CALSAGA

CALSAGA recognizes Senator Abel Maldonado as our 2007 Legislator of the Year

On Wednesday, July 16, the CALSAGA Board of Directors, staff, members and distinguished guests recognized Senator Abel Maldonado (R – Santa Maria) as our 2007 Legislator of the Year at a reception at Spataro Bar and Grill in Sacramento. 

As many of you know, Senator Maldonado has been a champion for CALSAGA, authoring key pieces of legislation, including SB 194 in 2005, which required proprietary security officers to register with BSIS and go through a background screening and SB 666 last year, which was the first step in requiring a training curriculum standard for proprietary security.  Senator Maldonado is the first recipient of this award and we couldn’t think of another legislator more deserving.

“On behalf of our Board of Directors and the nearly 300 members that we represent, the California Association of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards and Associates would like recognize Senator Maldonado as our 2007 Legislator of the Year for his demonstrated leadership and commitment to improving the private security industry.   Because of his leadership, we have made huge strides in professionalizing the security industry, in an effort to further increase consumer and public protection”, said Association Manager, Jeff Flint.

The idea for CALSAGA to honor a legislator once a year came from our Legislative Committee Chair, and Past President, Randy Davis from AlliedBarton Security Services.  It is our goal to recognize a legislator each subsequent year who has been a friend of our association and industry.

We congratulate Senator Maldonado on this achievement and look forward to working with him in the future.

CALSAGA quoted in Riverside Press Enterprise story

The Riverside Press Enterprise wrote a comprehensive story over the long weekend on the lack of proprietary security officers complying with state licensing requirements.  Deputy Association Manager, William Hodges was quoted in the article.

Click here to read.

June/July eNewsletter now available

The June/July eNewsletter is now available to view.  Click here to read.

In this issue, we update members on:

• BSIS Advisory Committee on SB 666
• Update on CALSAGA legislative affairs
• Legislator of the Year reception

New addition to the CALSAGA staff

CALSAGA Manager Jeff Flint is pleased to announce the addition of Marycon Razo to the CALSAGA team.  Marycon will serve as a Member Services Assistant, helping members with getting the most from their CALSAGA membership, including resolving training database issues, as well as assisting CALSAGA with membership retention and development, publications and event coordination.

Marycon is a recent graduate from Sacramento State University, where she received her Bachelors Degree in communications studies, with an emphasis in public relations. Prior to working with CALSAGA, Marycon served as a Communications Assistant for the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP) Communications Office. At ADP, Marycon assisted the Public Information Officer with public outreach, internal and external communications, and media campaigns.

Marycon has experience in public relations, government communications, and media relations. She has assisted state clients with major issues concerning drug and alcohol abuse, such as the California Methamphetamine Public Education Campaign, National Alcohol Awareness Month, and collation building for Red Ribbon Week. Marycon is excited to begin work with CALSAGA and is looking forward to helping the association further its goals.

Association Manager Jeff Flint will continue to provide overall strategic counsel to CALSAGA and be responsible for implementation of the policies of the President and Board of Directors, and Deputy Association Manager will continue to oversee day-to-day operations for CALSAGA.

Marycon will eventually be able to be reached at mrazo@calsaga.org once her email is set up.  In the interim, you can contact her at marycon@schubertflintpa.com.  Please join me in welcoming her to CALSAGA.

2008 Membership Directory now available

We are thrilled to announce that the 2008 CALSAGA Membership Directory is now available to download.  The printed version will be sent to all members the week of May 19.  In the interim, click here to view a pdf version.

As you may recall, last year was the first time our association published a directory.  While the consensus was that last year’s directory was a first-rate representation of CALSAGA and our industry, we think we have enhanced several aspects of the directory this year that improved its overall functionality, including:

• Easier to locate other CALSAGA members
• More vendors that supply the services and products you use most

Scroll through and let us know what you think.  If you have any questions, please contact William Hodges at (916) 930-0552 or via email at whodges@calsaga.org.  If there are ways you think we can make it better, we want to know!

CALSAGA launches new eNewsletter

We are thrilled to announce that the new CALSAGA eNewsletter was launched today!  CALSAGA is confident that the eNewsletter will allow us to communicate more effectively to our members, at a level that we've never really done before.

Click here to download the April issue that was emailed out to all members today.  Keep in mind that this is our first issue, and while we're proud to see it finally off and running, you can expect much more in the issues to come.  We hope you enjoy reading, and as always, please feel free to provide us your feedback at info@calsaga.org.    

Southern California Vice President Roy Rahn speaks at ASIS Conference

On Tuesday, March 11, CALSAGA Vice President Roy Rahn addressed attendees at the Los Angeles Chapter of American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) 2008 Annual Conference.  The two day conference, held at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, brought together security industry leaders from Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange.

Rahn did an extraordinary job of updating attendees on the efforts of CALSAGA over the last few years – from our legislative work in Sacramento to our overall goal of professionalizing the security industry through increased education and awareness. 

CALSAGA also sponsored an exhibiting booth at the conference and Deputy Association Manager William Hodges was on hand to recruit new members, answer security-related questions and distribute out CALSAGA material.  We are pleased to report that we added a new PPO member and have leads on a few other potential PPO members. 

As you know, CALSAGA is in the beginning stages of rolling out our large marketing effort this year, and being more visible at conferences like the one mentioned above is an important component of our overall marketing campaign as we move forward.

New entry posted to CALSAGA members only blog

BSIS recently added a new entry on the BSIS Journal about how their department is cracking down on unlicensed activity.  The article can be found on the CALSAGA members only blog.  Click here to access the blog. 

If you are a member and need a username and password, contact me at whodges@calsaga.org. 

CALSAGA introduces legislation to increase security officer pool

CALSAGA is sponsoring a bill (Senate Bill 1209) authored by Senator Abel Maldonado (R – Santa Maria) that would permit security officers from out-of-state to perform certain security functions in California during a State of Emergency. As we found out during the Southern California fires last year, there was a period where security services were in such high demand that many companies had to scramble to keep up.

SB 1209 would allow registered or licensed security officers that are employed by a private patrol operator in another state to assist California during an emergency situation. It requires the Bureau of Security & Investigative Services (BSIS) to identify states that have equivalent standards to California, such as criminal history background checks and training requirements. These persons may perform their duties for only the duration of the emergency declaration.

This bill is still in its preliminary stages, but we will keep you updated as the bill moves through the Legislature. In the meantime, CALSAGA will be reaching out to appropriate entities such as the California Office of Homeland Security, Department of Consumer Affairs and elected officials to gain their support in an effort to get this bill passed.

If you have any questions, please contact William Hodges at whodges@calsaga.org. As always, we welcome your thoughts on our blog in the comments section below.

Daily Private Security News Clips - February 7, 2008

Cleveland can't replace police at Hopkins airport with private security - The Plain Dealer

Mayor Frank Jackson has lost a battle with the city's police unions over replacing 45 officers at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport with a private security force.  Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy A. Fuerst ruled Wednesday that the city's plan conflicts with state law because the security officers would be given arrest powers.

Cops Scold "Pseudo-Police Action" - The Portland Mercury

The manager and owner of a private security firm in SE Portland is still running his business with the blessing of the state, despite having been warned repeatedly by police for over a year for allegedly taking "pseudo police action"— including making "arrests" and bargaining with "suspects" over "drug charges," according to new documents obtained by the Mercury.

Students fight for Security Guard Rights - The Daily Pennsylvanian

Don't let anyone tell you student activism is dead.  Students involved in last week's victory for AlliedBarton security guards at Temple would say they proved the contrary.  The security company granted its Temple guards up to three days' paid sick leave after coming under pressure from a coalition of its employees, Temple students and local activists.

Port security guards charged with faking payroll records - The Star Ledger

Waterfront police have arrested 11 port security guards at the Global Terminal in Jersey City and accused them of filing false payroll records for hours they didn't work, authorities said.  The guards would leave work early and shut down the gates where they were posted, while co-workers at other entrances covered for them, said Tom DeMaria, executive director of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor.

Residents Call For Increased Security - Maryland Gazette

County police plan to increase patrols at the Boulevard at the Capital Centre in the wake of a triple homicide Sunday at Uno Chicago Grill.  The decision follows calls from the community for an increased police presence and for managers of the complex to bolster the number of cameras and security guards.

REMINDER – Final day to join a CALSAGA committee

As a reminder, today is the deadline to inform us whether or not you’d like to participate on one of our committees.  Many of you have already responded to the notice we sent out last week and we thank you for your willingness to contribute your valuable time to CALSAGA.

For those of you that may be on the fence, concerned that joining a committee may demand too much of your time, we commit to you that your involvement in one of our committees will never become more than you can handle.

Our committees are instrumental in the success of our association.  Committee members take great pride in knowing their contributions go a long way in making our industry better.  We invite you to be apart of that.

Click here to find a list of our 2008 committees.  If you’d like to participate in one or more of the committees, please email me no later than today at whodges@calsaga.org. 

REMINDER – Meal and rest break seminars

As a reminder, CALSAGA is hosting two meal and rest break seminars on Tuesday, February 12 at the Hyatt Sacramento and Wednesday, February 13 at the Sheraton Cerritos.  If you haven’t already confirmed your attendance at one of the seminars, we encourage you to contact our office today at (916) 930-0552.

Click here to download an invitation that was mailed to all PPOs in California.  There you will find useful information on cost, location and a list of confirmed speakers. 

We are thrilled to have Laura Innes from Simpson, Garrity & Innes speak again and provide attendees invaluable information on their legal options as it pertains to the meal and rest break issue.  Laura has been kind enough to speak at several of our annual conferences and I can promise you, you definitely don’t want to miss it!

Parking at the Sheraton Cerritos is free and the Hyatt Sacramento has agreed to validate a significant portion of the standard rate.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at the number listed above or via email at whodges@calsaga.org.  Additionally, for vendors interested in sponsoring the event, please contact me and I can give you more specifics. 

Meal and rest break seminars set

We are pleased to announce that CALSAGA will be hosting two meal and rest break seminars on Tuesday, February 12 at the Hyatt Sacramento and Wednesday, February 13 at the Sheraton in Cerritos.  Both events will run from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Click here to download a pdf invitation that will be mailed to all members early next week.  Additionally, if you'd like to go ahead and register, please contact our office at (916) 930-0552 to confirm your attendance!  We look forward to seeing you all there in what is an important topic for all PPOs in California.

CALSAGA meets with key government appointees

On Tuesday, December 11, CALSAGA representatives including Deputy Association Manager, William Hodges, Tony Sabatino from Securitas Security Services and CALSAGA lobbyist, Kelly Jensen met with the Governor's Secretary of Legislative Affairs, Chris Kahn and Carrie Lopez who is the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA).

In our meeting with Kahn, CALSAGA thanked him and the Governor for signing CALSAGA sponsored legislation, Senate Bill 666 and vowed to work with the Administration on a new bill in 2008 that would give BSIS authority to enforce and develop minimum training standards for proprietary security officers.  CALSAGA also discussed the meal and rest break issue and Kahn reiterated that the Governor's position remained the same - that they would like to see a universal solution that would provide relief for everyone.

In our meeting with Carrie Lopez, she explained that DCA was planning on rolling out a marketing campaign aimed at getting consumers to understand what is behind a license - that having a license means something.  We also discussed our desire to work with them on a follow up bill to Senate Bill 666.  Additionally, CALSAGA expressed interest in working with their department to find ways to attract more worker's into the system.

All said, it was a successful day.

CALSAGA to host meal and rest break seminars

CALSAGA is pleased to announce that we will hold two meal and rest break seminars on Tuesday, January 22 in Sacramento and Thursday, January 24 in Pasadena.  We have already confirmed that Laura Innes, who many of you remember from the Annual Conference, will speak at both seminars.

More details will follow in the coming days, but for the meantime, save the date. 

CALSAGA to host meal and rest break seminars in January

In response to the growing concern over meal and rest break lawsuits that are being filed against employers, CALSAGA will hold two seminars for members in January to discuss the issue in great detail.  What are your risks?  What can you do if a lawsuit is filed against your company?  These questions and more will be answered.

The current plan is to host events both in Southern and Northern California, and we are working to schedule speakers that are closest to the issue, including Laura Innes from Simpson, Garrity & Innes and Mike Prosio, Deputy Legislative Director for Governor Schwarzenegger. 

We'll have more information in the coming weeks, as we confirm the dates, locations and speakers.

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a great Thanksgiving.  The Daily news summary will return tomorrow.

Recap of Day 2 at the 2007 CALSAGA Annual Conference

On the second day of the conference, California Chamber of Commerce President Allan Zaremberg started the morning off and spoke on mandated healthcare and the potential impact it could have on the business community.  Additionally, Zaremberg spoke about the importance of the business community getting involved in the political process, as it relates to political contributions and how those contributions send a message that your industry desires to be a major player in Sacramento.   

One of the highlights of the second day was two presentations on the issue of meal and rest breaks from Mike Prosio who is the Chief Deputy Legislative Secretary to Governor Schwarzenegger and Laura Innes from Simpson, Garrity & Innes. 

Prosio gave the viewpoint from the Governor’s office and explained how the Governor would like to see a universal solution to the meal and rest break issue, as opposed to an industry-by-industry fix.  Prosio applauded our industry and CALSAGA for meeting with him throughout the past year and he encouraged the same dialogue again in 2008. 

As many of you know, Innes spoke at our Annual Conference last year, so it was good to have her back once again to give a legal perspective on the issue.  Innes cited several recent cases on meal and rest breaks, including the recent Brinker Restaurant Group v. Supreme Court case.  Click here to view her PowerPoint presentation.

Because this is such an important issue, we may ask Innes and others to participate in a meal and rest break forum in early 2008 to discuss further.

Wrapping up the day, we were fortunate enough to have Sacramento Police Chief Albert Nájera join us at lunch to talk about enhancing the relationship between law enforcement and the private security industry.  Chief Nájera explained that law enforcement has been working with BSIS on educating police officers on the different types of security officers, and what to look for with regards to licensing and training.

The program ended with a panel discussion with BSIS Chief Paul Johnson, Deputy Chief Rick Fong and Cathy Kester from the Department of Justice (DOJ).  Johnson gave attendees an update on the latest from BSIS and mentioned that their agency has stepped up enforcement throughout the State – most recently taking part in a joint sting operation with the Oxnard Police Department, where several security officers and a PPO were cited for not complying with State licensing and training requirements.  Kester finished off the panel by explaining the guard card licensing process from the perspective of DOJ and what challenges her department has encountered.

In closing, thank you to our sponsors, exhibitors and attendees for making it a successful event!  Please visit our Annual Conference Recap page by clicking here.  There you will find new photos, PowerPoint presentations and so much more.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2008 Annual Conference, November 6 – 7 at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel and Spa in Napa!  We will have much more information on that in the coming months!

2007 CALSAGA Annual Conference a success

The 2007 CALSAGA Annual Conference was held last week in Sacramento and without question, it was the best conference held to date!  Check back in a few days for a full conference recap, as well as a link to conference photos and much more.

For those curious on where we'll be holding the 2008 Annual Conference, we are pleased to announce that Napa will be the host city.  We'll have much more information on this in the coming months, so stay tuned!

BSIS to launch new journal in December

According to the BSIS website, they are planning to launch a new publication called BSIS Journal on Monday, December 3. We don't know exactly what information will be in the journal or if it will be a montly or quarterly publication, but it is certainly another step in BSIS' committment to share as much information as possible.

We'll update you when we know more or when the publication becomes available.

Have you signed up for the Annual Conference?

With just a week out from our 2007 Annual Conference, have you and/or your staff reserved your spot yet?  If so, we look forward to seeing you.  If not, what are you waiting for?

Click here to download a registration form.  We hope to see you all there.  We have put together an amazing program that you definitely don't want to miss.

CALSAGA now taking nominations for 2008 Board of Directors

CALSAGA is now taking nominations for members who would liket to serve on the 2008 Board of Directors.  If you have ever wanted to serve CALSAGA in this capacity, now is the time!  Click here to read the memo that was sent to all members on August 3, which includes specific information about the process and deadline to submit.

Message from BSIS Chief Paul Johnson

The BSIS emailed out a message from Chief Paul Johnson today, where he reflects on his two-year anniversary with the Bureau and gives an update on the latest activities of BSIS.  Below is his message in its entirety:

This month will mark my two-year anniversary as Chief of the Bureau of Security & Investigative Services.  It continues to be a busy time as I travel around the state speaking at various industry functions.  One of my priorities lately has been to educate companies about the need to license their proprietary security employees as proprietary security officers (PSOs).  Slowly, but surely, the PSOs applications are rolling in.  Below is an update on the latest happenings here at the Bureau.

In March, our additional space was finished and we immediately took up residence.  Our Review Unit, Company Licensing Unit and a portion of our Enforcement Unit are now located on the new side.  Our Deputy Chief Rick Fong has been with us now for ten months.  Rick fits nicely with our Bureau.  He moves equally well between the various industries, attorney general's offices and Department and Bureau staff.

A new pocket guide for law enforcement has been in the works for a while now.  This pocket guide will assist peace officers and the public in identifying and verifying licenses and permits issued by the Bureau.  It is currently available for law enforcement.  In January, the Bureau began conducting scheduled and unscheduled statewide compliance inspections of security guard training requirements.  To date, we have made 305 site visits and response has been positive.

On May 9, 2007, a Rulemaking Package for the addition of training courses for security guards was completed.  This change adds seven new elective courses to the training syllabus, thereby providing private patrol operators with a greater choice of courses from which to choose.  In addition, the Powers to Arrest will now include four hours of Terrorism Awareness/Weapons of Mass Destruction Training.

On February 7th, the Bureau's Advisory Committee met in Riverside.  If a meeting can be judged by its turnout, we were quite a success!  A copy of the minutes is available on our Web site.  The next Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for late fall - this time in the Bay Area.

Our Outreach Coordinator Rolando Taeza is getting some much needed help.  We have added another Outreach Coordinator, Fred Lopez, to help with the volume of requests Rolando is receiving.  We have conducted over 800 site visits in the past two years and licensee response continues to be very good.

Overall, I would say much progress has been made but there is still much more work ahead.  And keep an eye out - you just might see me on an outreach visit with Rolando.

Thank you.

Summer issue of Observed & Reported now available

The summer issue of Observed & Reported is now available to download on our website at www.calsaga.org or you access the pdf (5.8 MB) by clicking here .  A printed copy will be mailed to all members the week of July 16-20.

We hope you enjoy the new look to the magazine and as always, welcome any feedback or suggestions you have.  The fall issue of Observed & Reported will be distributed in late September and will spotlight the 2007 CALSAGA Annual Conference.

National Background Check System Vital To Nation's Security

In a special guest column by Bill Whitmore, the CEO & President of Allied-Barton Security Services (CALSAGA Member), we hear the case for a national system of background checks for security officers that does not depend on state-by-state regulation.

Mr, Whitmore writes:

The most significant issue facing the security officer sector today is background check standardization. Our country has no national background check system to ensure all private security officer personnel can be quickly vetted and screened. Information about arrests and convictions are available in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), but those computerized records are only available to law enforcement except in select states such as Florida and Arizona. State-wide background checking information does not go far enough. We need a clearinghouse similar to the banking industry. The reality is that this system is broken, and it’s time for a radical change.

Private security officers provide a primary line of defense for much of the country, securing countless lives and tens of thousands of important sites each and every day. As the largest American owned security officer services’ firm, our company was called to testify by the United States House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. We were queried on our experience using the criminal history database of the FBI to help screen applicants as well as our views on the Attorney General’s June 2006 Report on Criminal History Background Checks.

Today, when we seek to hire security personnel, we have to conduct state-wide or county by county and court by court criminal record checks. In our global world, where anyone can jump on a plane or drive five states away in a few hours, statewide information is of very limited value. Without timely access to the records of the Criminal Justice Information Services Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, no investigation of security personnel can be considered complete.

The Attorney General’s Report concluded that a comprehensive and reliable criminal history background check cannot be accomplished without timely access to the records of the Criminal Justice Information Services Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I agree whole heartedly with that statement. Our experience has proved that to be true.

Without access to federal records, the only records available to an employer are those in the states and their political subdivisions, where the records are typically kept at the courthouse in each county. Since there is no practical way to check all the counties for every employee, employers usually request a record check in the counties in which the applicant says they have recently lived or worked. This leaves the employer blind to any criminal history records in states for which the applicant failed to disclose.

There are commercial databases that aggregate criminal history information from multiple states but these are not truly national because not all states, courts, or agencies make their records available. Moreover, these databases are only updated periodically and, thus, may lack current data. These commercial databases are not adequate substitutes for information contained in the FBI-maintained database.

Congress with the support of many individuals in the industry acted in good faith to provide private security officer employers with access to that federal database in 2004. Unfortunately, in doing so, Congress required that the employers always go through the state identification bureaus in order to get that access. In other words, we must submit the employee information to the state bureau, which then forwards the request to the federal level. If the FBI record check is completed, the results come back to the state, which then notifies the employer.

Significant delays in getting responses to criminal history record requests are unfair to employers and applicants, and present potential security risks. To address this problem, private sector employers should be able to screen job applicants against the FBI’s criminal history records, with the states serving as the employers’ primary access point for criminal background checks only if they can meet the Attorney General standard. If a state cannot provide timely background check results that incorporate both state and FBI data, employers should be able to make direct requests to the FBI for criminal history records utilizing digitized fingerprints.

A national background screening protocol will elevate the security officer sector and revolutionize the industry. Our government needs to work with the private security sector and place a high priority on establishing a clearinghouse where we can electronically submit applicant fingerprints and review the background of applicants across the country, immediately uncovering criminal records and other liabilities that may exist. By implementing these recommendations for the private security industry - specifically by insuring employers’ timely access to FBI criminal records while preserving employee rights - we will make our nation safer and ensure that the hard-working men and women in the physical security sector can benefit from the increased professionalism and standardization that is vital to our sector.

Update from Brian Fagan in Iraq

CALSAGA member and former Southern California Vice President Brian Fagan recently sent us an update on his service in Iraq.  As you will recall, Brian, in addition to owning Royal Security Services in Los Angeles and being active in CALSAGA, is a member of the Navy Reserve.  His unit was recently activated, and he is serving a deployment in Iraq.

Here is his letter, along with a recent photo:

Well I have been here in this lovely sun soaked oasis called Iraq for over a month now. It has been getting warmer here each day, but not much over 80 degrees… I would say only about 33 degrees over 80, to be more exact. The only time I go out in this damn heat is for what I call the “walk through hell.” That is the 8 minute walk I must take from my trailer to my work station at about 5:30PM everyday. I haven’t been able to determine if I should walk fast to hurry up and get to my air conditioned building or walk slowly so not to get hot through physical exertion. I pretty much lean towards the bat out of hell approach. I am always off by 6:00AM, so I get all my stuff during the following 3 – 4 hours before the heat really picks up. It’s usually very nice in the morning and cool to watch the sunrise (or set) out here, because there is so much dust in the air you can look directly at the sun without blinding yourself. It’s almost like the smog back home in LA, just no chemicals.

I’m in my 35th or 36th day (I kinda lost track) of being “in country” and I have about 144 more to go. Time has flown by quickly and every day seems to blur into the last one. It’s definitely like the movie “Groundhog Day.” Even though I have gotten used to camp life and the rhythm of the operations here, I still can’t wait to get back home. On one of my adventure trips around the base here (and I say adventure because I usually end up using a manual transmission pick-up truck that I don’t know how to use very well and is so much fun when I stall it in front of a convoy of humvees and armored trucks), I discovered the Olympic size outdoor pool. I don’t know who built it, us or the Iraqis, but it looks very nice. I wasn’t able to use it at the time, but I plan to start working on a suntan soon. Also, to help pass the time away and to do something different, I decided to grow a mustache for the first time. I don’t know how long I will keep it, but I guess at least long enough to take a picture and send it out to everyone. Barry, Doug, Kim… I think the three of you will be proud.

Many of you have probably wondered where the hell I am stationed over here… well sorry to disappoint you but we have been told that we cannot tell anyone back home where we are located in Iraq. I guess it is a security issue, because one of you (and I think I know who it is too) might want to drop a few mortar rounds on us. You have got to admire the logic of the Army, as if there weren’t enough military bases spread throughout Iraq in addition to the famous Green Zone to serve as insurgent/terrorist targets, my Army commanders here are afraid that terrorists may learn which base I am at and will decide to use their precious mortar rounds to try to take me out. Go figure!

I hope everyone is doing well and I look forward to hearing from you all.

On assignment with the Army somewhere in Iraq,

IS1 Brian J. Fagan, USN

Monty Hecker appointed new Region 1 Director

We are pleased to announce that Monty Hecker from Elite Universal Security was appointed the new Region 1 Director by the CALSAGA Board of Directors at a recent Board meeting.  Member companies should be familiar with Hecker, as he previously served in the same capacity in years prior.

CALSAGA sincerely appreciates Hecker's willingn ess to fill a vacancy in the middle of the year and are more than confident that his experience and his committment to further advancing the professionalism of the security industry will continue to be a great asset to CALSAGA and members in Region 1.

Please join us in welcoming him back as Region 1 Director.  His contact information is as follows:

Monty Hecker

Elite Universal Security

(530) 749-0280

monty_h@eliteuniversalsecurity.com

Brian Fagan Arrives in Iraq

As many of you know, former CALSAGA Vice-President South, Brian Fagan, resigned his position when his Navy Reserve unit was activated and sent to Iraq.

After a few weeks of Army basic training, Brian traveled to Iraq and arrived in late May.

Here is a photo of Brian in transit to Iraq (click on photo for larger image):

Along with this photo, Brian sent a short note for all his friends in CALSAGA:

Hey Everybody,

Well I finally made it out here. I landed on Monday local time. It is very hot out here, around 110 degrees, but it cools down to the upper 80’s at night. And, this isn’t even the worst time of the year yet.

The conditions aren’t the greatest, but what do you expect for a war zone. At least there is plenty of food and snacks to eat, 24/7. Right now I work nights, 1800 – 0600 which pretty much corresponds to daytime there in the US. I attached a picture of me and a few friends at the Ramstein airport. We came over on a cargo plane, a C-17 Globemaster. The ride wasn’t too bad, until they announce that you have to return to your seats because we are entering a war zone. We landed at night and stepped off the plane into another world. It was very surreal.

If any of you want to send any letters via snailmail, my address is:

Brian Fagan
Unit #931003 / TFTP2
APO, AE 09391

It should take about two weeks to get to me. I work 12 hour days, seven days a week, so I may not be able to get out a quick response.

Take care and be thankful you’re not here,

All The Best from Iraq,

Brian

Please join us all in thanking Brian for his service and wishing him a safe tour and trip home.

Monty Hecker is Again CALSAGA's Region 1 Director

Monty Hecker of Elite Universal Security Services in Marysville is once again CALSAGA's Region 1 Director and member of the Board of Directors.

Hecker, who had served the prior two years as Region 1 Director, had chosen not to seek re-election so that "some new blood" could serve on the Board.  Members from Region 1 selected Tom Jordan, then of Allied-Barton Security Services, to be the 2007 Region 1 Director.  However, in April, Jordan left his position with ABSS, and after the 60-day transitional period proscribed by the CALSAGA by-laws, the position was deemed vacant.

The CALSAGA Board of Directors wasted little time in appointing Hecker to the position he had previously served.

"Appointing Monty was a no-brainer," said CALSAGA Northern California President David Travers of Guardian Security Agency.  "He knows the issues and was ready to hit the ground running from day one."

Hecker will serve the balance of the 2007 year, and has not stated yet whether he will seek election again for 2008.

Region 1 serves Sacramento County, surrounding counties, and rural Northern California.