Valor Security Services

Valor Security Services has been ranked as the nation’s 18th largest security firm in Security Magazine’s annual ranking of the 50 largest security firms. The rankings were determined by annual revenue, and Valor’s $90 million in annual revenues tied for the #18 spot, the third straight year the company has been ranked among the top 20 firms in the nation. The publication also ranked firms based on personnel levels where Valor ranked 13th with more than 3800 officers. The annual ranking, now in its fifth year, is based on information provided by the companies and an independent compilation by the magazine and national security consulting agencies. Security Magazine is a monthly, national publication that details the processes and equipment advances in the nation’s security industry.

VALOR ASSUMES LEAD ROLE IN NEW ANTI-TERRORISM PROGRAM

The first standardized anti-terrorism curriculum written for the nation's retail security guards was announced last week. Developers of the program, which include Valor Security Services, say it is crucial to safeguarding shopping centers, which have significant economic impact and include a variety of mixed use configurations, with movie theaters, restaurants, hotels, office space and now grocery stores and gyms. Scott Born, Valor Vice President, said the ability to deal with the threat of a terrorist attack at a mall has been a point of emphasis for Valor Security Services' training for several years. The program is being tested in several malls around the country. Valor is also participating in the overall national test by having several employees from various levels of the company complete the entire program and assess its operation and effectiveness. After that test period, which should last several months, and review by the ICSC and GWU, the program should be extended more broadly to malls throughout the country. Severn Call, Vice President of Training and Operations Development for Valor, was a part of the team that worked with ICSC/GWU on this project. He contributed to the content of several of the training modules and assisted in the taping of a number of videos included in the program. Additionally, he reviewed and provided input for some of the content for several of the program's sections.

GALLERIA'S SECURITY STRESSES SERVICE, VISIBILITY

The new chief of security at the Riverchase Galleria says shoppers will see changes in security officers this year, starting with new uniforms meant to signal a more customer-oriented approach. Michigan native Lawrence Kosmalski, an Air Force veteran and former arson investigator, ordered new navy blue uniforms with patches inscribed with the Latin phrase "servitum nulli secundus," which means "service second to none." He said he wants his officers prepared to comfort a crying child as well as watch for criminal activity. "It's not the old security guards with the 20-inch necks and 25-inch biceps," Kosmalski said. To increase visibility and accessibility, he had a security booth placed in the mall's food court. Valor Security, a national security firm, transferred Kosmalski to the Galleria from a mall in Omaha, Neb. Since starting his new job on Sept. 24, Kosmalski said he has hired about half of his security staff of almost 40 officers. Capt. Jim Coker of the Hoover Police Department said Kosmalski is continuing a long-standing practice of working closely with police, especially during the busy holiday season. "He brings new blood in, basically," Coker said. "With a military background, I know he wants to increase the amount of training. We have to closely coordinate everything we do with them in order to make the operation run smoothly." Kosmalski said his officers are trained in how to use handcuffs and pepper spray as well as administer CPR and use automated external defibrillators. He has recruited officers from the Hoover police and fire departments to work part time as part of an overall effort to upgrade his personnel. "We look for a higher caliber of officer to begin training with," he said. Kosmalski said he sometimes has officers stationed on the roof with binoculars to watch for potential car thefts and other suspicious activity. They alert Hoover police when they see something. "We've thwarted many a car theft," Kosmalski said.Customers at the Galleria and other Hoover shopping centers are likely to see the police department's new T3 vehicles this year. Officers stand on a raised platform to ride the vehicles, which can go 25 mph and turn on a dime. "It elevates officers above car level and gives them the opportunity to visually check large areas of parking lots quickly," Coker said. The city bought 10 T3s in May after using them on a trial basis at the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament. Coker said flexibility will be the key to managing traffic flow during the holiday season. He said the department does not have a specific amount allocated for overtime during the holidays, but said additional officers will be on duty. Traffic cameras monitored in the Hoover Police Mobile Command Center will allow a supervisor to send officers to the most urgent traffic problems. Besides the Galleria, he said officers will be assigned at the other shopping areas, including Patton Creek, the John Hawkins Parkway corridor, U.S. 31, Lorna Road, Inverness and The Village at Lee Branch. "We put a lot of time and planning into this," Coker said. "We ask a lot of our officers during this time. They have to work overtime, a great majority of them."

VALOR SECURITY RECEIVES CERTIFICATION UNDER THE SAFETY ACT

Valor Security Services announced that the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has granted the company's application for designation and certification of their security services as a "qualified anti-terrorism technology" under the "Support Anti- Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technology Act" (SAFETY Act). This highly selective designation, which is only granted to companies that demonstrate the highest level of effectiveness in providing security management services in line with DHS standards and practices, places Valor on a relatively short list of private companies that carry this federal security endorsement. The designation under the SAFETY Act also allows Valor to extend even greater security safeguards to client interests by providing liability protections that shield our clients from claims arising out of acts of terrorism. To obtain the SAFETY Act coverage, Valor had to undergo a rigorous review process that included submitting comprehensive data and materials to the DHS regarding capabilities, efficacy, and overall deployment history of our services.

VALOR SECURITY SERVICES RECEIVES BUILT TO LAST HONORS

Valor Security Services has been honored as the 2005 winner of the "Built to Last Award" in the Fifth Annual Catalyst Awards sponsored by Catalyst Magazine, one of Atlanta's leading business publications. The Catalyst Awards celebrate the innovation, collaboration and permanence of the companies and people who are transforming Atlanta's business landscape. Valor was selected as one of three finalists from among a record number of nominations in the Built to Last category, which salutes those companies whose business model and performance demonstrate long-term success. Dan Rakestraw, president of Valor, said the award is a wonderful recognition for the company's fourteen-year history of achievement. "We are particularly honored to be saluted by Catalyst, an outstanding business publication, and take great pride in their assessment of our business as one that is Built to Last. We have always operated our business to serve our customers, to provide them with security solutions that help them grow. And by doing that, we are confident that both they and we will be successful for some time. It is their confidence in us that is our highest award."

LIFESAVERS ON DUTY: VALOR TO THE RESCUE

Valor Security Officers Winton Reynolds and Michael Bisher were quick to the rescue at St. Louis Mills recently. Dispatched late in the evening and first on the scene to a multi-car crash along the Mall's perimeter road, they discovered two people stranded on top of a vehicle fully submerged in a flooded drainage ditch and the trail of damaged cars in its wake. The pair perched on the roof informed the Valor and Hazelwood Police officers that their father was still in the submerged car and that they could not get him out. Despite the risk to their own lives, the officers entered the water to rescue the father. They smashed the driver's side window and pulled the non-responsive man to dry land where they successfully administered CPR. Due to the officers' quick thinking, training, and unselfish acts, the father resumed breathing on his own, and his children were brought to safety. The Valor Team was praised by the Hazelwood City Council for their "Outstanding Performance by Professionals". Congratulations and thank you to Valor Officers Bisher and Reynolds. Your dedication and bravery are greatly appreciated.

VALOR TEAM ACTS QUICKLY TO PERFORM EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AT MARKET PLACE MALL

Just recently Supervisor Nik Taylor, Officer William Samples and Officer Deanne Hesterberg responded to a call to provide assistance to a patron who had fallen and was unconscious. Officers arrived and checked the elderly female patron and noted that the she was not breathing and had no palpable heart-beat. Supervisor Taylor began administering the use of the AED until the female regained labored breathing and a heartbeat. The officers worked together to control the growing crowd and to continue to monitor the patient?s vital signs and perform rescue breathing until emergency personnel arrived. The citizens and customers of Champaign, Illinois?s Market Place Mall have three good reasons to feel good about their mall ? Supervisor Nik Taylor, Officer William Samples and Officer Deanne Hesterberg!

Team acts quickly to provide emergency medical assistance to patron at Eagle Ridge Mall

Valor Director of Security, Brandon Arguelles, and Officer John Church were called to respond to a medical emergency in the Food Court during a busy lunch hour at the mall. Director Arguelles was the first to arrive on the scene to assess the situation and found a gentleman slumped in a chair. The gentleman?s wife advised Director Arguelles that she believed her husband was having a heart attack. Director Arguelles immediately radioed Officer Church and asked him to retrieve the AED unit and then checked the gentleman?s vital signs. The gentleman was not breathing and did not have a pulse. As Officer Church arrived on the scene, the team placed the gentleman on the floor and worked together to administer CPR and the AED. Officer Church was able to get one full rotation of CPR while Director Arguelles prepared the AED. Upon use of the AED, the gentleman regained a pulse but was not breathing normally. Officer Church continued rescue breathing until the gentleman recovered his breath. The team continued to provide assistance until emergency medical assistance arrived.

Valor officers respond quickly to perform CPR on child at Alderwood Mall

Recently at Alderwood Mall, Officer Ted Smith was patrolling the common area of the mall when he observed a mall patron attempting to perform CPR on a young female child, who appeared to be unresponsive. Officer Smith called paramedics and request that Lieutenant Wallin rush over with the AED unit. The child was not breathing, Officer Smith quickly took action and grasped the child. He then turned the child over and delivered five back blows. A small piece of balloon and string became dislodged but the child was still not breathing. Officer Smith performed rescue breathing until the child was breathing on her own again and provided assistance until emergency personnel arrived.

Valor Director acts swiftly to utilize AED in a life threatening situation at Century Plaza Mall

This past December, Director Leroy Spratt responded to call that a gentleman had collapsed in one of the stores at the mall. Upon receiving the call, Director Spratt rushed to the scene with an AED unit (automated external defibrillator - an instrument that shocks the heart to allow it to beat regular rhythms). Upon arrival, a patron was administering CPR. Director Spratt checked the gentleman?s vital signs and began administering the use of the AED. With the aid of the AED, Director Spratt recovered a pulse and continued to provide assistance until emergency medical personnel arrived.

Valor Director quickly acts to provide medical assistance to a child at Capital Mall

Gene Dickey with the mall management team placed an urgent call to Jack Walker, Director of Security about a medical emergency at the local fitness center. Director Walker rushed to the scene and discovered a young woman holding an infant boy, 9-month-old Trevor. Trevor was unconscious, crimson red, and barely breathing. Recognizing the signs of a heat seizure, Director Walker carried Trevor to cold water in an effort to reduce the child?s body temperature quickly and began rescue breathing. Director Walker continued rescue breathing until the child regained normal breathing and assisted until emergency medical personnel arrived.

Dan Rakestraw, President of Valor Security Services appears on Good Morning America to discuss the security threat to American malls.

Marietta, Georgia, June 18, 2004---Expanded training, use of more sophisticated technology and more visibility of security officers are key to counteracting continued terrorist alerts at America?s shopping malls, according to Dan Rakestraw, president of Valor Security Services.

Speaking on ?Good Morning America? this week, Rakestraw said that incidents like the recent arrest of an individual for an attempt to explode a bomb at an Ohio mall raise concerns for America?s shoppers and focus attention on the security efforts of his company. Details