Here We Go Again

• By Ralph C. Jensen
• Sep 18, 2018

It doesn't seem possible that it's time for the annual ASIS' GSX tradeshow. So, here we come Las Vegas. Seems like I was just there.

It is obvious this event is struggling, but it doesn't diminish the importance of attending the tradeshow. There are several educational highlights that are well worth noting. For instance:

1. Drones and College Football Stadium Surveillance. Richard Ham is hosting this session on Monday, 10:30 a.m., Session #4116. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as "drones" are changing the face of security surveillance. While some form of autonomous systems has been flying since 1918, the level of expertise and skill required often made them impractical. New sensors and cameras, as well as new safety technology and a workable regulatory environment, have made them not only practical, but the preferred method for large venue surveillance. Three areas of rapid advancement may be the tipping point to your ability to use UAS technology to improve your security posture.

2. School Emergency Preparedness Using a Tabletop Exercise. Keena Powell, the director of safety and security at Providence Day School and Paul Timm, vice president at Facility Engineering Associates will present a Monday education session, 3:45 to 5 p.m., Session 4306. During any emergency, security professionals must be able to draw from all available resources. The special skills, training, and capabilities of staff play a vital role in coping with the effects of any disaster as well as its aftermath. Working in teams, participants take on specific roles (spokesperson, scribe, stakeholder). After an emergency scenario is introduced, participants draw on the experiences of their team members then share responses as the scenario unfolds.

3. Defending Against Vehicle Ramming Attacks. Kathleen Thompson, detective 1st Grants, NYPD and Sgt. Dennis Jahnke, Hennepin County, MN, Sheriff's Office, will present Session 5118 on vehicle ramming attacks. As security measures have become more sophisticated and effective, violent extremists have responded with attack methods that require little preparation and can be carried out by a single individual. Working together, local governments and the private sector can devise mitigation strategies to help protect lives.