Former Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter, Jr. is Recipient of 2022 Ralph Day Memorial Security Award

ASIS International announced that the late Aaron Salter, Jr., an Allied Universal security professional and retired police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting shoppers at the Tops Friendly Market during a mass shooting, is the recipient of the 2022 Ralph Day Memorial Security Officer Heroism Award. Aaron Salter III will accept the award on behalf of this father, on Sept. 13, at the 2022 Global Security Exchange Conference.

Each year, ASIS International recognizes one security officer. ASIS International is the world’s largest membership organization for security management professionals and host of the GSX Conference, for outstanding service/acts in the security profession through the Ralph Day Memorial Security Officer Heroism Award. This award singles out a security professional, who performs a heroic act that involves circumstances where a private security officer risks his or her life to save their life to protect or save lives and/or property. The award nominee must be an employee of a contract security company employed as a security officer. This is the first time this award has been bestowed posthumously.

“We admire Aaron Salter, not just for his heroic actions in May, but for the heroic life he lived protecting and serving the community for over 30 years,” said Steve Jones, global chairman and CEO, Allied Universal. “I have been inspired and proud to see the outpouring of support for Mr. Salter’s family from the Allied Universal team, the Buffalo Community and others.”

On May 14, 2022, a mass shooting occurred at the Buffalo Tops Friendly store. Ten people, including Salter, were shot and died and three people were injured. When a gunman wearing tactical gear, armed with an assault rifle entered the grocery store, Salter confronted the attacker, firing multiple shots, one of which struck the 18-year-old attacker’s body armor. Killed by return fire, he is sailed as a hero by police officials, shoppers and colleagues for confronting the assailant and slowing the assault, which gave time for others to move to safety.

Salter retired as a lieutenant from the Buffalo Police Traffic Division in 2018 after 30 years on the job and had worked for Allied Universal at the Tops Friendly Market post for seven years. Salter was a musician who played bass guitar, loved cars and was a scientist who invented a car engine that could run on water via hydrogen electrolysis.

Aaron Salter III established a GoFundMe page in honor of his father to help his family with this unforeseen tragedy.

Featured

  • Just as Expected

    GSX produced a wonderful tradeshow earlier this week. Monday was surprisingly strong in the morning, and the afternoon wasn’t bad at all. That’s Monday’s results and asking attendees to travel on Sunday. Just a quick hint, no one wants to give up their weekend to travel and set up an exhibit booth. I’m just saying. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • NOLA: The Crescent City

    Twenty years later we finds ourselves in New Orleans. Twenty years ago the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina forced exhibitors and attendees to look elsewhere for tradeshow floor space. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • Nothing Artificial About this Intelligence

    I have been looking forward to this year’s GSX show in New Orleans, the Cresent City, or if you prefer The Big Easy. It seems like quite a while since we’ve been here. Twenty years ago, ASIS, as it was known then was literally washed out of the city by someone known as Katrina. It is a good thing to come back to NOLA. Read Now

  • From Monitors to Mission Control

    Security Operations Centers (SOC) were once defined by rows of static monitors, each displaying a single feed with operators quietly watching for issues. That model has become obsolete. Incidents evolve too quickly, data comes from multiple locations, and decisions must be made in seconds—not minutes. Read Now

  • New Gas Monkey Garage Venue Uses AI-Enhanced Video Technology

    Gas Monkey Garage, the automotive custom shop and entertainment brand founded by Richard Rawlings of Fast N’ Loud TV fame, has opened a vibrant new restaurant and bar in South Dakota, equipped with advanced, AI-enhanced video tech from IDIS Americas. Read Now

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.