Your Business Needs a Plan: Responding to Active Shooting Incidents

According to the Portland Police Bureau, there have been 3,254 shooting incidents between the January 2019 and October 2022, with an increase of over 218% shootings over that time, underscoring the need for every business to have a plan to prevent an manage an active shooter incident.

 Sadly, active shooter incidents have occurred in all types of venues, and the trend does not seem to be slowing. Any business can be vulnerable to such a situation, so every business should consider having a plan in place to prevent and manage such an event.

What is an Active Shooter Incident?

You have had the opportunity to hear the phrase several times since the Columbine tragedy but may wonder what the term “Active shooter incident” means precisely.

The FBI defines an active shooter as “an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area.”

In most cases, the shooter expects to die in the event, which makes preventive measures the most critical line of defense.

Prevention; Your First Choice

Once an active shooting incident starts, it is difficult to stop before there are injuries or deaths because they happen quickly and unexpectedly. This makes layers of deterrents your most valuable option in preventing a potential active shooter.

These deterrents should include:

Responding to an Active Shooter Incident

  • Getting out is the first objective. Have an escape plan and train employees in evacuation
  • Alert authorities as soon as possible. Call 911 and leave the line open, and hit the panic button on your alarm system.
  • If you can’t get out, hide out. Take cover quickly as possible.
  • As a last resort, take action. Getting physical with a shooter is never a safe option and should only be considered if your life is in eminent danger. This can be done by attempting to disrupt or incapacitate the shooter by throwing items and improvising weapons, and banding together to attack the shooter.

Today, every business should consider the possibility of an active shooter incident, and be ready with a plan. If you would like more information on how you can deter crime, please call us today at (800)862-4880.

About First Response Inc.

Headquartered in Beaverton, First Response Inc. is the largest privately owned security company in Oregon. Our commitment to “A Higher Standard” enables us to deliver the client service we believe you deserve. First Response has the knowledge, technology and professionalism required to meet all your security needs. We offer a wealth of services — including intrusion detection and burglar alarms, fire systems, access control, video surveillance, home automation and more — while also keeping you constantly connected to your security system right from your smartphone.

With committed customer support and 24/7 in house monitoring center, we won’t leave anything to chance when it comes to your security. We are committed to providing unbeatable peace of mind and a higher standard of service and security solutions.

Portland Security Officers: Security Officers and Homeowners Band Together to Get Unlawful Camp Removed

After nearly 2 months, a troublesome camp was removed in East Portland.  A string of threats, thefts, and shootings left First Response Security Officers and their community to take matters into their own hands and bring Peace of Mind to their doorsteps of local businesses and homeowners.

 

A rowdy camp had inhabited a sidewalk between a popular shopping center and a once quiet neighborhood, creating a pattern of continuous crime and disturbances.

 

Dating back all the way to June 1st, Security Officer Foster knew that 90% of his time would be spent protecting business owners from this specific camp.  “Every day was mentally taxing for all of us. We consider ourselves a family. We all have different personalities, come from different backgrounds and communities, but when we get on-site, we move as a unit and do whatever it takes to help the client. But this camp, it was a whole other beast. 24 hours of constant conflict with no letup”

 

“The camp was like nothing we’ve seen before.” Security Officer Mayer added. “They were very entitled, aggressive, and heavily armed. It was like every night they would drink and go in droves to try and loot the business, sometimes at gun point. It’s why we’re here. The businesses didn’t know what else to do.”

 

Although originally hired by the shopping center, the chaos from the camp had encroached onto the neighboring residential area as well. “Bless their hearts because they really tried to help.” Security Officer Foster recounts. “They tried to bring them bedding, clothes, blankets, trash bags, but the camp wasn’t having it all.” It was often the opposite response. Homeowners and neighbors were often met verbal attacks and threats of arson and robbery. Like the business owners, the neighborhood had had enough.

 

On days when tensions were high, specifically threats of gun violence, Security Officers tried their best to lean on local law enforcement for help. Unfortunately, unless someone was physically hurt, response from authorities was little to none.

 

During one specific call, local authorities gave Officer Mayer a city number to contact. “I was calling the number every day. At one point I called them 12 times in a single shift. Tried to explain shootings, violence, robberies, but it didn’t seem to matter. Eventually we all got the idea to pass the number along to the residents as well. We all started calling, and it seemed to move our case up the chain of command. And one day, local authorities came and packed everyone up and sent them on their way. Just like that, everything changed.”

 

It is important to note that Security Officers can only do so much for transients that are on public property, as outlined here. And the same thing goes for law enforcement as well. What got the job done was the Security Officers going above and beyond to provide Peace of Mind to their client and the neighboring citizens. It was them finding a legal way to get the threat removed and bring safety to the whole community.  It was not enough to keep the camp off their client’s site. The Security Officers wanted everyone involved to feel safe.

 

“It gave us a lot of pride to get that done.” Officer Foster gleams. “We are who they see every day. They look at us with joy. I’m proud to come to work. It gives me purpose to know that I’m helping the client and community feel happy and safe. Like I said before, at this point, we’re all a family.”

Spring Clean Your Security

Ah, spring. The blossoms are blooming, the allergies are hitting, and the sun is making a (more frequent) guest appearance in our lives again. And if it hasn’t already, the urge to furiously clean and declutter everything might have already hit you. While Marie Kondo-ing your home is great and all, when was the last time you cleaned up your security? Check out our simple tips below for spring cleaning  your cyber, home or business security this spring.

Inside Your Property

  • Change out the batteries on your smoke and CO detectors, and test them to make sure they’re working properly. While you’re at it, inspect your fire extinguisher to ensure it is in good condition.
  • Test out your alarm system and update emergency contacts, if needed.
  • Inspect your doors and windows to make sure all locks are still working properly.
  • Replace your furnace filters — not only will this help with those pesky pollen allergies, it will help keep the filter free and clear of accumulation that could lead to a fire.

Outside Your Property

  • Clean your security cameras and light fixtures and replace any light bulbs that have gone out.
  • Maintain your landscaping — make sure to trim bushes and trees near windows back to leave potential thieves nowhere to hide.
  • Check your security signs and stickers. Are they looking a little old and sun faded? Call your security company to get new ones. In one study, more than 60% of convicted burglars said that signs of a security system would make them reconsider robbing the house.
  • Perform your own security audit outside your property. If you were going to rob it, how would you do it? Check the points of entry you would try yourself and see how difficult they would be to get through. Then, make any upgrades as necessary.

Cyber Security

  • Delete what you no longer use. This includes unused apps on your phone, emails you’re no longer interested in being subscribed to and old emails and files you don’t need any more.
  • Make sure your software is updated on your devices and your router. This should happen on a frequent basis as it is, but if you’ve been putting off, now is the time.
  • Review your passwords and ensure you have unique passwords. Consider using an online password manager like LastPass to help with this and create as strong of passwords as possible – see tips from Wired on how to do so.
  • Safely get rid of your old computers/phones/floppy disks, etc. View a list of local computer recycling sites in the Portland area here.

 

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5 Simple Tips for a Safe Winter

You know the security basics — having a security system, posting your security signs and stickers, keeping your property clean and landscaped and having good lighting. But with the colder, rainier weather comes a whole new set of winter safety tips and security measures to consider.

We’ve gathered a list of some easy items to check off your list to help keep your property secure in these longer, darker and rainier months.

Clean your video surveillance camera lenses

Weather happens. Dust collects. Spiders settle in. All of these factor into the visibility of your security camera lens. And since the whole purpose of the camera is to be able to see what’s going on (or what has gone on), keeping the camera lens clean is essential. To clean your surveillance camera lens, try the following:

  • Use a soft brush to gently clear away any dirt or debris on the camera lens and around the camera exterior. If there is a significant amount of buildup on the lens, try washing it with warm water
  • Then, take a microfiber cloth and rub it over the lens to remove any remaining build up

If you have any questions about surveillance camera maintenance for your interior or exterior camera, refer to your camera’s User Manual or feel free to give us a call any time at (503)207-5300.

Inspect batteries in your smoke and CO detectors and alarm system sensors and clean around them

So you weren’t pulled out of your precious REM cycle at 2:30 am this year by the chirp on your smoke detector telling you it’s time to change your battery – that’s great. But as time creeps on, the battery on your smoke and CO slowly drain and it’s important to test them regularly to ensure they are in good working order.

An easy trick to make sure they are always powered properly? Check on the batteries in your CO and smoke detectors during daylight savings when you move your clocks forward or backwards. In addition, it’s always a good idea to keep the area around these devices clean and dust free to ensure their sensors work at maximum efficiency.

Not sure how to check your battery life? Check out our Tech Tip video on it here. For older devices, a good rule of thumb is to gently twist the cover and replace the battery when the cover comes off.

Check your property for any water damage or warping

Before the great Oregon rain officially arrives and stays for the next six months straight, it’s a good idea to walk your property inside and out to check for water damage and other issues that might impact not only your property, but how your security system works with your property.

Water damage or warping can cause alarm sensors to move or cease working, leaving weak spots in your security system. Catching this damage soon after it happens is integral in ensuring your door and window sensors still work properly and remain where they were originally installed.

Common signs of water damage include stains, discoloration, material separation and mold or mildew smells. If you think water has damaged your security system, call your security provider to have a technician review the situation.

Consider a video doorbell to monitor packages

Did you know that 30% of Americans report that they’ve had a package stolen at some point? It seems like package thieves are in the news every few months in the Portland area,  preying on unattended porches to snag packages before the owner is any the wiser. Video doorbells can quickly put a stop to that — or at least give you the peace of mind of knowing who is at your door.

With a video doorbell like the Skybell, you simply have it installed in place of your regular doorbell, download an app on your smartphone and wa-lah! You receive notification any time someone comes to your porch — with live video — and have the ability to communicate directly with them. And should someone run away with that perfect gift you found for your kids, rest assured that the app has the footage recorded and ready to send to the authorities.

Prepare in advance for emergencies

If the memory of being stuck in 4+ hours of traffic during the snowpocalypse 2 years ago isn’t enough to encourage you to stock up on emergency supplies, we aren’t sure what is. Make sure to have food, water and an up-to-date emergency kit stashed in your car, as well as in a safe place in your house before the foul weather hits.

A basic car emergency kit includes:

  • Battery operated flashlights and a radio
  • Extra batteries for these devices
  • A First Aid kit
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Road flares
  • Jumper cables
  • Tarp
  • Cat litter or sand for slick, icy roads
  • A blanket or extra warm clothing

But of course, customize to suit your needs — an extra phone charger in your car may be useful, or maybe extra baby formula if you have a newborn.

While it can be difficult to prepare for everything Oregon’s winter season may throw your way, we hope these winter safety tips will help. For more information about  securing your home or property for winter, or with any questions about services First Response offers, give us a call at (503)207-5300.

About First Response

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Beaverton, First Response Security is one of the largest privately owned security companies in Oregon. Our commitment to “A Higher Standard’ enables us to deliver the client service we believe you deserve.

Common Portland-Area Scams and How to Avoid Them

Lately, it might seem like they’re everywhere — phone scams. Email scams. Door-to-door sales scams. This feeling isn’t wrong. Reports of scams to the Federal Trade Commission have increased from 906,129 total reports in 2006 to more than 2.7 million in 2017, with a reported $905 million lost just last year. And the Portland area isn’t immune. Over the summer, our community saw a few different scams surface.

What are common Portland area scams and what can you do to avoid them? We’ve gathered a few tips on how to handle each situation.

Phone scams

In July, Portland Police warned the community of a phone scam going around where the caller claims to be an officer or government employee. The scammer says that you have missed a court date or have a warrant out for your arrest. They say that you need to pay immediately through wire transfer or a gift card (like an iTunes gift card.) It’s important to remember that Portland police doesn’t call individuals or demand money any time, under any circumstances. They don’t call seeking outstanding payments for citations or warrants.

Other scams, called grandparent scams, have been common in the area as well. This scam involves a grandparent receiving a frantic call from a “grandchild” claiming that they are in trouble – like being detained in another country or being in trouble with the law — and saying they need money through wire or gift card immediately.

What you can do if you are targeted:

  • Hang up.
  • Remember that you don’t have to decide or pay immediately. You can do more research and take some time to consider the offer or what the person is saying before doing anything.
  • Don’t trust caller ID — scammers can fake phone numbers to make it looks like they are local or from a legitimate business or government agency.
  • Know that government agencies and most businesses won’t require you to pay through a wire transfer, or to pay using re-loadable cards or gift cards.
  • Awareness is important. Talk with your grandparents or parents about these kinds of scams so they know what to look for.

Email scams

We’ve all heard about them before — the dreaded phishing scams that have fooled even some of the world’s most tech savvy.

This summer, Hillsboro Police warned of an email phishing scam targeting people who receive their paychecks through direct deposit. With this scam, you would receive emails from an address that looked like your employer, asking you to enter your bank account information. Hillsboro Police encourage the community to double check in person or over the phone with their HR department if they receive an email like this, and don’t update any personal information through a similar email.

What you can do to avoid phishing scams:

  • Before clicking any link or entering any information that comes from an email, double check the email address the message is coming from. Look carefully — phishers can change one character to make the address seem legitimate. Like google.com to goog1e.com.
  • If the address looks okay but the language seems off, ask the person if they sent you the email. This could also give them a heads up that their account has been hacked.

What to Know About door-to-door security company scams

Although there have not been recent reports of this scam circulating in the area, security sale scams are on the rise according to a report by NBC News, so we figure this is a good reminder to all about door-to-door security scams. These scams involve a door-to-door salesperson trying to sell you a new security system, whether or not you already have a system in place. Either this, or they claim to be from your current security company and say they need to “upgrade” your system immediately, or perform maintenance work. This can lead to you being double billed, by your real alarm company and the company who scammed you. The salesperson might express the urgency behind the offer, will not have an appointment scheduled, and might try using scare tactics like citing made up statistics about the crime rate in your neighborhood.

What you can do to avoid door-to-door security sale scams:

  • Ask to see a salesperson’s company ID.
  • Don’t feel pressured sign on the spot. Ask for some written material to look over and for some time to review the contract before you sign.
  • Request documents about the security services — they should have basic marketing material from the alarm company.
  • Call your security company to check with them if they’ve sent someone to your house or area.
  • Don’t let people who come for unscheduled maintenance visits inside your home. To perform any maintenance, there should always be a scheduled appointment.

 

About First Response

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Beaverton, First Response Security is one of the largest privately owned security companies in Oregon. Our commitment to “A Higher Standard” enables us to deliver the client service we believe you deserve.

A Day in the Life of a Monitoring Center Dispatcher

When you hear the voice on the other end of the line — “Thank you for calling First Response, how can I help you?”— it can be easy to forget that not only does the person who answered the phone field all incoming calls, they also provide true life safety and security to our wonderful clients and community. The operators and dispatchers in our UL listed monitoring center, iWatch, answered a whopping 2,875 number of calls just last week, and are the people behind-the-scenes who answer alarm calls, perform hourly welfare checks on officers, dispatch officers, contact emergency services and more.

To shed a little light on the tasks and duties of an operator and dispatcher, we’ve captured a snapshot of a typical shift at our in-house monitoring center in the Beaverton/Portland area.

22:50 – Receive pass-down information from previous dispatcher to prepare for upcoming shift change.

23:05 – Conduct a welfare check on all patrol officers.

23:10 – Review on-site check-in sheet to be sure all on-site officers have checked in for the start of their shift.

23:25 – Receive an alarm call from monitoring company and dispatch an officer to respond.

23:40 – Officer arrives to alarm call. Check on his status every 10 minutes until he is clear.

00:10 – Receive a noise complaint of a loud party. Dispatch an officer to speak to offending apartment.

00:35 – Receive a parking complaint from an apartment complex. Dispatch an officer to ticket/possibly tow vehicle.

00:40 – Officer investigates an open door at one of her routine patrols. Start checking her status every 5 minutes until she clears.

00:50 – Officer with open door found no one on site but cannot secure the door. Called the account’s Emergency Contacts and left messages. Finally reached an Emergency Contact that will come down and secure the door. Officer will stand by until his arrival.

02:40 – Receive call from the Police Department. They need assistance from an officer to gain entry to a school where a broken window has been found. Dispatched an officer to assist PD.

03:12 – Receive a “Blue Phone” emergency call from a college campus of a woman is locked behind the gate and needs to be let off campus. Dispatched an officer to assist her.

03:32 – Receive a call from a client wanting extra patrols due to their burglary system being down. Transferred them to the Watch Commander.

04:20 – Receive a call of multiple alarms at a school. Dispatched two officers to check on alarms.

04:35 – Officers arrive to previous school call and witness through a window 2 juveniles in the hallway. Dispatched the Police Department to assist in apprehending the juveniles. Continue to check on officer’s status every 5 minutes until PD arrives.

05:35 – Receive a call of a fire alarm at a business. Dispatched Officer to give Fire Department access to building.

06:10 – Did not receive a check-in from an on-site. No answer for site phone or personal cell. Notified the Watch Commander and he had me send a patrol to check for officer on site.

06:40 – Starting sanitizing work station and organizing any paperwork.

06:50 – Give pass-down to relief of all current calls being handled by officers.

07:00 – End of shift.

To learn more about the services First Response offer, contact us today!

About First Response

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Beaverton, First Response Security is one of the largest privately owned security companies in Oregon. Our commitment to “A Higher Standard” enables us to deliver the client service we believe you deserve.

3 Key Questions to Ask About Video Surveillance

In the security realm, there can be few things more daunting than picking the right video surveillance for your home or business. You might wonder: Where is the data stored? Can you see the footage at any time? Is the footage safe from hackers? What happens if the camera breaks?

In the final part of our three part series on choosing a security provider, we review a few of the best questions to ask when narrowing down your list of companies to work with on video surveillance.

Is my information safe and secure from cyber threats?

You want your security to be, well, secure. So the companies you consider working with should be able to tell you about the security measures and equipment they have in place to protect your surveillance footage from being accessed by anyone without permission. Researchers have reported numerous vulnerabilities in surveillance systems in the past few years. Chinese camera makers Dahua and Hikvision both suffered massive security breaches in 2017, when researchers discovered security flaws in both systems. These flaws allowed hackers to access the camera’s admin account and view footage or change account information as they pleased. Read up on the company your cameras would come from, and ask your potential security provider about it. Make sure the cameras encrypt data as it comes in and won’t allow for a back door password.

Can I use my recorded video in court, if needed?

Unbeknownst to many, for a court to consider video surveillance in a case, the footage must have a watermark with a clear date and time. Some consumer video surveillance systems you can buy online or at your local electronics store don’t offer this feature. Meaning: your chances of being able to use your surveillance footage as evidence goes away. And the evidence is why you invested in surveillance in the first place, right? The timestamped footage must also be correct to use in court, making this a good thing to double check on daylight savings!

What is the warranty on my video equipment?

If your camera suddenly breaks, knowing what options you have for replacing it can mean the difference between spending nothing and dropping an extra $200 or more. Most DIY models on the market don’t offer a warranty on parts, and if your original camera breaks, you’ll have to reinstall the second one yourself all over again. First Response offers a one year parts and labor warranty and a 5 year manufacturer warranty. So if your camera breaks for a covered reason, you won’t foot the bill.

There are many other things to consider when choosing video surveillance (like camera specs and installation requirements). But these 3 questions can help you get moving right direction.

About First Response

Headquartered in Beaverton, First Response is one of the largest privately owned security companies in Oregon. Our commitment to “A Higher Standard” enables us to deliver the client service we believe you deserve.

Choosing the Right On-Site or Patrol Provider

Choosing the right security provider when it comes to on-site officers or patrol services can be an incredibly important decision for your business, impacting not only the overall image of your property but also the peace of mind for your patrons and employees. But that doesn’t mean the decision comes easy.

For the second part of our three part series, we gathered a list of questions to help you find a good fit when searching for a guard and patrol company:

1. What kind of reports will I receive?

You want to know what’s going on around your property. But do you want to receive handwritten reports once a month? Once a week? Some security companies write their reports by hand, leaving the frequency (and legibility) up to chance. Only a few companies will submit daily emailed reports with a customizable amount of information to keep you up to date. We wrote our software in-house to provide the best experience possible for our clients.

2. What if I am not happy with the officer assigned to my property?

Maybe you catch your assigned Officer talking on the phone while on duty, or being too short with a customer. If you feel your assigned Officer is not a good fit for your business, it’s good to know your options. Plus, it’s even better to know your security company is able to quickly make the switch if you need it.

3. Is a Supervisor available 24 hours a day if needed?

What if you wake up at 2 am to a call for your alarm? Knowing that you can speak to a trained supervisor day or night can help bring you greater peace of mind.

4. What type and how much training do the officers receive?

It’s worth knowing that all security officers in the state of Oregon are required to have a minimum of 14 training hours through the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (this minimum is increased to 38 hours if they are training to be an armed officer).  Training through the DPSST includes live classroom instruction, after which applicants take a written examination. Read more about DPSST requirements here.

On top of this, security companies will complete their own individual training as well. Ours includes patrol or on-site job shadowing (depending on where the Officer is placed) as well as quarterly educational training courses in subjects like First Aid and CPR, defensive tactics and customer service.

5. Do you have experience with the specific problem I am dealing with?

It’s safe to say that security companies see a lot of things. However, depending on the number of years they’ve been operating and the level of experience they look for when hiring their officers, their reaction to the plethora of situations that come up will vary.

If finding a company that has seen it all is important to you, ask about their hiring practices and their range of experiences. Online reviews are also a great way to ‘peak under the hood’ to see what clients are saying about a company.

Whether you aren’t sure where to start when choosing a guard and patrol provider, or you’re just looking to be thorough, these questions will help you make the most of your search. To learn more about First Response and the Guard & Patrol services we offer, Contact Us or learn more about our services today!

About First Response

Headquartered in Beaverton, First Response Security is one of the largest privately owned security companies in Oregon. Our commitment to “A Higher Standard” enables us to deliver the client service we believe you deserve.

What to Ask When Choosing An Alarm Company

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to the safety of you and your loved ones, including the best company to work with to provide security and peace of mind. That’s why asking the right questions before signing the dotted line on an agreement can mean the difference between great services, great customer support, years of experience and…being locked into a long-term commitment with a company that has no experience and won’t return your phone calls.

For the first part of this three-part series, here are a few good questions to ask when choosing a security system provider:

1. How long has the company been in business?

The longevity of a security company can tell you a lot about their experience in the industry as well as the customer support and services they provide. If they have been in business for a long time, something is working right — and even if you can start with a newer company for cheaper, you can trust that a long-standing security company has a history of customers who are happy with their service.

2. How does the security company provide training to operate the system for new and existing customers?

Are the field technicians certified in the products they install? Do the technicians stop and take the time to explain the in and outs of a system before they leave you to run it on your own? Do they explain to you how to properly arm and disarm your system, and what zones mean? These are important steps for operating your system correctly and making you feel confident in the system you trust to keep you safe.

3. What kind of technology does the company offer?

Security systems are advancing all the time and have a wide range of capabilities. If you are looking for specific technology — for instance, one that lets you arm or disarm your system remotely, send video clips to your phone, or adjust your house temperature when you are away from home — ask the company if they are able to provide these services.

4. Does the security company operate its own in-house monitoring center, or does it outsource to another company?

It’s a little known fact that alarm monitoring for many companies is sub-contracted to a monitoring center outside of the home state of the security company, which helps the economy in other areas, but not your local economy.  While operators can technically work from anywhere with the correct equipment, it’s good to think about whether working with local operators is important to you or not and asking the company about it.

5. What kind of alarm response does the company provide?

“Alarm response” means different things to different companies. A good question to ask is: Does the security company offer alarm response with their own, professionally trained security officers, or do they call the police to respond to an alarm? Choosing a company with their own, in-house alarm response can make a drastic difference in response speed.

Selecting the right security provider for you can be a big and challenging decision, which is why it’s important to understand how the company works and have the answers to all your questions before you choose the company that is right for you.

To learn more about the services First Response offers, contact us today.

 

About First Response

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Beaverton, First Response Security is one of the largest privately owned security companies in Oregon. Our commitment to “A Higher Standard” enables us to deliver the client service we believe you deserve.