Valor Security Services

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 here.

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.

Rakestraw’s company, which provides security services to over 160 malls nationwide, has invested heavily in training and has worked in partnership with its mall customers to introduce technology that increases the security level at these malls. That includes increased camera surveillance from more vantage points, regular patrols of exterior and interior areas and more visibility for Valor’s officers in the public areas of the malls.

“We are more attuned to activities in the parking lot and the activities of delivery drivers at all of the malls we serve,” Rakestraw said. “Deliveries in years past just kind of came and went. Now we make a focused attempt to check the delivery receipts and tickets to make sure that they are who they are, where they are supposed to be, and whom they are here to see. And since the most serious incidents take place on the exterior of a mall, we focus on that with vehicle patrol, bike patrol, as well as rooftop patrol, using more cameras scanning the parking lots, with the ability to identify license plates and capture high quality images of people’s faces.”

Training has been critical and visibility is more important than ever. “Our officers were less visible at one time, focusing on behind the scenes surveillance and inspection,” stated Rakestraw. “But today, our officers are highly visible, making them deterrents to terrorist activities and friendly, reassuring and supportive faces for mall shoppers and mall tenants. And they are trained to anticipate possible danger areas and provide the kind of presence that detects or deters these incidents before they become dangerous.

He went on to say that while the company continues to enhance its services and programs, shoppers themselves can be very helpful in the overall security function. “Reporting suspicious individuals or alerting our officers to suspicious packages can help immensely in the security process. And by simply being alert themselves, seeking someone to walk them to their cars or keeping up with their packages and families, shoppers can make their mall experience more trouble-free.”

Valor, founded in 1991, is a subsidiary of SMS Holdings, an American-owned company headquartered in Nashville, TN. SMS Holdings is the parent company for a diverse group of subsidiaries providing facility and security management services in the shopping center and airline industries. In addition to Valor this includes: Service Management Systems, one of the nation's largest facility management companies, which concentrates in the shopping center industry; PrimeFlight Transportation which provides airside and landside services at over 60 airports; and FirstLine Transportation Security which provides pre-board airline passenger and luggage screening services in Kansas City International Airport. The company's contract in Kansas City with the Tranportation Security Administration makes it one of only three private companies selected to work in this pilot program.

SMS Holdings currently provides services to over 340 facilities in 42 states and employs more than 10,500 individuals.

MALL SECURITY FOCUS OF GREATER ATTENTION