Security Consultant Monthly May 2009

SECURITY CONSULTANT MONTHLY From the desk of: Johnnie L. Mock PSP Security Consultant E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.jmock-consult.com

Vol.1. Issue 6 May, 2009 Risk Analysis, Asset Protection, Physical Security Audits, Security Training and Development, Firearms Training Programs. I am board certified by ASIS as a Physical Security Professional. For more information on my cost effective services please visit: www.jmock-consult.com

In this issue 1) Consultant’s Musings: Welcome back Johnnie! 2) Armed Professional: Glock 19 3) Book Review: Implementing Physical Protection Systems 4) Final Word: Expanding Horizons

1) Consultant’s Musings: Welcome back Johnnie! Toward the end of last month I made a move here to Arizona to set up a stateside office for my practice in order to enjoy opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic. After a little over six years overseas, it was interesting to drive from Ohio to Arizona and notice America again. Lots of interesting changes. And a lot of things still the same. Compared to their Western European counterparts, Americans are still the worst drivers on Interstates, (its called turn signal for a reason folks!). People complain about the high price of gas. (Average of $2.60 a gallon here). But don’t worry, when the “Change” crowd gets their VAT tax passed, you can then enjoy the average on $6.50 a gallon I have been paying in the part of Germany I live in. Hopefully you will be able to keep some change. Food is still plentiful and relatively cheap (although some items are actually higher than in Europe), and the economic disaster seems to be affecting different regions differently. Back in Ohio, it is devastating. Here in Phoenix, people are still prospering. That’s why I decided to open a stateside office here. One interesting observation that pleases me is the almost nationwide resurgent interest in the Second Amendment, and firearms ownership rights in general. Firearms and ammunition manufacturers are literally doing 24/7 shifts to keep up with demand. This strikes my European friends as being odd and uniquely “American” and they attribute it to a leftover “Wild West” mentality. Not so. There are many valid socio/economic reasons Americans are exercising their right to keep and bear arms in ever increasing numbers. I just sent my Concealed Carry and Instructor’s Permit packet in and hopefully in a couple weeks I will get both and be able to begin professional firearms instruction to a select clientele. Last week I had the opportunity to go to the monthly meeting of the Phoenix Chapter of ASIS. The guest speaker was Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He has been hailed in the media as “America’s Toughest Sheriff.” The county jail has over 10,000 inmates. He made the news by putting them in tents to solve overcrowding, banning cigarettes and coffee, and dying all the jail underwear pink to keep them from being stolen. He also now has all of the jail handcuffs purchased in pink, as other jurisdiction officers were “forgetting” to return them. And he actually enforces the immigration laws. Of course he has rubbed a lot of folks the wrong way. But I enjoyed his honesty and especially his sense of humor. If he runs again he gets my vote. All in all, it is really good to be back in my homeland again, even if for only a few months. Hopefully I will be able to split both my professional and personal time between here and Germany. If you are interested in my US contact info, I have updated my website.

2) Armed Professional: Glock 19 Since my stateside activities are going to include a large amount of firearms instruction courses, I have decided to begin including an “Armed Professional” column for those security professionals whose duties require them to be armed. Although I own a lot of firearms, I have always tended to keep the number of “working” guns I use to a minimum. In pistols it was my 1911a1 in .45ACP that had some custom work done by a gunsmith friend who was assigned to the Army Marksmanship Unit. I grew up on the 1911a1 series, and spent 8 years shooting on the Army Pistol Team all the way up to the Nationals. I have always trusted the .45ACP as an effective stopper. I shoot it well, but since I have small hands, I require a flat mainspring housing. This is the pistol I use when outright open carry is the norm, and even advisable to be openly armed. For deep concealed carry, I took a radical turn to the left compared to my contemporaries, and selected the commercial (10 rd. capacity) Russian Makarov in 9mm Makarov. I selected the Cor-Bon jacketed hollow point load (no longer made) and got a very comfortable inside the waistband holster from Milt Sparks. This pistol is used when I desire for no one to know I am carrying. Returning to the states, I decided I needed a midsized pistol that fit between the two extremes. I selected the Glock 19 because I had carried one for two years as a security supervisor at the Kabul embassy (they are State Department guard force issue), and they fit my small hand perfectly. And I can shoot them accurately. I won’t discuss the merits of 9mm vs. .45. That argument will never completely die. I like both and I believe that skill and shot placement are most important. I’m skillful. Glocks are extremely accurate and reliable. At the 1988 Soldier of Fortune match in Vegas, I was on the only active duty military team that showed up. During the weapons demonstration on the range, the Glock guy selected me to come forward and help him do his thing. He clears and hands me a Glock 17 and tells me to abuse it all I want. I slammed it down into the ground a couple time, jumped up and down on it, tossed it into the air to let if fall to earth hard, ect. He then picks it up, blows the dust out, loads a mag, and did a rapid fire string downrange without a malfunction. In all fairness, there are other pistols just as tough. My only negative comment about the stock 19 is the small size of the slide stop. A larger aftermarket one will be on it soon. For those not familiar with the Glock system, it is described as a “safe action” pistol. There is no manual safety per-se. A close examination of the pic below will show a slight projection from the trigger. This projection has to be pulled with the trigger finger in order to allow the trigger itself to come to the rear. Efficient and functional. Finger off the trigger= pistol safe. Finger on the trigger= pistol off safe. This is basically the training/safety technique we teach students anyway. The front of Glock frames are grooved to allow attachment of a variety of lights/ laser sights ect.

The sights are painted white, which helps to rapidly pick up the front sight. These are not glow in the dark night sights. However a number of companies make good night sights for them. For the pro that only needs one handgun, the Glock in various calibers is a good choice. A lot of the world’s militaries and police think so too.

3) Book Review: Implementing Physical Protection Systems A Practical Guide David G. Patterson CPP, PSP ASIS International ISBN 1-887056-58-0

This book is also on the required reading list for the ASIS International Physical Security Professional certification test. Mr. Patterson is the Director of Consulting for the Steele Foundation and the founder of Patterson and Associates which is an international security consulting firm. This book is invaluable for the company which is setting up a physical protection system from scratch or revamping an existing one, or the security director in charge of such a project. In his first chapter he discusses physical protection systems from the points of view of preventive, corrective, and detective measures. He then dedicates an entire chapter to project management which will help avoid many of the pitfalls of acquiring a system. Subsequent chapters lead the reader through the stages of planning, designing, estimating, procurement, installation and operation, and the training involved in acquiring and operating a physical protection system. This book should be on any security consultant’s bookshelf, and well read.

4) Final Word: Expanding Horizons Setting up a new “overseas” office, even if it is my own country, is challenging and time consuming to say the least. Note the lateness (again, sorry) of this months issue. I hope to have June out on time and with a bit more content. Speaking of which, I am always looking for contributing authors, so feel free to submit any article you feel relevant. I am also especially eager to network with fellow American security professionals, especially here in the Southwest. Stay safe, and until next month.