December 2015 | Longwood Security ONLINE by Longwood Security Services, Inc.

DECEMBER 2015

DON’T FALL VICTIM TO THE GRINCH

A NEW APPROACH TO

STUDENT PROTESTS page 1

Longwood Security | December

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings from Longwood Security Welcome to the reinvigorated first issue of Longwood Security ONLINE magazine—our gift to you this Holiday Season. Going forward, we will release a new issue regularly highlighting important security matters as they relate to our communities.

Our aim is to educate and inform about ever-changing threats; on-going ‘hot-button’ protocol and policy debates; training developments and a wide variety of relevant real-world risk assessments. Our world is becoming increasingly complex and at times dangerous. We will continue to deliver our world class security services with the understanding that effective security stems directly from an open conversation with the public, creating awareness, and encouraging productive collaboration. Longwood ONLINE is intended to help facilitate engagement. We must work together to make our communities safer and more comfortable and enjoyable places to live and work. In this month’s issue, we address student protests making headlines and how universities and colleges can better approach these situations. We also have a Q&A with Longwood Security’s new Vice President of Operations; and our cover story details 10 common holiday scams you well may encounter and how to best protect yourself and your communities from becoming a fraud victim. We do very much want to hear your thoughts. Send us feedback via email or visit our Facebook or Twitter pages. Whether you want to commend an Officer for ‘Going Above and Beyond’ or express concern about a particular issue, get in touch. Your opinion matters to us. We invite you to share this magazine with friends, family and colleagues. We sincerely hope you enjoy this first issue and look forward to delivering future issues to our valued readers, clients and communities.

Jack Connelly President & CEO

Longwood Security Services, Inc. page 3

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We Want to Hear from You! Have a story to tell about a Longwood Security officer? Want to contribute to the magazine or write a letter to the editor? Whatever your reason, we want to hear from you. Connect with Longwood Security via social media or send us an email. Just click on the icons below. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that easy. We want to know your thoughts.

Mobilize Your Mission For content creation, website design & development or consulting

(617) 835-0126 | www.sensusmedia.co page 4

CONTENTS President & CEO

John (Jack) T. Connelly, Esq., CPP

Vice President of Operations Troy C. Santarlasci

CFO

Mark Norton

Human Resources

STOP THE GRINCH

10 Holiday Scams pg. 18

Melissa Palmieri

Frank Freedman

Executive Administrator Shawn Quinn

STUDENT PROTESTS A New Approach pg. 8

www.longwoodsecurity.com

Q&A

Meet LSSIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New VP of Ops pg. 14

Longwood Security | December

MAINE BOLSTERS SECURITY TO PROTECT PUBLIC BUILDINGS The Maine State House has implemented metal detectors, public school teachers’ laptops may soon be outfitted with ‘panic buttons,’ and Portland City Hall can lock down on a moment’s notice. While the new measures will provide NEW TERROR THREAT WARNING some relief to an anxious public, the measures alone can’t prevent a mass SYSTEM shooting. Aside from metal detectors and armed guards, the new protocols Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnwill do little to make a public setting son announced plans to implement a safe. new terror threat warning system, in light of the attacks in Paris and San BerDespite no surefire answer to preventnardino, Calif. ing mass shootings, authorities are studying every incident to uncover “We need to do a better job of informeffective ways to spots threats, respond ing the public at large what we are faster and mitigate casualties. seeing, removing some of the mystery about the global terrorist threat, and what we are doing about it and what we are asking the public to do,” Mr. Johnson said during a discussion at the Defense One Leadership Briefing in Washington. The current system, National Terrorism Advisory System, replaced the previous color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System and has never been used. The new system will take effect midDecember.

NEWS GONE PHISHING Plixer International released a phishing attack education game called Click Click Phish. The game is free for individuals and nonprofits and helps guide the player to make good decisions when using email. The objective of the game is to evaluate links in emails. “After being involved with over 40 customer case studies, it became clear to us that we had to do something to help the Internet community get educated on the dangers of clicking on things they shouldn’t,” Michael Patterson, CEO of Plixer said. For more on phishing scams, read this month’s cover story on page 18.

CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY COLLEGES GET ARMED POLICE The Connecticut state Board of Regents for Higher Education modified a weapons policy that will now permit community colleges to create special police forces and allow armed security to patrol campuses. The Board of Regents adopted the policy change unanimously and now must be affirmed by the state Legislature. Individual campuses will get the final say as to whether or not armed security will be permitted.

“We want all of our community colleges to ultimately establish special police forces,” Merle Harris, chair of the board’s academic and student affairs committee, said. page 7

Longwood Security | December

EDUCATION

How to Re Student P

PRODUCED BY: LONGW

espond to Protests

WOOD SECURITY STAFF page 9

Longwood Security | December

round the country, university administrators anxiously await their turn.

They’re waiting for the day a student protest breaks out on their campus and thrusts their institution into the national spotlight because of a violent incident caught on camera. However, wise administrators are taking steps to prevent an ugly incident from occurring in the first place. Those administrators realize that student protests are inevitable. Landing on CNN for the violent response doesn’t have to be. To avoid the wrath of 24-hour cable news outlets, administrators are adopting new guidelines to improve responses to student protests. Released less than a year ago, “Responding to Campus Protests: A Practitioner Resource,” a guide from the Education Law Association and NASPA Research and Policy Institute, offers a series of recommendations to prepare for student protests, de-escalate tense situations and , most importantly, protect students’ free speech rights.

On November 18, 2011, UC Davis police officer Lt. John example of what not to do when dealing with student

Students protesting social injustices, war and environmental policies are as much a part of the college experience as dining hall food and dorm rooms. Student protests aren’t going away anytime soon and haven’t changed that much from the excitable 1960s. Thanks in part to the new guidelines, campus police departments have abandoned their heavy-handed approach to student protests. Administrators are engaging students and listening to their concerns. The violent incidences of the past, from the Kent State Mas-

EDUCATION structure to handle these situations. Addressing who handles media requests, who is in command, who are the points of contact among the responding departments and who interfaces with the students before a student protest occurs will eliminate confusion and rash reactions in the moment. INCORPORATE INSTITUTIONAL MISSION—

Universities should weave its ethos into its operating procedures, just as they do for academic affairs. When conn Pike pepper sprayed student demonstrators — an t protests. structing a protest response protocol, administrators should ensure that stusacre to the UC Davis pepper spraying, dents feel free to express themselves are disappearing from the headlines. and exercise their rights. The guidelines highlight five points that will mitigate a student protest from becoming the next UC Davis and protect the institution from negative press and costly lawsuits. Among the recommendations: PREPARE— Student protests are going to happen. There’s no reason to not be ready. Universities should create a command

The student body should be made aware that exercising one’s rights does not give the right to impinge on a fellow students’ rights. Campus police should also be educated on the institution’s mission and ethos and to exercise their authority with respect to the school’s mission. Getting school administrators, students and campus police on the same page creates an atmosphere of respect, unity and peace.

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CLARITY— Universities should craft a clear set of regulations to protect all parties involved. The regulations should inform students of times and places appropriate for protests, and steps to obtain protest permits, if required. Campus police should have a standard operating produce in order to protect students’ right to assemble and other students’ right to continue their education uninterrupted. Campus police should know that their presence is to maintain peace and order. Often, these regulations are a hodge-podge collection with conflicting messages. Crafting a single document that is easily found on the university’s website will eliminate ambiguity.

lent protesters who were sitting down severely damaged UC Davis’ reputation. Campus police should be prepared for the unknown but they are dealing with 18-21 year olds that don’t pose a major threat. Furthermore, many universities across the country have received military-grade weapons such as grenade launchers and mine-resistant, ambushprotected vehicles from Department of Defense’s 1033 program. Universities should decide whether such arsenals are necessary and instruct campus police to leave the riot gear at head-

LESS IS MORE— Student protests turning violent are becoming less commonplace because campus police have abandoned the heavy handed approach of old. Campus police should not in any way escalate a situation, especially when the tenor of the protest is peaceful and orderly. Images and video of the UC Davis police officer pepper-spraying nonvio-

Longwood Security officers become a contribut events outside of normal dutites.

EDUCATION quarters unless absolutely necessary. LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY— Campus police departments who are caught off guard by a rapidly changing situation often react in ways inconsistent with their training and the university’s policies. Today’s college students use social media as a primary source of communication and broadcast events online.

a program in place to monitor social media activity, impromptu events organized via Facebook and the sentiments of students when a controversial speaker is invited to campus. COMING TOGETHER

Universities are a much better environment when administrators, students and campus police all know the appropriate ways to conduct themselves during student protests. That doesn’t Campus police departments shoul have happen by accident but by setting clear expectations. While most student protests are peaceful, there are intense emotions under the surface. Protests provide an acceptable and constructive vehicle to express that emotion. Protesting is a fundamental right of Americans and students and that should not be lost on campus police departments. A student protest is itself an opportunity for the campus community to start a dialogue. Campus police departments should participate in that dialogue. And leave the grenade launcher in the armory. «

ting member of the campuses, attending

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Longwood Security | December

Troy C. Santarlasci was recently promoted to Vice President of Operations for Longwood Security. We sat down with Mr. Santarlasci to ask him what he hopes to accomplish in his new position.

Congratulations on becoming Vice President of Operations. Why do you think you were the best person for the role?

As an internal candidate, I bring knowledge of the systems, policies and procedures that have made LSSI LSSI is going through a period successful and I can’t see an outside of growth. My hope is that I can candidate being able to come in and help give direction and stability durquickly absorb, understand and eming that time by supporting, nurturing brace the unique culture that has made and guiding current supervisors and LSSI so successful. managers while helping to develop the next generation of LSSI leadership. I also have over 20 years of security and law enforcement experience in LSSI’s 3 I also would like to explore ways to core markets—Residential, Healthcare grow the LSSI footprint in the Boston and Education. Having worked in all 3 Area—different markets from those we markets I have gained valuable insight have traditionally been involved with, into the diverse needs and market nusuch as retail and government service ances required to effectively manage account contracts. security operations.

What do you hope to accomplish in your new position?

Many people may not know, but you started at LSSI in ’92, left and returned in 2012. Why’d you leave and

LSSI what brought you back?

How has the security industry changed over your career and what are some areas that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re particularly concerned or passionate about?

When I left LSSI I was looking for a career in municipal law enforcement. I enjoyed working for LSSI, but I felt that I needed to take the next step. I moved on to be an armed Boston SpeI would have to say the biggest cial Officer while pursuing a full time change has been the advanceposition in law enforcement. ment in technology. When I started, we carried a 20-pound clock, slung over As my career progressed I found myself our shoulders, that utilized metal keys moving up the supervisory ranks and hung at check points to document into management, eventually becomguard tours. Radios were about the size ing the Chief of Public Safety at Mount of a large brick and CCTV coverage was Ida College where I served 12 years. minimal, at best. Throughout my career and while Chief, I had the opportunity to network with Increasingly, we have embraced techmany of the local and federal law ennology, not only in lighter, more effiforcement agencies working in the cient tour and communication systems greater Boston Area and had the plea- but in Video, GPS monitoring, Intuitive sure of supervising many young ofreporting systems, server-based onficers who went on to fulltime law enline reporting systems and a host of forcement careers. other technology. As a result we have

In 2012, then LSSI Vice President Peter Scott, who I had known while he was a Captain with the Brookline Police reached out and asked me about coming back to Longwood to run the Community Service Division. It was a new challenge, yet, at the same time, it felt like after 20 years of growth, I was coming home to where I started. I jumped at the opportunity.

become more proactive and responsive with the ability to quickly adapt to changing security needs.

LSSI has always stayed true to its Boston roots. Based on your resume, you could probably work with a national or international security firm. Why stay here in Boston?

I previously worked for an international security firm and I always page 15

Longwood Security | December

felt like more of a number than a person. I tend to be very passionate and connected to the things I do. LSSI gives me an opportunity to be that person and to cultivate relationships with our employees and clients. And of course, I was born, grew up and worked in Boston my entire life. I love the City and New England. I am a huge Patriots and Red Sox fan and there’s nothing better than fresh Maine Lobster. Staying local and working for a local company just feels right. Besides, I can see Fenway Park from my office.

Q A

What’s your proudest career moment?

I have had quite a few moments during my career that I am extremely proud; however, one sticks out to me. About a month after I had left my position as Chief at Mount Ida College, I received a call from one of the supervisors asking me to get together for dinner. Having worked with him for years, I was happy to accept and met up with him.

of the people I oversaw felt that I had been a good leader, friend and mentor. I was truly proud and grateful at that moment.

LSSI strives to ‘Make a Difference, Everyday.’ How do you plan to make a difference in the communities that LSSI operates?

I think what sets us apart is our partnerships and relationships with our clients. By cultivating those relationships and making our clients’ needs, wants and mission our own, we are better able to contribute above and beyond providing basic security services. I will work to cultivate and grow those relationships to ensure we provide “Extreme Customer Service®,” a first class security service and a true win/ win partnership with the communities, clients and people we serve.

Q A

What do you do on your free time? Hobbies, activities, sports?

Well, I am a part time Police Officer in the City of Attleboro and I am a Law Enforcement Instructor—two things I have a passion for—so I spend a good chunk of time in those roles.

When I arrived, every member of the Department was there. They threw me a ‘Thank You Party,’ and each one had written a personal thank you note telling me what my leadership and friendship meant to them. It was a truly hum- Recently, my wife and I welcomed our bling experience to know that so many first child, Robert Joseph who is 13

weeks old. I have been enjoying spending every possible minute with him, bonding and watching him grow. I have been told many times by many people that there is no joy like having a child and that you need to enjoy every moment because time will pass quickly. They were right.

on the Boston security scene?

LSSI’s belief in partnerships, attention to detail, belief in “Extreme Customer Service®” and having a small business mindset are all factors that have put us on top and will continue to help us stay there.

I’m also active with youth programs, speaking engagements and youth ministry work throughout the greater Boston Area.

I also feel we have been strategic in our growth and always make sure not to take on too much too fast or grow beyond our capabilities. We have specialized, first in Healthcare, then in EduAnd lastly, watching my Patriots and cation and most recently in Residential Red Sox…..Boston Strong! Security. By concentrating on those arTroy C. Santar eas, you are able to remain focused, unHaving worked in the communiderstand the needs of the market and ties and in the main office, you provide a high level of service without have a unique perspective of LSSI. What sacrificing quality for quantity. « has allowed LSSI to remain a constant

Troy C. Santarlasci, second from left, volunteers with youth programs and does youth ministry work throughout the greater Boston Area. page 17

Longwood Security | December

DON’T FALL VICTIM TO THE GRINCH 10 COMMON HOLIDAY SCAMS TO WATCH FOR THIS SEASON

PRODUCED BY: LONGWOOD SECURITY STAFF

RESIDENTIAL

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Longwood Security | December

is the season to be jolly, but, sadly, millions of Americans fall victim to a wide range of scams and fraud each holiday season. And the problem is only growing worse. We are all susceptible to holiday giving scams, with 70% of consumers failing a quiz about how to stay safe, a new survey from AARP Fraud Watch Network found. “While most of us focus on family and friends during the holidays, fraudsters are zeroing in on our wallets and bank accounts,” said Nancy LeaMond, Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer, AARP.

Foundation.

“We strongly encourage everyone to elevate their awareness of emerging and popular scams, and to share this information with their families to help keep them safe this holiday season.”

Additionally, only an estimated 15 percent of the nation’s fraud victims report their crimes to law enforcement, according to the United States Department of Justice.

An estimated 30 million Americans experience some type of fraud every year costing upwards of $50 billion annually, according to The Financial Fraud Research Center, a joint project of the Stanford Center on Longevity and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education

Con-artists target victims of every age, race, gender and socioeconomic background year-round. And the holiday season proves to be especially problematic. Con-artists prey on people’s generosity when the Spirit-of-Giving is running high.

RESIDENTIAL be aware of the common schemes the Grinchs of the world use. We’ve laid out 10 of the most prevalent holiday scams and, remember, if the deal is too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.

CHARITABLE GIVING Plenty of charities are highly active and do their best fundraising during the holidays. This fact isn’t lost on scammers as many misuse legitimate charity names or even create fictitious charities to pocket donations. How do you protect yourself from becoming a fraud victim without curtailing your holiday spirit? You need to

Donate only to charities you trust or that you properly vet. Charitynavigator. org is a great resource to learn more

“We strongly encourage everyone to elevate their awareness of emerging and popular scams, and to share this information with their families to help keep them safe this holiday season.” page 21

Longwood Security | December

about a particular charity, how much of is activated and then drain the funds the donation they keep and the proper from the card. channels to give. Never donate by cash or wire transfer. Always buy gift cards directly from the retailer, and, if possible, purchase gift cards from a cashier. Examine the card ONLINE SHOPPING for any tampering and never provide sensitive information such as Social SeWith a record number of Americans shopping online, consumers must con- curity numbers or bank account information. firm that they are shopping on an authentic website. Scammers set-up fake websites, often resembling well known PUBLIC WI-FI retailers, sell fake items and shut down overnight, making them virtually unPublic, free Wi-Fi networks are becomtraceable. ing as ubiquitous as smartphones. And many shoppers are connecting to these Beware of deals and offers sent to your email or on social media. If a new site seems legitimate, a Google search for reviews will turn up valuable information to verify the site. And whenever entering payment information into a website, make sure the URL has ‘https://’ at the beginning. This indicates your payment information is secure and encrypted.

GIFT CARDS Most Americans think that gift cards and prepaid debit cards are a safer alternative to cash. This isn’t always the case. Thieves can copy information from gift card racks, wait until the card

RESIDENTIAL networks while at the mall. While it may be okay to surf Facebook on a public Wi-Fi, hackers are setting up shop in mall food courts and siphoning-off sensitive data from the Wi-Fi network when unsuspecting consumers check their bank account balance or enter their credit card information.

Package theft is one of the oldest yet still most prominent thefts during the holidays. Millions of packages are shipped and left on people’s doorsteps, which is an invitation for thieves to simply walk off with your prized holiday gift. While many retailers and delivery services will work with victims of package theft, they are not legally responAgain, do not check important financial sible. information over public networks. Only make online purchases from your seRequiring a signature upon delivery is a cure, home Wi-Fi network. surefire way to protect your packages. Tracking numbers are also useful when anticipating deliveries and making PACKAGE THEFT yourself available. If possible, arrange for delivery when you are at home. Also consider having packages delivered to your workplace.

MOBILE APPS The proliferation of mobile apps creates another vehicle for identity theft. Some holiday apps are disguised as games and offered for free, but they’re designed specifically to steal your personal information. Always be cautious when giving unknown apps access to your smartphone data or entering sensitive financial information. It’s best to do a Google search of the company offering the app page 23

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and seek out online reviews from users who have downloaded the app.

TICKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA Tickets to theater, concerts, and sporting events are common holiday gifts, according to the FBIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website. Recipients understandably want to share their good fortune with friends and family on social media. Scammers are searching social media for ticket barcodes, counterfeiting the tickets and selling them. Never post pictures of tickets on social media and protect the ticketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s barcode like you would a credit card. If you must share with your friends and family, post a picture of the event itself.

JOB SCAMS For millions of Americans, the holidays bring Yuletide cheer and financial stress. To relieve some of that stress, many seek additional employment during the holidays. While seeking holiday job opportunities, be leery of jobs that offer unreasonably high pay for easy work, those that require you to purchase items

before working and those who ask for an application fee or processing fee to apply.

PHISHING SCAMS As old as email itself, phishing scams are emails with malicious links that transfer sensitive financial information when clicked. Scammers have created sophisticated phishing scams, emulating emails from banks and credit card companies. You should never respond to the Ni-

RESIDENTIAL threaten you over the phone. The IRS does its business through the United States Postal Service [the USPS].

TRAVEL SCAMS Hot cocoa, eggnog and hot toddies are great cold weather comforts during the holidays, but they’re no substitute for a warm weather vacation to the Caribbean. Be wary of “free” Caribbean cruise sweepstakes and timeshare offers. These offers of beach bliss are the work of scammers who set-up fake traveldeal websites to obtain your sensitive financial information. If you were a good boy or girl this year, you may find a Caribbean cruise in your stocking but most definitely not in your email.

gerian Price who is holding your inheritance. Verify your friend really is trapped in Africa and needs your aid (99.9% of the time your friend is on their couch down the street) and never send sensitive information to your bank via email. Don’t let a Grinch steal your holiday cheer this year. Be mindful of the scams Banks never solicit information via listed above and, if you have any doubt, email and encourage you to login to just walk away. their secure websites and messaging systems. If you do suspect that you’ve become a fraud victim, report the crime to your Same for the “IRS” phone call you may local authorities or with the FBI Interreceive. The IRS does not do business net Crime Complaint Center (IC3). over the phone. They will never call Consumers may also visit the Fraud you. And the IRS will certainly never Watch Network to receive timely fraud alerts for their local area. « page 25

Longwood Security | December