Vector Security® Networks Launches TruIT Single-Source Solution for Networking Equipment, Broadband Internet and Managed Services

TruIT combines the best available technology and services to support in-house IT departments or businesses without IT staff.

PITTSBURGH, April 20, 2021 - Vector Security® Networks, a division of Vector Security®, Inc., and the single-source provider of physical security solutions and managed network services to multi-site businesses across North America, introduces TruIT, a bundled solution that combines secure networking equipment, broadband Internet, professional installation and managed services.

TruIT is a one-source IT solution that eliminates guesswork by combining the best available technology and services that deliver results. 

Read more in the Vendor Spotlight column below
 

Protests & Violence

NYC shootings continue to skyrocket, NYPD stats show
New York City's sharp rise in shootings this year continued to increase last week - as the number of shooting incidents and victims rose some 250 percent compared to the same period last year.

In the seven-day period between April 12 and 18, some 29 people were shot in 28 separate shootings across the city, according to stats compiled by the NYPD and obtained by The Post.

That's an increase of 250 percent in the shooting incident category and an increase of 262.5 percent in shooting victims compared to the same period last year, when eight people were shot in eight incidents, according to the stats.

The numbers of shootings and victims have risen drastically in 2021, with a 59.6 percent hike in the number of people shot and a 64 percent increase in the number of incidents compared to the same period last year, according to the stats.

Year over year, homicides remain up, with 106 registered this year, compared to 100 from 2020. nypost.com

Biden administration weighing how to respond after verdict in Chauvin trial
The administration is weighing how to handle the upcoming verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, including considering whether President Biden should address the nation and dispatching specially trained community facilitators from the Justice Department, aides and officials told The Associated Press.

The plans for possible presidential remarks are still fluid, with the timing, venue and nature of the remarks still being considered, in part depending on the timing of the verdict, according to two White House aides who were not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. latimes.com

Police Departments Across the U.S. Have Been Listening & Learning
Awaiting Derek Chauvin Verdict, Police Prepare New Approach to Protests
As cities prepare for possible protests following a verdict in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, police departments say they are implementing new tactics after being criticized by agency watchdogs for their handling of last summer's demonstrations.

New York City police officials said they are in the process of implementing less aggressive crowd control tactics, while Los Angeles has started new training and the Chicago Police Department has ordered its officers to be respectful of protesters. Some cities like Philadelphia banned or limited the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray on demonstrators after facing criticism from local elected leaders and civil-rights groups for deploying them on crowds over the summer.

Municipal oversight agencies and outside consultants hired by cities have found departments were unprepared, disorganized and used excessive force during the protests that swept the country following the death of George Floyd in police custody.

With a Minneapolis jury now deliberating whether to convict Mr. Chauvin for killing Mr. Floyd, some departments also said they have reached out to organizers and community leaders in advance of expected protests, in the hopes of creating less tense confrontations with demonstrators.

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said at a police commission meeting last week that the reports highlighted the need for ongoing training for officers. More than 4,000 officers received new crowd control training as of October, the chief said. There are about 9,900 officers in the LAPD.

NYPD officials said they are in the process of implementing more than two dozen recommendations from the oversight body. New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said the department had "done a lot behind the scenes in trying to work with members of the clergy, leaders, elected officials, grass roots organizations."

The Chicago Police Department, which has been facing protests over the recent shooting death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo by one of its officers, issued new guidance last week for handling demonstrations.

Among the new rules issued by Chicago Police Superintendent David O. Brown: Officers are instructed not to "disrupt, intimidate, harass, or discriminate against, or arrest any persons engaged in First Amendment conduct" if they are legally protesting. The directive also said dispersal orders should be given clearly, repeatedly and demonstrators should have sufficient time to comply. wsj.com

Judge in Derek Chauvin trial says Maxine Waters' comments could lead to whole case 'being overturned'
The judge in Derek Chauvin's murder trial slammed Rep. Maxine Waters' call for protesters to "get confrontational" if the ex-cop is cleared in the death of George Floyd - saying on Monday it could lead to the whole case "being overturned."

The stunning remarks came as the city of Minneapolis braces for unrest while the jury deliberates in the case.

Defense attorney Eric Nelson had urged Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill to declare a mistrial, arguing that "an elected official, US congressperson" made statements that "I think are reasonably interpreted to be threats against the sanctity of the jury process" and had the effect of "threatening and intimidating the jury."

Cahill denied the motion but told Nelson, "I'll give you that Congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned." nypost.com

Minneapolis Declared 'High-Risk Location' as Jury Decides Chauvin's Fate
Community on edge as jury deliberates in Derek Chauvin trial
Three hundred and thirty days after George Floyd died on the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and the state began a new period Monday: a time of anxiety and uncertainty until a jury decides whether the police officer who knelt on his neck is guilty of murder.

On the day that jurors began deliberations in the Derek Chauvin trial, with Minneapolis being watched around the globe, Facebook declared the city a "high-risk location" and said it would remove posts that incite violence or celebrate Floyd's death.

Locally, students walked out of class to protest racial injustice. Thousands of Minnesota National Guard soldiers joined law enforcement in standing guard. Civil rights leaders the Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson led a prayer outside the courthouse. And protests continued over Daunte Wright's killing a week ago by a Brooklyn Center police officer.

The entire region remained on edge.

Kenza Hadj-Moussa, the public affairs director for TakeAction Minnesota, a statewide progressive organization, said she believes the tension is made "1,000 times worse" by the heavy military and law enforcement presence on Twin Cities streets in preparation for any violence.

"The whole world and media is watching and expecting us to burn down our city," Hanson said. "This affects us all. This is not us vs. them. ... We have an opportunity where we can heal and get reform accomplished, and that's a unique position to be in. Minnesota can lead the way on that."

The governor and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul stressed two goals: That Minnesota and the nation address racial inequality whatever the outcome of the trial and that people not repeat last year's destruction.

"Rioting won't solve this problem," said Melvin Carter, St. Paul's mayor. "And looting won't breathe life back into the bodies of our lost loved ones. We cannot cure harm by inflicting harm on others." startribune.com

Minnesota Freedom Fighters
In Minneapolis, armed patrol group tries to keep the peace

Some in the crowd are trying to prevent protests from escalating into violence

As protests intensified in the Minneapolis suburb where a police officer fatally shot Daunte Wright, a group of Black men joined the crowd intent on keeping the peace and preventing protests from escalating into violence.

As several people began to rattle a fence protecting the Brooklyn Center police department, the Freedom Fighters communicated to each other over walkie-talkies. They declined to say how many are in their group.

On recent nights, the Freedom Fighters have moved through the crowd in formation, wearing body armor and dark clothing, weaving past umbrella-wielding demonstrators to create separation along a double-layer perimeter security fence. Their passive tactics are intended to deescalate the tension, preventing agitators from pressing forward and provoking the law enforcement officers standing at attention with pepper-ball and less-lethal sponge grenade launchers at the ready.

"We can keep it peaceful," said Tyrone Hartwell, a 36-year-old former U.S. Marine who belongs to the group. "There's always somebody in the group that wants to incite something," adding that throwing objects at the police takes the focus away from their calls for justice and saps energy from the movement. abcnews.go

   Outside the courthouse, protesters press for a guilty verdict in Chauvin trial


Philadelphia PD Spying on Protesters?
Philadelphia police asked federal drug agents to 'infiltrate' protests last June,
emails show

Critics say the request raises questions about a decades-old policy barring the Philadelphia PD from using its own officers to physically infiltrate protests.

The Philadelphia Police Department enlisted federal drug agents to infiltrate crowds of protesters during racial justice demonstrations in the city last spring, a move that critics say may have circumvented a decades-old ban aimed at deterring police from spying on activists.

The undercover operation was made public last week by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a D.C.-based think tank that obtained emails between police and federal officials through a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act.

The emails show Philadelphia police requested the DEA support on June 2 and the operation lasted at least through June 6.

The Philadelphia Police Department is restricted from using its own officers to infiltrate protest groups. A 1987 mayoral directive written as part of a settlement to a lawsuit requires that to conduct covert surveillance of activists, Philadelphia police must detail a threat of criminal activity in writing and obtain approval from the police commissioner and the city managing director.

He said police did not ask the DEA to conduct undercover surveillance of protesters, saying the request "was for undercover agents to enter the crowd to look for individuals involved in violent criminal activity or about to engage in criminal activities, who have been known to hide among lawful protesters."

Paul Hetznecker, one of the lawyers suing the city on behalf of dozens of protesters and residents alleging police overreach and brutality last spring, called the DEA operation "just the most recent chapter in a decades-old effort by law enforcement to target progressive political movements and criminalize dissent." inquirer.com

'Strongest Anti-Rioting Measure in the Country'
Florida Adopts Nation's Toughest Restrictions On Protests
Florida's governor has signed a law that he called the "strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement measure in the country." The law was written in response to protests around the country following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. It provides new protections for police and increases the penalties for people who take part in property damage or violence during protests.

Florida experienced little of the violence seen elsewhere in the country last summer following Floyd's death. But Gov. Ron DeSantis said tougher laws were needed to make sure Florida doesn't see the kind of protests that occurred in Minneapolis, Portland, Ore., and other cities. At the bill signing Monday, DeSantis said, "If you riot, if you loot, if you harm others, particularly if you harm a law enforcement officer during one of these violent assemblies, you're going to jail."

The law increases penalties for protesters who block roadways or deface public monuments. It creates a new crime, "mob intimidation." And it requires that anyone arrested at a protest be denied bail until their first court appearance, likely making for overnight jail stays.

The law makes local officials in Florida liable for lawsuits from injured parties if they are found to have not done enough to respond to control violent protests. And it reacts to the "defund the police" movement, allowing officials to appeal to the governor and his Cabinet any decision by local officials to reduce funding to law enforcement. npr.org

Portland Businesses Targeted by Rioters on Monday Night
Windows smashed as vandals march in Portland; 2 arrested
Vandals smashed windows at businesses in Northeast Portland Monday night as part of a "direct action" march that also blocked traffic and caused delays. Portland police declared the event an unlawful assembly about 20 minutes after it began.

Two people were arrested: Emily Keppler, 27, arrested for felony criminal mischief; and Emma Lightstone, 27, arrested for riot and criminal mischief, both felonies.

The crowd of about 80 people - plus support vehicles - walked in the streets of Northeast Portland, toward PPB's North Precinct. Officials with Popeye's restaurant reported their windows were shattered. Windows were also reportedly smashed at a US Bank and and ATM machine damaged. koin.com

D.C. Bracing for More Civil Unrest
250 National Guard Troops Approved to Help DC Police Ahead of Chauvin Verdict
The D.C. National Guard announced Monday that it was activating 250 troops to assist D.C. police in case of protests after the verdict in the trial of former officer Derek Chauvin. Chauvin is charged in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year; jury deliberations started Monday. The District is preparing for more protests and possible civil unrest.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday that she had requested 300 National Guard members as a quick response force, as well as additional troops for traffic control and security at Metro stations. Two weeks after submitting her request, D.C. was granted approval for 50 fewer troops than the mayor requested. nbcwashington.com

Atlanta police prepare for protests in response to Chauvin verdict

Protesters rally in Providence in support of Adam Toledo

As nation awaits Chauvin verdict, Cincinnati preps for possibility of protests

Critics call Florida's anti-riot law an 'outrageous ploy' to end protests
 

COVID Update

212M Vaccinations Given

US: 32.4M Cases - 581.5K Dead - 25M Recovered
Worldwide: 142.8M Cases - 3M Dead - 121.3M Recovered

Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 279   Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 286
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Report: The Retailers With the Best In-Store Safety Practices
Between mid-July 2020 and early August 2020, NAPCO Research conducted an in-store review of 100 top retailers' COVID-19 safety measures based on 29 unique criteria, including signage, safety messaging, traffic, technology, and friendliness/experience. The resulting report highlighted the top performing retailers, emerging trends in COVID-19 readiness, best practices for retailers, and the main areas for improvement.

To evaluate their progress in the months since, an identical follow-up assessment was conducted in mid- to late December 2020. Part two of this report reveals the results of this second assessment, including comparisons between the findings of the first and second rounds.

Best Buy Sets the Right Example

Best Buy led all retailers by earning 79 percent of all possible points in the second round of assessment. Its particular strengths were in the safety and traffic categories, such as using social distance floor stickers and barriers to help shoppers move safely through its checkout and customer service lines.

Best Buy was followed by Target, which earned a score of 76 percent. Target's strong safety measures, consistent messaging, and promotion of technology to assist shoppers helped it obtain a top ranking. L.L.Bean finished in third place, earning 72 percent of the total possible points. It effectively used signage both to inform shoppers as well as move them throughout the store to checkout. Here's the ranking of the top 10 (chart to the right).

When looking at the results across all 100 retailers evaluated, just shy of half (49 percent) improved their scores, while more concerning, 51 percent saw their scores decrease. In many of the individual categories, there was little change between the two assessments. Scores in the signage category dropped slightly from 49 percent to 47 percent. Technology and friendliness measures each went down by 1 percent, to 36 percent and 29 percent, respectively. And while individual companies' scores in the safety category showed changes from the first assessment to the second, overall, the category average remained at 68 percent of possible points earned.

For more on retailers' preparedness levels for creating safe, convenient and enjoyable in-store shopping experiences, including the ranking of the top 25 retailers by overall score.

Retailer Readiness: COVID-19 In-Store Safety Index, Part 2 mytotalretail.com

Younger Workers Support Employer Mandated Vaccines
SHRM Survey: Some Workers Favor Required Vaccinations
Nearly two-thirds-62 percent-of employed Americans and those laid off or furloughed do not think the government should require people to get a COVID-19 vaccination, according to new research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

However, a slight majority of respondents do think employers should make these vaccinations a condition of employment.

Fifty-two percent of respondents said they would support their employer requiring all employees get vaccinated as a condition of employment-a sentiment that varies by generation, ethnic identification, industry, and whether one works remotely or onsite.

Millennials ages 24 to 29 and members of Generations X and Z are more likely to support vaccination as a condition of employment than Baby Boomers, Traditionalists and Millennials age 30 to 40, SHRM found.

"Research suggests that younger workers are particularly attuned to issues regarding workplace safety and corporate social responsibility, which could explain why they would support a mandate, in addition to their political leanings."

She also noted that the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 across minority communities could explain why employees of color are more likely to support vaccine mandates.

Vaccination as an employment requirement also has more support among teleworkers, people in knowledge and service industries, and workers who identify as BIPOC. shrm.org

J&J Still Committed to Delivering 100 Million Single-Shot Doses
Could Impact Biden's Returning to Normal by Summer Timetable

FDA Tells Johnson & Johnson Suspend Md. Production of Vaccine
The pause in production follows the contamination of 15 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine in March

Emergent BioSolutions has shut down new manufacturing of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine at its Baltimore plant at the request of the Food and Drug Administration after an inspection of the troubled facility last week, Emergent said Monday.

"Emergent agreed not to initiate the manufacturing of any new material at its Bayview facility and to quarantine existing material manufactured at the Bayview facility pending completion of the inspection and remediation of any resulting findings,'' the company said.

Contamination with ingredients from a coronavirus vaccine made by AstraZeneca ruined 15 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine last month. In response to that error, the Biden administration removed AstraZeneca manufacturing from the plant and put Johnson & Johnson in direct control of vaccine production there. washingtonpost.com

Michigan's COVID Crisis Leads to Store Closures
Apple temporarily closes all Michigan stores due to surge in COVID-19 cases
Apple has closed all six of its Michigan stores indefinitely as the state continues to see the nation's worst COVID-19 wave. The company confirmed the closure via an emailed statement Friday.

"Due to current COVID-19 conditions, we are temporarily closing our stores in Michigan," the California-based tech company said. "We take this step with an abundance of caution as we closely monitor the situation and we look forward to having our teams and customers back as soon as possible."

The company would not confirm how long the stores will be closed but say they hope to reopen "as soon as possible." No other states with Apple stores had their locations closed, the spokesperson said. Last March and at other times throughout the pandemic, Apple did close stores due to local COVID-19 conditions. wilx.com

NYC's COVID infection rate dips below 5% for the first time since November
The latest city data shows that the Big Apple had a 4.91 percent infection rate on a seven-day rolling average as of Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a City Hall press briefing Monday.

The numbers of coronavirus-related hospitalizations and new reported cases in the city are also heading in the right direction.

"Long way to go - not out of the woods yet," the mayor said. "We've got to keep being smart and we've got to get everyone vaccinated." To date, the city has administered more than 5.7 million coronavirus vaccine shots. nypost.com

California's Reopening Blueprint - April 15th
The changes to the state's reopening blueprint, which go into effect April 15, reflect two parallel trends, officials say.

First, California is continuing to gain ground in its battle against the coronavirus, with the numbers of newly confirmed cases and related hospitalizations continuing to trend downward.

And second, the state's vaccine rollout is chugging along, with hundreds of thousands of doses being administered each day.

Under the new state guidance unveiled Friday, indoor live events and performances would remain a no-go in the purple tier - the most restrictive rung of California's color-coded reopening road map.

But they could take place starting April 15 in the three other tiers, subject to capacity limits and other requirements, such as that tickets be purchased in advance, that organizers establish designated areas for eating and drinking, and that attendance be limited to California residents.

Even once the revisions take hold, "California will still be one of the most restrictive states in the country," latimes.com

California encourages venues to require vaccine 'passports' -
just don't call them that
This month, the state announced reopening rules for indoor live events that give businesses an incentive to demand such proof from ticket holders. Businesses can hold larger events when they verify either of the safeguards.

"What is happening to vaccine passports is the same thing that happened with masks," Swartzberg said. "It has become politicized, and that is really just unfortunate."

As the pandemic continues, vaccination requirements by California employers, colleges and others will probably grow, particularly once the vaccines can be easily obtained and win formal federal government approval. Private companies and medical and education institutions are already working to produce a pass, akin to an airline boarding pass, that could be used digitally or printed out.

"What is new and different and what is scaring some people is the idea of vaccine verification not for employment or school registration but for daily activities," Longhurst said. "You need to show it more frequently." latimes.com

'Unprecedented Risk to Travelers'
U.S. will boost 'Do Not Travel' advisories to 80% of world
The U.S. State Department said on Monday it will boost its "Do Not Travel" guidance to about 80% of countries worldwide, citing "unprecedented risk to travelers" from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The State Department already listed 34 out of about 200 countries as "Level 4: Do Not Travel," including places like Chad, Kosovo, Kenya, Brazil, Argentina, Haiti, Mozambique, Russia and Tanzania.

"This update will result in a significant increase in the number of countries at Level 4: Do Not Travel, to approximately 80% of countries worldwide," the department said in a statement.

Getting to 80% would imply adding nearly 130 countries. yahoo.com

No-prescription, rapid COVID-19 home tests to be sold at CVS, Walgreens and Walmart beginning this week

The governors of Texas and Florida ban vaccine passports

New York Launched its Excelsior Pass late last month

UK shopper numbers jump 87.8% as England's stores reopen after lockdown

When Employees Return to Work So Does Verifying the I-9 Form - No more faxing/virtual verification
 

Racism is a Public Health Threat Says AMA, What Should EHS Professionals Do?
"We must do more to challenge long-held assumptions and better understand how unconscious bias can influence decisions," said ASSP President Deboray Roy.

As our society wrestles with the issues of racism and its effects in a number of areas, one that should have the attention of EHS professionals, is the health implications.

The American Medical Association is quite clear on its thoughts. "The AMA recognizes that racism negatively impacts and exacerbates health inequities among historically marginalized communities. Without systemic and structural-level change, health inequities will continue to exist, and the overall health of the nation will suffer," said AMA Board Member Willarda V. Edwards, MD, in a statement on Nov. 16. 2020.

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) in July, announced its intentions to part of the solution. The group created a task force that will present an action plan.

"Achieving widespread safety and equity requires a deep-seated commitment, and we have embarked on a journey to transform our culture by bringing together people with a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives," said ASSP President Deborah Roy, M.P.H., RN said in a statement. "We must do more to challenge long-held assumptions and better understand how unconscious bias can influence decisions." ehstoday.com
 

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Director of Enterprise Risk Management job listed for Publix Employees Federal Credit Union in Lakeland, FL
The key purpose of this position is to oversee and direct the Credit Union's Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) function, the compliance program, loss prevention, BSA/AML, information security, and fraud. This position will develop and implement short- and long-term risk management plans to ensure the Credit Union maintains adequate safety and soundness, credit, compliance, and operational risk procedures. This position plans and directs the development of risk management and loss prevention programs that provide maximum protection of the Credit Union's assets.  recruiting.ultipro.com