Register Now: New Webinar from Agilence & Progressive Grocer
How Grocers Can Win The Loss Prevention War

Thursday, Apr 15 @ 2:00 PM EDT

The disruption food retailers experienced during the pandemic touched all areas of operations, including loss prevention and asset protection. New challenges emerged and existing ones intensified thanks to the growth of e-commerce, increased organized retail crime and rapid adoption of frictionless store experiences such as self checkout. However, retailers are fighting back with new approaches and new tools to win the loss prevention war. Join Progressive Grocer and industry leaders in the space as we share insights and explore:

● The current state of LP/AP, top threats and methods of deterrence to bolster the bottom line.
● How the rise of e-commerce and usage of third party delivery services are impacting shrink.
● The surge of self-checkout and best practices to thwart theft.
● New technologies, tools and techniques to reduce loss.

Click here to register

Protests & Violence

More than 100 Americans a Day Are Murdered

2020 was the deadliest gun violence year in decades
Shootings never stopped during the pandemic
Until two lethal rampages this month, mass shootings had largely been absent from headlines during the coronavirus pandemic. But people were still dying — at a record rate.

In 2020, gun violence killed nearly 20,000 Americans, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive, more than any other year in at least two decades. An additional 24,000 people died by suicide with a gun.

The vast majority of these tragedies happen far from the glare of the national spotlight, unfolding instead in homes or on city streets and — like the covid-19 crisis — disproportionately affecting communities of color.

Last week’s shootings at spas in the Atlanta area and Monday’s shooting at a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., killed a combined 18 people and rejuvenated a national effort to overhaul gun laws. But high-profile mass shootings such as those tend to overshadow the instances of everyday violence that account for most gun deaths, potentially clouding some people’s understanding of the problem and complicating the country’s response, experts say.

Shooting deaths in 2020 outpaced the next-highest recent year, 2017, by more than 3,600. The rise resembles other alarming trends: Last year, the United States saw the highest one-year increase in homicides since it began keeping records, with the country’s largest cities suffering a 30 percent spike. Gunshot injuries also rose dramatically, to nearly 40,000, over 8,000 more than in 2017.

“More than 100 Americans are killed daily by gun violence,” Ronnie Dunn, a professor of urban studies at Cleveland State University, said, using a figure that includes suicides. “The majority are in Black and Brown communities. We don’t really focus on gun violence until we have these mass shootings, but it’s an ongoing, chronic problem that affects a significant portion of our society.”

Researchers say the pandemic probably fueled the increases in several ways. They also note the apparent collapse of public confidence in law enforcement that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

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Civil Unrest Becoming Top Risk for Businesses Worldwide
Companies need to prepare for more political disturbance
Companies need to prepare for more political disturbances and violence in the months ahead, according to a report by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS).

Damage, disturbances and losses from riots, vandalism or other forms of civil unrest are now among the top political risk exposures for companies, and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will likely fuel further unrest, AGCS said. The insurer said that business continuity planning needs to proactively address political violence risks – especially in highly exposed sectors like retail.

“Fortunately, large-scale terrorism events have declined drastically in the last five years. However, the number, scale and duration of riots and protests in the last two years is staggering, and we have seen businesses suffering significant losses,” said Bjoern Reusswig, head of global political violence and hostile environment solutions at AGCS. “Civil unrest has soared, driven by protests on issues ranging from economic hardship to police brutality, which have affected citizens around the world. And the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is making things worse – with little sign of an end to the economic downturn in sight, the number of protests is likely to continue climbing.”

According to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2021, an annual global risk survey, civil unrest incidents are becoming a more significant risk for companies. In this year’s survey, “political risks and violence” hit the top 10 risks for the first time since 2018.

That trend is supported by recent research that predicts the number of global protesters will increase over the next two years. Research firm Verisk Maplecroft expects 75 countries to experience an increase in protests by late 2022. Of those, more than 30 – largely in Europe and the Americas – are likely to see significant activity.

COVID likely to drive further violence - Need for business continuity planning insurancebusinessmag.com

Another Bill Aims to Crack Down on Protests
Arizona bill aims to give police more power to punish protesters
The bill, HB2309, would create a new felony offense and significantly increase the penalties for minor crimes if officers declare that an assembly is unlawful and violent. Rep. Bret Roberts said he introduced the bill because of the protests immediately following the police killing of George Floyd.

“This bill is intended to give those individuals that choose to partake in what’s supposed to be a peaceful protest, and give them a moment of pause and ask themselves, ‘Do I want to attend this event?’” Roberts said during a recent committee hearing. “I need to ask myself, ’Is there the potential that this could go awry and people’s lives and property could be in jeopardy?’ That’s the intent of the bill.” abc15.com

LA riot cops clash with protesters while clearing huge homeless tent city
Scores of police moved into the Echo Park encampment at around 10 p.m. Wednesday — and were met by more than 200 protesters opposing the sweep, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Protesters threw bottles and objects at the lines of officers in clashes over the encampment that has grown to hundreds of tents and has sparked alarm over rising crime, drug use and trash, the paper said.

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore told the LA Times that homeless residents inside the park could stay overnight — but that no one else can enter. The encampment residents must leave within 24 hours, he added. nypost.com

How COVID will make Chauvin's trial in George Floyd's death look like no other

What we know about the jurors in the Derek Chauvin trial
 

Criminal Justice Reform

The Progressive DA Movement in America
Calif. Names Progressive DA State AG/Is Manhattan Next?

Judge Stops LA's Progressive DA Policy Changes
The Ultimate Battle Begins

‘It’s a showdown’: California district attorneys battle over criminal justice reforms
Criminal justice reformers nationwide rejoiced when L.A. County voters chose George Gascón to lead the nation’s largest prosecutor’s office, celebrating a big win in a years-long campaign to replace traditional law-and-order district attorneys with ones intent on change.

And just hours after being sworn in, Gascón delivered to his backers: He announced a slew of policy directives that barred prosecutors from seeking the death penalty, trying juveniles as adults, attending parole hearings or filing most sentencing enhancements that can increase a defendants’ prison term.

Nearly as quickly, the news instigated a brawl among California’s public prosecutors, with the organization representing 57 out of the state’s 58 district attorneys questioning both the legality and wisdom of Gascón’s mandates. Now, many of the state’s old guard of district attorneys are openly sparring with reformer colleagues in a power struggle that could shape criminal justice in California and other states.

“It’s a showdown of exactly how much power one branch of government has to override other branches,” said Sacramento County Dist. Atty. Anne Marie Schubert, who opposes Gascón’s reforms as overreach thats ignore victims’ rights. “We are elected to enforce the law, not make the law.”

Although the movement to replace traditional district attorneys has gained momentum since the 2017 win of criminal defense attorney Larry Krasner as Philadelphia’s top prosecutor, the anger and protests unleashed by the death of George Floyd while in police custody hardened the battle lines in Los Angeles and helped propel Gascón to power. But his immediate orders weren’t well received by a staff that had questions for a boss it barely knows.

The union representing L.A. County line prosecutors — those who handle cases day to day — sued Gascón last year hoping to stall some of his changes. Monday a judge ruled largely in their favor. The decision will almost certainly be appealed and could ultimately reach the state Supreme Court.

Becton believes if Gascón ultimately loses, it could have a “chilling effect” on the authority of public prosecutors to implement reforms and decide who will face a judge and how serious charges will be — even in places where line prosecutors don’t have the power of a union. latimes.com subscription required

California Governor Names Progressive DA for State AG
Rob Bonta named California AG, would be first Filipino American in role
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday appointed Democratic Assemblyman Rob Bonta as California attorney general, picking a leading advocate for criminal justice reform who has campaigned to abolish the death penalty and eliminate cash bail for many offenses.

“Rob represents what makes California great — our desire to take on righteous fights and reverse systematic injustices,” Newsom said Wednesday. “Growing up with parents steeped in social justice movements, Rob has become a national leader in the fight to repair our justice system and defend the rights of every Californian.”

On Wednesday, he said that the criminal justice system is “fundamentally broken.”

In the Legislature he has led efforts to change the state’s criminal justice system, including a bill now pending that would mostly eliminate cash bail for misdemeanors and many nonviolent, low-level felonies.

It is his second attempt on the issue. In 2018, Bonta won passage of a reform bill but the bail industry qualified a referendum on the measure and voters rejected the changes last year.

His appointment was hailed by advocates for criminal justice reform, including Cristine Soto DeBerry, executive director of Prosecutors Alliance of California, a group of district attorneys that supports addressing inequities in the criminal justice system. latimes.com

The Next Manhattan DA Could Be a Progressive
The ripple effect could impact retail shoplifting & ORC cases

Manhattan's next DA could be a Democratic Progressive
Up for election now with an incumbent not running there's eight Democratic district attorney candidates running in the June 22 primary. No Republican with strong appeal has emerged.

Because Democrats outnumber Republicans about nine to one in Manhattan, the Democratic primary winner is expected to prevail in the November general election.

Running on the most reformist platforms are three candidates.

However all of them are campaigning on an overhaul of the justice system with promises that were once on the political fringes but are now hallmarks of the progressive prosecutor movement.

Manhattan’s next top prosecutor will take office amid a rise in violent crime, a continuing pandemic and in the wake of a summer of mass protests for racial justice. And run a ship as huge as the Manhattan DA’s office, which has a full-time staff of more than 1,500 and a $126.1 million budget.

Nine elected progressive prosecutors are supporting Lucy Lang. wsj.com
 

COVID Update

130M Vaccinations Given

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Director, Asset Protection NF4 job posted for Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) in Quantico, VA
The incumbent serves as the Director of Asset Protection and is responsible for coordinating and implementing asset protection and loss prevention policy and programs for MR-directed programs and support services. Supports the Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) governance and oversight processes and performs tasks in support of policy development, compliance and risk management functions, asset protection, and strategic analysis. Serves as the subject matter expert and principal author for MR policy pertaining to MCCS Asset Protection. Develops, documents, and evaluates policies and procedures for inventory management, warehouse and receiving operations, cash handling, property control, security, loss prevention, safety, and other business processes. usajobs.gov