sure your home looks lived in.
• Stop mail and cancel all deliveries, or ask a friend or neighbor to make daily collections.
• Hide empty garbage cans.
• Have a friend or neighbor keep your yard maintained.
• Put an automatic timer on several lights and on a television or radio.
• Leave your blinds or shades in their normal position.
• Leave a key with a trusted neighbor.
• Store valuables in a safe deposit box.
• Tell a neighbor you trust about your departure and return dates. Supply that neighbor with phone numbers in case of an emergency.
• Ask the police department to periodically check your residence.
• Lock all windows and doors, including the basement and garage.

Security Tips for Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Use

Tips to consider when using an ATM:

• If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a mall, or well-lighted location. Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.
• Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.
• Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something”. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

A situation involving civil unrest or disturbance can take multiple forms but typically involves a protest or demonstration. It is imperative to plan for such events so that you have the opportunity to have a plan in place, increase security measures, add additional officers, communicate with the tenants and work with local police officers. Below are some tips for you to consider.

Pre-event Actions

• Review the following with Building Management:
  • Main point of contact for issues (Manager, Security, etc.)
  • Lock-down procedures for the building (# of people gaining access to the building, temperament of crowd in the building, complete lock-down or only limiting to badged employees, etc.)
  • Communication to building tenants on any changes to access control
  • Additional staffing needs
  • Templates for internal mass messaging to building employees and/or tenants
  • Worst-case scenario (Safe zones within building, Chicago Police Department intervention, etc.)

• Conduct a site survey of all access points and camera systems
  • 1^st floor windows, doors/locks are in good working condition (no cracks/loose hinges)
  • Unmanned areas are secure or can be secured if needed (dock, emergency exits – do not block exits)
  • Camera views are functioning and recording

• Inform staff of possibility of increased traffic
  • Remain vigilant with all post orders (Visitor Management processes)
  • Observe and report activity around perimeter of the building (Increased traffic, temperament of crowds, direction of crowds, protest signage/verbiage)
  • Review security officer processes
    • Maintain Professionalism – do not engage protestors
    • Be polite
    • Communicate with management
    • Document everything
    • Lock-down processes (Manual lock or access control software)

Event Actions

• Follow information via news channels and from management to monitor when activity may be increased in your area
  • Ready mass communications
  • Boots on the ground – Conduct perimeter and interior patrols prior to event.
  • Stay in the lobby or near CCTV controls during the event
  • Communicate as often as possible with management (Client and Titan)
  • Be ready to respond to emergency situations
  • Be prepared to hold over security, engineering, or management staffing

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something”. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4  (855-777-8274).