Vector Security Names First Falcone Scholarship Winner

The winner of the 2011 John Falcone Scholarship Program, Janeen Bligen, will be heading to Cazenovia College to pursue a degree in criminal justice. Bligen, who will begin her studies in the fall of 2011, says the additional assistance of the Vector Security scholarship will help her realize her dreams.

“I will continue to move forward at Cazenovia College,” Bligen said.

Located in Central New York, 19 miles southeast of Syracuse, Cazenovia College is an independent, coeducational college offering baccalaureate programs in the liberal arts and professional studies.

“I am so blessed and will remember those who have helped me this far. All I can say is I thank you, and I cannot describe what this means to me,” Bligen said.

When Poughkeepsie, N.Y. police officer, John Falcone, responded to a domestic dispute call on Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, the 18-year veteran of the Poughkeepsie City Police Department would end up giving his life to save a 3-year-old kidnap victim. The selfless act did not go unnoticed by Hammond Security, the newest branch of Vector Security, which responded by establishing a scholarship program in the fallen officer’s name to help fund the educational needs of those pursuing careers in law enforcement or criminal justice.

According to Vector’s Kim Sears, even small city police forces need to be prepared to encounter events like this.

“Police officers know that domestic disturbance calls are some of the most dangerous types they can be dispatched to. Usually victims and assailants are in a highly troubled state of mind, and are making choices based upon the emotion of the moment. This crime, in particular, depicts how whole families can be impacted, to include both that of the child and of the police officer as well.”

In this instance, the child’s father was holding the 3-year-old and waving a pistol when Officer Falcone arrived on the scene. After wrestling the child free from his kidnapper, a struggle for the weapon ensued and Officer Falcone was fatally shot in the head in the exchange. The shooter then committed suicide. The shooter’s estranged wife was found dead in a nearby automobile and police theorize that the man shot his wife first, kidnapped his son and then met up with Officer Falcone.

The Hammond/Vector Security Scholarship for Careers in Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice has been created to support and inspire an exceptional student.

“What better way can you keep a hero’s memory alive? This program rewards a man or woman who wants to serve the public as Officer Falcone did,” Sears said.

Vector offered the scholarship through the City of Poughkeepsie High School, with the inaugural award occurring with the 2011 graduating class.

Cazenovia Colllege also agrees that her future studies at their facility will honor Officer Falcone’s memory.

“We look forward to Janeen’s arrival on campus as a criminal justice and homeland security studies major, and the education that Janeen will receive at Cazenovia College will be a fitting living memorial to Officer Falcone," said Stewart Weisman, professor and director of the program.

The CJHSS program provides students with the tools they need to enter into a career in the expanding field of law enforcement, the emerging area of homeland security, or to pursue a graduate degree or attend law school, and is designed to educate students to be critical thinkers who communicate effectively, and who act in an ethical manner.

Featured

  • AI to Help Resolve Non-Emergency Calls Across Utah and Decrease 911 Caller Wait Times

    The Utah Communications Authority (UCA), which oversees the state’s next generation 911 technology services, recently announced that public safety answering points (PSAPs) throughout the state plan to implement Motorola Solutions’ Virtual Response technology to automate the receipt and resolution of 10-digit non-emergency line calls in Utah with the help of AI. Read Now

  • Report: 2025 Video Surveillance Market Set to Grow After Small Decline in 2024

    Novaira Insights has unveiled its latest report, “World Market for Video Surveillance Hardware and Software – 2025 Edition.” The research indicates that the global market for video surveillance hardware and software experienced a slight decline of 0.3% in 2024. This performance fell short of previous forecasts, primarily due to a significant decrease of 7.8% in the Chinese market. Conversely, the rest of the world saw a growth of 4.9%. The global market for video surveillance equipment was estimated to be worth $25.0 billion in 2024. Read Now

  • Report Reveals Local Governments Face Surge in Ransomware Attacks with Minimal Resources

    KnowBe4, the cybersecurity platform that comprehensively addresses human risk management, recently released new research highlighting the critical cybersecurity challenges facing state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments. The report details how government organizations have become prime targets for cybercriminals while simultaneously facing severe resource constraints. Read Now

  • Video Surveillance Trends to Watch

    With more organizations adding newer capabilities to their surveillance systems, it’s always important to remember the “basics” of system configuration and deployment, as well as the topline benefits of continually emerging technologies like AI and the cloud. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • 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.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.