Mall security guard takes action against irrational customer
Visalia Mall and the Visalia Police Department honor security officer with award following heroic assistance in arrest
VISALIA – Even Visalia police officers need help with the average everyday arrests. That’s where security guard Luis Garcia comes in.
On Feb. 27 Garcia took heroic action and assisted a Visalia Police Officer with the arrest of a suspect causing a disturbance in the Visalia Mall. For his quick thinking Garcia was honored with a Meritorious Award from his company and the Visalia Police Department. The ceremony took place in the Visalia Mall food court next to the shoe store Foot Locker, where the initial scene unfolded.
Mark Hopkins, director of mall security, said it was in the late afternoon when the Visalia Mall security team received a call from the shoe store. They reported a subject who was behaving strangely and attempted to get into the store’s stock room. Security officers were sent to deescalate the situation but found themselves unable to do so.
“He was a fairly large gentleman,” Hopkins described. “He was very aggressive with them.”
The Visalia Police Department was contacted for assistance but their efforts to deescalate the affair were met with noncompliance. Mall security cleared the store of employees and consumers as it quickly became loud and dangerous. The Visalia police officer attempted to secure the subject but the subject was uncooperative and there was a physical struggle until the two ended up on the ground. Garcia made a judgment call and took initiative by stepping in to help the officer with the assault. He was able to get the subject in handcuffs before additional officers arrived.
“It’s quite an interesting place to work,” Hopkins noted about the Visalia Mall. “We’re often tasked here with things that aren’t in the norm. It’s not the first time [Garcia has] had to assist.”
“Security Officer Garcia went above and beyond. He saw a situation where someone needed help and he did what he thought was right,” Rick Feder, Visalia Mall general manager, said.
Lieutenant Kevin Kroeze of Visalia Police Department attended the ceremony as an expression of gratitude: “It was a good opportunity to say thank you to Luis, for his help.”
The Meritorious Award was presented to Garcia at 8:30 AM on June 14.
“He was humbled to get the award,” Hopkins said. “He feels like he was just doing his job, because helping people is what he loves to do.”
Original Article : https://thesungazette.com/article/news/2022/06/17/mall-security-guard-takes-action-against-irrational-customer/
Unarmed security guards hired to patrol on Chicago’s Southwest Side after increase in crime
CHICAGO – Starting this week, a ward on Chicago’s Southwest Side will begin hiring private security to combat an increase in crime in the Beverly, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood neighborhoods.
It’s something business owners asked for, since there aren’t enough police officers to do the job.
“This is an extra set of eyes and ears, going up and down the alleys and in front of the businesses, identifying what could be suspicious behavior or criminal behavior, and then contacting the Chicago Police Department,” said Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th).
O’Shea said that robberies are up more than 20%, burglaries are up more than 30%, and theft is up more than 60% citywide.
He said he’s fired up about the lack of attention crime is getting, primarily when it targets the city’s most vulnerable residents.
“When we talk about crime, it’s not just the data, it’s the perception and people are scared,” O’Shea said.
O’Shea hopes the security will free up Chicago police to tackle more serious crime. He calls CPD staff shortages “troubling” and wants to lighten the load for police.
The private security is funded through the end of this year.
The Bucktown, Lincoln Park and Hyde Park neighborhoods have also recently hired private security to deter crime.
