Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 6454 WWW.AGRM.ORG JULY/AUGUST 2016 DAY-TO-DAY INSURANCE SOLUTIONS Brian H. Merriam A Matter of Security Is your mission ready if a security threat walks through the door? W ith the increased prevalence of active shooter situations in the last few years, you may have considered what your mission should do if a shooter enters your premises. Several missions have contacted me to discuss hiring a security company or perhaps training their own staff in security protocols. While considering possible threats can be unnerving, it’s better to be pre- pared then to correct deficien- cies after a problem. Let me address some considerations for the training of your staff, as well as hiring an outside firm. If your mission is going to train your own per- sonnel to address security, it is essential that they be trained by a reputable security training agency. Check the references of such a training agency, and call other organizations whose security personnel have received training from them to ascertain their experience. Not only should the initial training have been well orchestrated, but a commitment to con- tinuing education should be in place as well. Will the training agency keep your mission’s security personnel up to date? Procedures, tactics, and equipment change over time. What may have been standard protocol in the past may no longer be recognized as such today. Stay current. If your mission is going to hire an outside secu- rity detail, again, check references. Just because the company has an impressive website with profes- sional-looking images and moving testimonials, it does not mean their security officers are well- trained. Require a contract, ask for references, and check with those references for both positive and negative experiences with that security company. Always ask for proof of insurance in the form of a Certificate of Insurance, and require that your mission is named as an Additional Insured. This way, should their staff be held liable for the injury of someone at your facility, it will be their insur- ance company that will defend you. Finally, I highly recommended that written policies be put in place to address your expecta- tions of all security personnel—regardless of whether those security personnel are your staff or outside contractors. Lawsuits are more readily won when written procedures are considered ahead of time and adhered to consistently. Mat- ters to address in these policies should include your stance on handguns or similar weapons, requirements for background checks and refer- ence checks, and hours for security personnel and where they are to be stationed. Remember to notify your own insurance company of your use of security personnel. Ĩ Brian is the official insurance consultant for AGRM. The Merriam Agency offers property, casualty, auto, directors and officers, and workers’ compensation coverages tailored to the needs of AGRM members. You can email Brian at brian@merriaminsurance.com.