-PRESS RELEASES
Planning and Common Sense Remain Best Security Tips
Security is Risky Business and Not Getting Any Easier
BelayUSA Provides Crucial Information
Free Safety Meetings Consistently Draw Large Crowds
How Does the New Law Affect Your Company?
Are You Vulnerable?
Armed and Cautious...Conceal-Carry Training Teaches Fundamentals, Stresses Safety
It's More than Just a Sign on the Door
How Will You Handle Concealed Carry Violations?
Establish a Safe Working Environment and Secure Facility
Bodyguards a Necessity for Gem Seller
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-PLANNING AND COMMON SENSE REMAIN BEST SECURITY TIPS
By Susan A. Pavilkey for Business First
October 11, 2002
Traveling these days under stringent security measures sometimes has nothing to do with terrorism.
Just ask Carl Long, president and CEO of BelayUSA Corp., a Hilliard private investigation firm specializing in corporate services and close executive protection. His firm works throughout Ohio protecting those traveling with expensive wares - such as jewelers on their way to a trade show, inventors with trade secrets, and high-tech research information, or executives who have received threats.
"Staying safe while traveling with valuables is a matter of good common sense most of the time," Long says.
"Have all your travel information with you and make sure a rental car and maps are available. You'd be surprised at how many people have gotten into trouble by neglecting to do this and then ended up being in the wrong place at the wrong time," he says.
When hammering out national contracts with security firms, corporations should ask about who is going to protect their traveling employee(s) in various cities.
"One of the things that is always a challenge is that corporations use security in different cities." he says. "Ask the (security) firm to give you specifics ... you want to feel comfortable with whoever is protecting you."
BelayUSA, founded in 1991, employs more than 40 people with backgrounds in law enforcement, the military, and corrections. Long previously worked as an undercover narcotics agent.
Pre-planning pays off
Bill Behrans, director of convention services at the Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, says he has several options to share with convention groups coming to Columbus who inquire about security issues.
"I refer them to the Columbus Police Department, or if they're staying downtown, I'll put them in touch with the Capital Crossroads Group," he says.
The CCG is a year-round service offered as part of the Special Improvement District that covers a 25-square-block downtown area. The group has radio equipment and ready access to police and other emergency numbers.
Long says that other arrangements made beforehand can make the difference in your security, such as making sure those who arrange your trip have some type of basic security training.
"Don't put things like your company logo, home or business address on your luggage, dossiers and laptops or other belongings and valuables."
Carl Long
BelayUSA Investigations
SAFETY TIPS
Keep a low profile. Dress casually; don't flash cash around or wear large amounts of jewelry.
Travel only with people you know.
Have an emergency plan of action.
Take hotel rooms that are third floor and above.
Do a preliminary check of safety issues at hotel (make sure windows lock, etc.)
Do not leave propriety information about valuables in your hotel room.
Don't give front-desk staff sensitive documents to fax or mail.
Place valuables in hotel lock box for safekeeping.
Have threat assessment done to tell you of possible dangers in each city or country.
Rent a low-profile car.
Be aware of weather conditions.
Obey local traffic laws.
Photocopy your passport, airline tickets, credit cards, and other important documents before leaving.
Use cyber cafes or palm pilots for your e-mail instead of carrying a laptop computer.
Consider disposable cameras instead of expensive photographic equipment.
Sources: BelayUSA Corp and AAA Ohio Auto-club
"Doing so will ensure that they have the know-how to set up a secure trip," he says. Stricter airport security measures - including limiting passengers to one carry on item, may force travelers to make special arrangements for their valuables.
"You might have to hire a courier or have a second person travel with you to transport all your valuables securely," he says.
"Don't put things like your company logo, home or business address on your luggage, dossiers and laptops or other belongings and valuables. Someone could show up at your place of business or your home to rob you later," he says.
Leave valuables at home
Susan Stewart, spokeswoman for the AAA Ohio Auto Club in Worthington, says the agency always recommends people avoid traveling with valuables if at all possible.
"If you must take valuables with you, make sure they are properly insured. Some policies allow you to purchase floater insurance specifically for your valuable items," she says.
Computers can contain confidential information that could put you at risk if stolen. "Use a less expensive laptop when you travel, one that doesn't have any personal or business information on it. Keep in mind though that the cheaper laptops don't hold up very well and should be transported in a padded case," Stewart says.
Behrans says security issues are contingent on various factors.
"If the group is doing all its functions in one facility, they can contact the general manager at the site to find out what the facility's security system is and what companies can provide services," he says. "On the other hand, groups that have lots of valuable property spread throughout different facilities would have more complicated needs," he says.
But, Long says, no matter where a person goes or how pricey their possessions may be, there seems to be one universal rule people everywhere would be wise to heed when traveling. "If the worst happens, and someone tries to rob you, give it up. You should never resist a robbery," Long says.
© 2002 American City Business Journals Inc.
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-SECURITY IS RISKY BUSINESS AND NOT GETTING ANY EASIER
By Dean Narciso
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Monday, September 9, 2002
Carl Long's introduction isn't subtle. He loads ammunition and weapons into a gun vault built into the trunk of his Lincoln Town Car. He adjusts the straps of his bulletproof vest. Then he issues a warning: "Obviously, sitting in a car with me has an element of danger,'' he tells two visitors traveling with him. "This puts you right in the middle of things."
"You have any problem with that?''
On this morning, the veteran cop and bodyguard is traveling to Cleveland to escort a jeweler and his gems back to Columbus for a jewelry show. In the back of Long's mind is the cargo's value: $4 million to $5 million. In the forefront is any possibility, however remote, of attack.
His guests groggily nestle into the leather upholstered car and, 90 minutes before sunrise, become part of a four-car convoy that leaves the parking lot of [BelayUSA formerly] Investigation Protection Recovery, Long's security firm on Trabue Road.
The far west side company is one of about a dozen in central Ohio that protects entertainers, executives and jewelers.
Workplace violence and terrorism concerns, especially since September 11, have put the spotlight on the security industry, said Larry Curran, vice president and investigative council for Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations in Boston, which oversees hundreds of Pinkerton offices nationwide.
"There are at least a dozen firms in every state who have some specialty in executive protection or high-value asset protection,'' Curran said.
"Escorting high-value shipments and the people traveling with those shipments is a regular occurrence.''
Armed protectors disguised as civilians roam big-city streets or crowded malls safeguarding stocks or bond certificates, lottery winnings, trade secrets, and high-tech devices.
"Jewelry is the most obvious and easiest to understand by the public,'' Curran said. "But if a high-value computer chip is stolen, you lose the value of the cargo, plus the ability of the company to produce it. It's a double hit.''
Bodyguards carry as much - or more - firepower as uniformed police officers, those in the industry say. Strapped beneath Long's flak jacket on this particular day are two Glock .45-caliber automatic pistols, pepper spray, a retractable club, and other devices.
Long, 49, is proficient in hand-to-hand combat and has the ability "to calmly handle life-and-death situations,'' his resume touts. His work as a police officer was conducted in northern Ohio, where he worked for a multicounty drug-enforcement agency.
"Jewelers are far more likely to be targeted than executives," Long said. Those two make up the majority of the clients for his firm, which employs six full-time and about 40 "on-call'' workers.
"Hitting a jeweler gives you a pretty instant gratification. If I can pick up $5 million in a day and fence it for 5 cents on the dollar, I'm doing pretty good.''
In response to a greater perceived attack threat on this trip to Cleveland, Long brings along three colleagues, two of whom also are armed.
"Our sheer travel time increases our level of danger,'' he explained.
Long's client on this day is Jay, a 29-year-old father of four who is based in Utah and prefers that his full name and company not be used.
He will meet Long and his agents at the rear of Parmatown Mall, near Cleveland.
Wearing a casual shirt, shorts and sneakers, Jay appears youthful, nervous and eager to greet his guards and pick up his cache of diamonds and rubies from a department store vault.
Approaching the mall, Long shifts his gaze up and down rows of parking spaces. He scans garbage bins, adjoining buildings, and focuses on vans with tinted windows.
"Those are the worst,'' he said of the vans, which he said could be hideouts for bandits.
In 11 years of operating his firm, Long hasn't exchanged a shot. But he said he thinks he was targeted at least once for a possible attack.
Last year, a jeweler's car, being escorted by his firm, lost tire pressure en route to Port Columbus. The client was told to abandon the car, and was driven the rest of the way. The tires, they later learned, had been slashed. Long said that likely was an attempt to disable the car, setting up a robbery of the jeweler.
Of the dozen investigation firms in Columbus, most offer executive protection.
Their level of training varies greatly, said Lenny Hall, whose 20-year-old Worthington firm, Hall & Associates, protected former Columbus Public Schools Superintendent Rosa Smith for five months after threats were made against her two years ago.
"People typically don't snap and commit an act of violence. There's usually planning and practice that comes with it,'' Hall said. "If you are in a situation where violence occurs to your protectee, in all likelihood you've made a mistake along the way.''
Fritz Weidner, a veteran investigator with offices in downtown Columbus, said the ideal protection occurs when "nobody knows it happened.''
Clients typically pay $14.50 to $30.00 an hour for such services, said Michael Womer, chairman of the Columbus chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security, which represents about 300 members.
Long won't say what his typical protection detail costs, but confides it's not much. His frustrations arise from clients who choose to cut corners.
Jay, for example, was traveling to Columbus for a weekend trunk show at Eastland and Tuttle Crossing malls, but his employer paid only to protect him when he was with the jewels, not when he returned to his hotel.
"I don't think they appreciate what a huge gap that is,'' Long said.
Jay concedes that, even when he's protected, he's a potential target.
"You really don't think about it a lot. If you did, it would drive you so crazy that you probably wouldn't be able to handle being out in public.
"Once you're doing it long enough you just think you're pulling another suitcase.''
With 11 years in the jewelry business, this is Jay's first year doing special shows. His load lightens, in more ways than one, when the bags are safely stowed.
"Once the bags have been secured, no matter where they're secured, there's a huge burden that's lifted off your shoulders,'' Jay said. "I have an obligation to keep myself alive, you know, for my family.''
And Long, himself the father of two college-age sons, said he works to make that happen.
After arriving in Columbus from this particular trip, Long sighs and notes, "As dangerous as what we do is, I'd rather do this than work in a convenience store.''
dnarciso@dispatch.com
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-BELAYUSA PROVIDES CRUCIAL INFORMATION
The Daily Reporter:
June 11, 2002
When Turner Construction Co. was involved in a renovation project at Port Columbus International Airport (post September 11), security needs and requirements changed daily.
And when American Airlines required comprehensive background investigations on key project staff involved in the project, Turner Construction Co. needed help fast.
Scott Rantala, project manager for Turner Construction Co., contacted the BX [Builder's Exchange] looking for help in finding a company that could perform this service quickly and thoroughly.
The BX was the first place I looked for a recommendation on a company that could perform multiple background investigations for me, and I was immediately referred to BelayUSA, said Rantala.
I looked at other vendors, but BelayUSA is a local company and a BX Partner in Service. Those were huge factors in my decision, and we received a great discount on the service, he added.
The BX formed an official partnership with BelayUSA last year. The company is a full service investigative and security corporation specializing in background investigations, workers compensation investigations, and undercover services.
Rantala said that Turner's discount on the service was ultimately passed on to American Airlines—saving both companies time and money.
The project was complicated by security measures that changed daily. We needed the service performed within a specified time frame, and BelayUSA was able to get the job done, said Rantala.
In addition to timely service, Rantala stated that the company was very thorough in performing the investigations, often reconfirming details with Turner Construction Co. to ensure accuracy. I was impressed with the quality of service I received from BelayUSA, and will certainly use them again if the situation warrants it, Rantala explained.
BelayUSA offers BX members discounts on basic, intermediate and extensive background investigations; along with fingerprinting, compliance checks, undercover investigations, and security audits.
This is a great opportunity for BX members to save money on background checks and investigative services, said Victoria Gresh, BX director of operations.
I have personally used BelayUSA when screening potential employees for hire. They're quick, thorough, and affordable. A comprehensive background investigation can give you the information you need to make a good hiring decisions, she added.
Gresh noted that the service is timely for BX members.
This is a service our members have asked for, and we're very excited to provide it to them. We are living in a time of heightened security—companies want to reduce liability in the hiring process and provide a safe work environment for all their employees, Gresh said.
BelayUSA operates within a worldwide network of proven law enforcement and military trained professionals. Information obtained is always processed by licensed private investigators as required by each state.
To find out how BelayUSA can save your company money, contact Alan Shear or Carl Long, 614-878-8200, and tell them you're a BX member. For more information, contact Victoria Gresh at the BX, 614-486-9521, or e-mail to vgresh@bx.org.
The Daily Reporter is the official newspaper of: Columbus Bar Association, the United States Circuit Court, United States District Court, Supreme Court of Ohio and all Courts of Record of Franklin County, Ohio.
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BACKGROUND CHECKS, INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES AT DISCOUNTED RATES
The Exchange
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The BX is proud to launch a new service for its members- background checks and investigative services at special discounted rates.
The BX has partnered with Investigation Protection Recovery [BelayUSA], a full service investigative and s security corporation specializing in background investigations, workers' compensation investigations and undercover services.
This is a real opportunity for BX members to save money on background checks and investigative services, said Victoria Gresh, BX director of operations. I have personally used IPR when screening potential employees for hire. They're quick, thorough and affordable, said Gresh.
IPR maintains that construction companies can save thousands of dollars when they use a proactive approach in the hiring process. We offer basic, intermediate, and extensive background investigations that can reduce hiring and turnover costs, said Carl Long, CEO of IPR. We often ask if companies really know who they are hiring. A comprehensive background investigation can give you the information you need to make a good hiring decisions he explained.
BX members can save money on IPR's extensive line of services, including:
Background investigations
Fingerprinting
Compliance checks
Asset location
Undercover investigations
Security audits and consulting services
Gresh noted that the service is timely for BX members. This is a service our members have asked for, and we're very excited to provide it to them. We are living in a time of heightened security - companies want to reduce liability in the hiring process and provide a safe work environment for al their employees, said Gresh.
Brian Swanson, IPR's marketing director, noted that information gathered early may aid in managing general operational problems and averting a potential crisis. Companies are being proactive in all aspects of security. Workers' compensation abuse, for example can cost a company time, money, and productivity if not detected promptly, Swanson said. In addition, accurately assessing the work environment can reduce theft of both equipment and time, he stated.
IPR operates within a worldwide network of proven law enforcement and military trained professionals. Information obtained is always processed by licensed private investigators as required by each state.
Swanson added, IPR is staffed by professional investigators who can respond to your needs quickly and efficiently. We can help asses your security needs and offer a wide range of solutions customized to fit your company culture.
To find out how IPR can save your company money, contact Carl Long or Brian Swanson at IPR, 614-878-8200, or send an e-mail to info@ipr-net.com and tell them you're a BX member.
Investigate. Protect. Recover.
Now you can receive background checks and investigative services at a special BX price with Investigation Protection Recovery. IPR specializes in:
Background Check - Who are you really hiring?
Compliance Checks - What are your employees really doing on the job?
Investigations - Is Workers' Comp abuse a problem in your company?
and much more...
To find out how IPR's Licensed Private Investigators can help you establish a safer work environment, contact Carl Long or Brian Swanson at IPR, 614-488-8200, and them you're a Builders Exchange member or contact Victoria Gresh at the BX, 614-486-9521, or email vgresh@bx.org.
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-FREE SAFETY MEETINGS CONSISTENTLY DRAW LARGE CROWDS
The Daily Reporter
Tuesday, May 4, 2004
At Safety Exchange meetings, you receive valuable safety training, but that's not all. The meetings also provide a free forum for you to network, exchange resources, and develop relationships.
On hundred and eighty different companies attended meetings in 2003, with more than 720 total registrations across 10 meetings. This year we're set to exceed that number dramatically, said BX Director of Safety Mary Logan. We currently have 351 registrations, with more than half of the year left.
Join the hundreds of people who have benefitted from the meetings at the next Safety Exchange. The May meeting, like all Safety Exchange meetings, won’t cost you a dime.
At the meeting, "Protecting Your Company Against Fraud," Carl Long and Jeff Podracky (BelayUSA Investigations) will show where and how fraud occurs, what measures can be implemented to reduce your risk, and what policies should be in effect to handle possible fraud.
You will learn about:
how ethics play a role in job site safety
red flags
fraud protection programs
policies to safeguard your company
fraudulent workers' comp claims
omissions on your OSHA 300 Log
Messer Construction Co. is sponsoring the program on Wednesday, May 5 with a full, hot breakfast. The meeting will be held at the River Club at Confluence Park, 679 W. Spring St. (at Souder Ave.). Registration and a continental breakfast begin at 7:30a.m. with the program from 8:00-9:00a.m.
One hour of health and safety credit from the Ohio Construction Industry Examining Board (OCIEB) is available to attendees. To receive a refund, cancellations must have been made by Wednesday, April 28. Contact Ingrid Clarke to register.
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-HOW DOES THE NEW LAW AFFECT YOUR COMPANY?
The Exchange
March 23, 2004
Professionals Carl Long and Doug Dean (BelayUSA Investigations) and Gary Batke (Bailey Cavalieri LLC) will be at the Exchange to lead a discussion about the recent Ohio Concealed Carry law, and what you need to know about its affects on your business.
Topics to be discussed will include:
policies regarding guns in the workplace
employer discretion prohibiting guns in the work place
appropriate signs or warnings reflecting the employer's decision
potential liability implications
employer consideration of OSHA's obligations
changes to employee policy manuals
changes to company safety policies
appropriate staff training
Join us for this informative discussion on Tuesday, April 27, 8:00am to 10:00am at the BX. Seating is limited. To reserve your place, contact Pam Austin at the Builders Exchange.
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-ARE YOU VULNERABLE?
The Exchange
February 10, 2004
It is in your company's best interest to perform a security assessment in order to protect your company's cherished assets - namely your employees, property, and clientele.
Employees
A simple background check can eliminate poor hires and protect good hires. (Nine percent of all employees have criminal records and 75 percent of all drug users are employed!)
Property
You have worked hard to build your business, protect your physical and intellectual property.
Clientele
A successful security assessment in the areas of employees and property will naturally result in a loyal foundation of clients.
Overall, a security assessment will eliminate costly employee terminations, financially destructive litigations, theft, cyber-hacking, passing of trade secrets and loss of clientele.
Make sure you hard-build business is indeed and American dream and not a nightmare.
To find out how BelayUSA Corp. can help keep you safe, contact Carl Long or Doug Dean at 614-878-8200, or visit them at the BX booth at the Central Ohio Construction Expo on Feb. 12 and 13.
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-ARMED AND CAUTIOUS...CONCEAL-CARRY TRAINING TEACHES FUNDAMENTALS, STRESSES SAFETY
By: Mike Harden
The Columbus Dispatch
Sunday, March 28, 2004
Self-defense is not defense of a television set, defense of a wallet, defense of your car. It is defense of life. Doug Dean, concealed-carry course instructor.
Observed at arm's length on the shooting-range shelf, the flat black Glock .45 seems at once as intriguing as a Faberge egg and as menacing as a water moccasin.
To the Range command commence firing, it recoils with authority, spitting a polished casing onto the floor behind, where 13 students await their chance to qualify for a basic conceal-carry course. Come April 8, as Ohio becomes the 46th state to implement some variation of a conceal-carry law, class graduates hope to plop down $45 at a county sheriff's office - along with a course affidavit and completion certificate - and begin carrying their personal preference in firepower on their hip.
If legislative estimates prove correct, 70,000 Ohioans will apply for a conceal-carry permit within the law's first year. The baker's dozen of students who registered for the $200 weekend course offered by the Hilliard protection and risk-management company BelayUSA represented a cross section of ages, occupations, and experience with guns. Among them were an appraiser of central-city properties, a dentist, a financial counselor and a specialist in Medicaid and long-term care. By the time they uncased their weapons at the firing range last Sunday afternoon, they had sat through 12 hours of classroom study. They had been tested on the four legal justifications for use of deadly force, memorizing intent, ability, opportunity and jeopardy with the unsettling mnemonic I Am O.J.
Is it logical? Is it reasonable? Is it necessary? Course instructor Doug Dean repeatedly asked through role-playing with scenarios that might, in the future, tempt the students to reach for their holster.
Do not be a hero, Dean cautioned. Whether you have conceal-carry weapon permit or not, you are not a cop. You can’t shoot unless you're defending your life or the life of a another. If you shoot and the courts later determine that you had a route of escape as an alternative, you will go to jail. In this state, if there is a door behind you, you have a legal obligation to use the door.
You've got to learn to accept injury as the price you might have to pay to escape. You must be able to visualize yourself being shot or stabbed.
Jeff Lieberman, the property appraiser, has had to visualize precisely that, he said. I was at an apartment complex on the East Side working as a property manager. It was Christmas Eve 1975. This guy comes in . He stuck a gun in my back and demanded money. The sign on the door said we don't carry cash. He got $20 out of my pocket.
The 50-year-old Bexley resident said the robber fled. But, while the thief was dashing away and trying to stuff the weapon under his belt buckle, the gun discharged.
He won't be reproducing, Lieberman said police told him. Throughout the class, Dean - dressed in a starched, NRA instructor shirt - invoked admonitions regarding premature or unwise use of force.
In a voice well-suited for delivering a rush-hour traffic update on radio, he reminded students, carrying a concealed handgun in the state of Ohio is a privilege, not a right.
People have a mind-set that it is automatically Bang! Bang! Shoot-xem-up, Evelyn Hammonds, the Medicaid specialist, said of the conceal-carry law. That is just not the case at all.
Self-defense, Dean told the students, xis not defense of television set, defense of a wallet, defense of your car. It is defense of life.
Lieberman concurred, saying, Nobody wants it on his conscience to have killed someone over something that could be replaced.
After the class, Columbus resident Ken McIntosh, 48, reflected, It has me thinking of more reasons not to pull a handgun that to pull one.
The 48-year-old finacial counselor and the others know that the law is not universally embraced in a state where some people fear that - on the highways alone - the mix of armed drivers and inevitable road rage could result in a convergence of carnage.
It hasn’t happened anywhere else that there has been conceal-carry, Lieberman said. I don't know why the would think Ohioans are an more violent than anyone else.
I officiate basketball games - college and high school, said Hammonds, 40, of Columbus. I come out of places late at night and I'm on the road late at night. We have a way of protecting ourselves now. People might think twice before they attack someone now.
Lieberman worried about job visits to ostensibly vacant properties. You don't know who is inside, basically camped out. I try to make as much noise as I can, coming in. You basically don't know who you might find lying in a room. Although I would probably choose to retreat because I don’t want to have it on my conscience shooting somebody when I could have fled, I don't know when I'm going to get caught in a basement somewhere.
His weapon will be at his side when he inspects properties, he said, but he doesn’t expect to carry it all the time.
Said Hammonds: I'll carry at night when I'm traveling alone.
I'm not looking to carry a gun 24/7,x said Dr. Joe Wildi, the dentist. I don't want to shoot anybody, and I don’t think anybody in the class did.
I take deposits late at night to the bank, said Wildi, 57, of Columbus. I have a civil-protection order against an unnamed person...She's made some threats. Ninety percent of the time I see no reason to conceal-carry, but I like to have the ability.
Wildi, a veteran of three tours of duty in Vietnam, continued: I feel very well-trained. I was shot at in Vietnam with extreme prejudice and returned fire with extreme prejudice, so I understand the use of deadly force. I pray to God that, even though I will have a conceal-carry permit, I will never ever have to use it. I carry a gun for the same reason I have a fire extinguisher in my house.
One after another, at the firing range, the students stepped into the shooting carrels and loaded their handguns. Their experiences with guns varied widely. A few had hunted in their youth or had been around guns from a young age. Many had not, acquiring handgun skills as adults when job or circumstance compelled them to buy a weapon.
Commence firing, Doug Dean commanded.
One day, perhaps in the not-too-distant future, a member of Dean's class or one of the scores of other students of the course might have to fire a weapon in self-defense. Handgun and use-of-force training are loosely analogous to driver education. All of the inculcation to evade, avoid and pursue the wisest and safest course necessary must be sorted out in a second when impending tragedy involves highways or handguns.
To fail could mean death - of oneself or another. Our ultimate goal, Dean said, xis that we escape - that we live until tomorrow.
The Particulars
Beginning April 8, Ohioans can apply for a permit to carry a concealed handgun. The new law establishes these rules:
Gun owners must apply for a conceal-carry permit in their county of residence or a contiguous county. A permit will cost $45, and an application requires a certificate of completion from an approved conceal-carry course, an affidavit from its instructor and a state registration form available through the Ohio attorney general's office. Applicants must be 21.
Generally, throughout Ohio, the same laws regarding prohibition of weapons in specified venues apply under the conceal-carry law. Off limits are most government offices, courtrooms, schools, childcare center and churches as well as retail establishments in the a Class D alcohol license.
A conceal-carry weapon may not be fired from a moving vehicle.
A gun may not be carried loose within a vehicle. It cannot be placed on the seat next to or behind the driver or on the floor of the vehicle. When not holstered on the person of the permit holder, the gun and ammunition should be stored separately in a vehicle (for example: gun locked in trunk, ammunition in glove box).
A conceal-carry permit must be renewed every four years.
Use of a weapon in response to a threat must be logical, reasonable, and necessary. The seriousness of the threat is based on the intent, ability, and opportunity of the assailant and the life-threatening jeopardy at which that places a potential victim.
As a rule of thumb, a conceal-carry weapon may be used only to protect oneself from death or serious bodily harm or to protect another from the same.
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-IT'S MORE THAN JUST A SIGN ON THE DOOR
The Exchange
April 6, 2004
The Ohio concealed carry law is more complex that just a sign on the door - you need to train your employees as well.
Signs prohibiting anyone from entering the premises with firearms should be conspicuously posted. The message should also be written in the contract, employee policy and safety manuals.
Join us for a free industry roundtable on Tuesday, April 27, from 8:00 to 10:00am at the Exchange to learn what every employer should know about Ohio's concealed carry law.
Leading the discussion, geared toward owners, human resource and safety professionals, will be presenters Carl Long and Doug Dean (BelayUSA Investigations) and Gary Batke (Bailey Cavalieri LLC.).
The Ohio concealed carry law will go into effect on April 9,x Long noted. It is estimated that 71,000 applications a year will be taken in Ohio for concealed carry permits.
Eventually, it is estimated that 2 percent of Ohio's over 21 population will be licensed to carry a concealed handgun, he added.
At this roundtable, attendees will learn about:
Policies regarding guns in the workplace
Employer discretion prohibiting guns in the workplace
Appropriate signs or warnings reflecting the employer's decision
Potential liability implications
Employer consideration of OSHA's obligations.
Changes to employee policy manuals
Change to company safety policies
Appropriate staff training
Join us at the BX for this informative discussion. Seating is limited. To reserve your place, contact Pam Austin at the Builders Exchange.
Meet the Presenter: Carl Long, General Manger, BelayUSA Investigations
Carl Long is the general manager at BelayUSA Investigations where he has worked for the past 13 years. BelayUSA Investigations has been a BX partner in service since 2001.
Prior to that, Long was in law enforcement for seven years, a deep-cover, undercover narcotics agent for more than three years, and a uniformed deputy sheriff for more than three years.
Long received his bachelor's degree in criminology from Capital University and has also attended various law enforcement training schools.
He is a member of the Builders Exchange and the Hilliard Rotary Club.
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-HOW WILL YOU HANDLE CONCEALED CARRY VIOLATIONS?
The Daily Reporter
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
The sign posted prohibits guns on your job site - but someone is in violation. What's the proper protocol to rectify the situation? Join us for an industry roundtable on Tuesday, April 27, from 1:00-3:00pm at the BX to find out.
Leading the discussion will be presenters Carl Long and Doug Dean (BelayUSA Investigations) and Gary Batke (Bailey Cavalieri LLC.).
If company policies have been updated, and staff has been trained properly, it shouldn’t be a problem, said Dean. You should treat it as any other violation and take the person aside, or however your company handles violations.
Geared toward owners, human resource and safety professionals, the session will cover:
Policies regarding guns in the workplace
Employer discretion prohibiting guns in the workplace
Appropriate signs or warnings reflecting the employer's decision
Potential liability implications
Employer consideration of OSHA's obligations.
Changes to employee policy manuals
Change to company safety policies
Appropriate staff training
Seating is limited - the 8:00-10:00am session is already full. To reserve your place, contact Pam Austin at the Builders Exchange.
Meet the Presenter: Douglas B. Dean, Special Agent BelayUSA Investigations
Doug Dean is a special agent, National Rifle Association certified firearms instructor and martial arts instructor with BelayUSA Investigations where he has worked for the past year. BelayUSA Investigations has been a BX partner in service since 2001.
Prior to that, Dean was president of Dean Computer Solutions for five years, and worked as a consultant for five years for Sipe & Associates, Inc.
Dean attended Ohio University where he studied radio and television production and business. He has been involved in martial arts for 35 years. He is a member of the Builders Exchange, the International Private Investigators Union, the National Rifle Association and the Aikido School of Central Ohio.
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-ESTABLISH A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND SECURE FACILITY
The Exchange
April 20, 2004
When developing a concealed carry policy, you have more to think about than the policy itself. You need to think of the big picture. Our policy at the BX is designed to protect not only our employee, but anyone that walks into our building or onto our premises, said Victoria Gresh, Builders Exchange operations director. I can't think of one good reason someone would need to bring a weapon to our place of business.
Join us for an industry roundtable on Tuesday, April 27, from 1:00-3:00pm at the BX to learn more about policy updates.
Gresh added, When crafting your policy, it’s important to think of the big picture - your parking lots, job sites, company vehicles, satellite offices - to fully protect your company. This seminar is the perfect opportunity to get all your questions answered from presenters who are extremely knowledgeable on this issue.
Leading the discussion will be presenters Carl Long and Doug Dean (BelayUSA Investigations) and Gary Batke (Bailey Cavalieri LLC.). Geared toward owners, human resource and safety professionals, the session will cover:
Policies regarding guns in the workplace
Employer discretion prohibiting guns in the workplace
Appropriate signs or warnings reflecting the employer's decision
Potential liability implications
Employer consideration of OSHA's obligations.
Changes to employee policy manuals
Change to company safety policies
Appropriate staff training
Seating is limited. To reserve your place, contact Pam Austin at the Builders Exchange.
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-BODYGUARDS A NECESSITY FOR GEM SELLER
By: Mike Harden
The Columbus Dispatch
May 23, 2004
Aaron Cohen slipped out the entrance of the mall at Tuttle Crossing trying to look like anything but a man whose luggage cradles more than $4 million worth of precious gems. "Rubies, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds," he said, after settling into the seat of a van next to bodyguard Doug Dean. "This bag is a dead giveaway," Cohen said.
"Eighteen months ago, they got me. There were six of them. They came at me with knives. I don't carry a gun. I just put my hands up and said, "Take it. That was the last time I worked for a company that didn't provide security."
Dean, who works for the Hilliard executive protection firm BelayUSA, often is assigned to the tasks of guarding jewelry representatives while they are in Columbus for shows. "South American organized crime presents a big problem," he said. "When they come after you, it's fast and hard - a blitz with multiple attackers. "They don't even bother to fence it here. They FedEx it back to South America and draw their paycheck. It's a job to them."
"There's usually 10 to 15 jewelers killed a year," noted Dean's boss, Carl Long. "It's getting more difficult every day."
Long briefs his bodyguards before they pick up the "protectee," showing digital photos of the malls involved as well as images of the roads on which they will be traveling.
Part of the business of being a bodyguard, Dean explained, is trying not to look like one. No Men in Black suits or dark glasses. "We want to look like everybody else at the mall."
Under his loose-fitting polo shirt, though, are a ballistics vest, a Glock .45, a pair of handcuffs, a mean-looking collapsible metal baton and a can of pepper spray.
"In the last 20 years, I have lost four friends in this business," Cohen said. "Short, burned, buried. These are not just petty criminals." Cohen is usually on the road several weeks at a time.
"A good salesman can make $100,000 a year, maybe $150,000," he said. "But it gets tiresome and lonely."
He cannot leave his hotel room once he checks in. "I don't order room service," he said. "I don't open the door for anybody."
A former associate was tortured in his hotel room. "You have to be sharp," he said. "Dedicated. You can never let your guard down."
As the van rolled along I-70, Dean studied the traffic. "This is a high-crime area," he said absently.
In addition to guarding jewelry representatives, Dean is frequently sent out to protect corporate executives when a company is closing a plant or laying off workers.
"Sometimes I go out when a company has to fire a problem employee," he said, "Maybe someone with a history of violent behavior or someone who has made threats."
"I feel safe," Cohen said, allowing himself a small chuckle.
At Hamilton Road, the van swung south toward Eastland Mall. Eastland always makes Dean edgy. "All the trees and shrubs around the parking lot," he explained. "There are so many places to hide."
He scanned the exiting shoppers as the van halted at the mall entrance. On jewelry escorts, the vehicle is never parked in the lot.
"You get blocked in and they've got you," Dean said.
Cohen grabbed his suitcase and stepped out. Flanked by Dean and bodyguard Erik Steckel, he made his way inside, where the jewelry was locked in a safe for the night.
Back in the van, Cohen stared out the window.
"You can make a good living at this," he said. "I travel in style. When I am tired of the road, I fly home and take a week off."
All things considered, though, he said he is glad that his son decided to become a disc jockey.
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