As We Go to Press

Apr 1, 2000 12:00 PM, ACCESS CONTROL & SECURITY SYSTEMS INTEGRATION STAFF

Ultrak promotes 'open protocol' at ISC/Las Vegas Ultrak Inc., Lewisville, Texas, announced at the ISC/Las Vegas trade show that it will publish its Ultrak Universal Serial Protocol (UUSP) - "a new standard for open systems architecture," At an ISC press conference, Ultrak focused on enduser requirements, technology trends and how manufacturers can provide interoperable solutions. "Many manufacturers are afraid of losing control of their customer base by providing a truly open system," said John Carter, Ultrak's vice president of Enterprise Security Solutions, "We will provide what our endusers want and win customer loyalty through service and reliability of our technology."

More dot-coms coming onto the scene New dot-com companies are coming online to serve the security industry. Several such companies were prominent at the ISC/Las Vegas show. EyeCast.com Inc., which offers on-demand digital video access and service through the Internet, announced it is doing joint customer trials with Sensormatic and has developed a partnership program for dealers. RemoteVideo.com promises "clear,concise pictures over high-speed DSL or T1 lines. SecurityCameras.com introduced a "totally online CCTV site," with access to more than 30,000 security-related products from various manufacturers.

SpectaGuard acquires Allied Signal SpectaGuard, King of Prussia, Pa., has finalized its acquisition of Allied Security, Pittsburgh. Together, they make up the largest privately held security services firm in the U.S. With a combined workforce of 16,000, Allied-SpectaGuard had a total of $378 million in annual revenues in 1999. Allied-SpectaGuard provides private security officers and other security services to commercial buildings, regional malls, banks and universities.

When celebrities are admitted to the hospital, security personnel have to come up with safety measures to protect the patient without compromising their freedom to move around.

Ben Scaglione, security director of New York Weil-Cornell Center, says coming up with the adequate security measures for VIPs takes a bit of planning, but is also dependent on the attitude of the VIP.

There were at least 10 good reasons to assure top-notch security for a famous late-night entertainer recently admitted to the hospital.

"We try to be consistent with our security. We provided 24-hour security. We had an officer or supervisor placed outside the patient's room at all times, as we do with other VIPs," says Scaglione.

Every VIP is placed in a section of the hospital that is angled away from the other public rooms on each floor. Once a VIP decides to leave the room to take a walk, security personnel can restrict access.

"His care prescribed lots of walking. He wanted to shake people's hands, so we had an officer stay close to him, but not close enough to bother him," says Scaglione. "In other instances, we have VIPs who want to bring their own security cameras and hook them up to look down the hallway. We try to comply with their wishes and work with them."

You might say the entertainer (who had heart bypass surgery) depended on the Center's Best Surgeons (CBS).

Weil-Cornell Center uses its most experienced security staffers to provide guard duty during a VIP's stay. Veteran officers are normally not overwhelmed by a celebrity.

To keep officers fresh, they work in shifts. In the case of the most recent VIP, five to eight officers were assigned to work a 12-hour shift by the room.

With more than four million square feet of space to patrol, the 115 officers of the Weil-Cornell Center have to stay keenly aware of all the areas in the hospital that would be targeted for access by thieves.

On the rare occasions when an autograph seeker or fan approaches a room occupied by a celebrity or VIP, the officer challenges the person and then escorts him away. No stupid tricks allowed - by pets or humans. Scaglione says even the media is kept far away.

According to Scaglione, dealing with VIPs comes down to communication between the hospital security staff and the VIP's security personnel.

"Everything is based on planning and talking with their people," says Scaglione. "If we know ahead of time, then we can provide the security they want or need."

Scaglione says the 750-bed hospital enjoyed the stay of the latest celebrity, who graciously thanked everyone around the hospital and treated everyone with courtesy. But Scaglione says it was just one more in the long list of VIPs the hospital has served, and it won't be the last time that the hospital must prepare for a VIP. But prepare they will - just ask David Letterman.

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