Allied Universal Acquires U.S. Security Associates
Allied Universal, a leading security and facility services company, today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire U.S. Security Associates (USSA) from Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division (GSMBD), further building on its position as a leading player in the security services industry. This transaction includes the acquisition of Andrews International, the global arm of USSA.

Based in Roswell, Georgia, USSA has operations in the United States and internationally, with revenues in excess of $1.5 billion and more than 50,000 employees. This acquisition is expected to increase Allied Universal's national presence and customer service capabilities and will also enhance Allied Universal's presence in Canada, as well as expand its footprint to Central America and the United Kingdom. USSA also provides Allied Universal with a sizable consulting and investigative division and event staffing business, StaffPro. The combined organization will provide unparalleled and comprehensive security solutions to its customer base around the globe.

Allied Universal, a leading security and facility services company with over 160,000 employees, provides unparalleled security services and solutions. With headquarters in Santa Ana, Calif., and Conshohocken, Pa.

The transaction is expected to close by late third quarter of 2018, subject to customary regulatory approvals. globenewswire.com

Straight From OSHA
Workplace violence: Who is at highest risk and what steps to take
Five of Top Ten Categories Are in Retail
Homicides One of Leading Causes of Job-Related Deaths
Violence of threat or violence has become more common in today's workplaces. It includes violence against workers that can be brought by employees, customers, family members of employees, etc.

About 2 million workers are victims of workplace violence each year. It can strike anywhere and no one is immune. Some occupations/businesses carry a greater risk than others. Following are the categories identified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as those at increased risk and more vulnerable. Of special note is that retail jobs overall fall into 5 of the top ten categories.

Do you work in a high-risk category?

● Workers who deal with money with the public
● Workers who deliver passengers, goods, services
● Those who work alone or in small groups
Those who work late hours, at night and early morning
● Those who work in high-crime areas
● Workers in health care, social services and others who have extensive contact in community settings or homes
● Community workers like gas, water, electric representatives, cable, phone, installers, etc.
● Letter carriers
● Retail workers
● Taxi drivers

Workplace violence can occur inside or outside the workplace and can range from verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide. Homicide is one of the leading causes of job-related deaths. 

What can employers do to help protect employees? oshatoday.com  Read full article on page two

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Prop 47 - California's Need for an ORC Law - Makes LA Times
California doesn't need to roll back its criminal justice reforms to do a better job fighting crime
In the statute books, California has changed sentencing policies to make them more rational and just, and to ensure that costly prison beds are used for only the most serious criminals. On the ground, though, police and prosecutors have been slow to update their practices, and that has gotten in the way of their ability to fight crime. There are sensible fixes - not rollbacks of landmark sentencing reforms, but new laws that can provide guidance and valuable tools to crime fighters.

One of them deals with shoplifting.

Here in California, though, store owners complain of being hit by a rash of shoplifting. As a result of Proposition 47, some frustrated prosecutors say, thieves tally their booty on calculators to be sure they don't hit the $950 limit in any single trip to the store, then come back the next day for another haul.

But other states have more sophisticated laws that recognize the problem of organized retail theft. California doesn't currently have such laws.

Truth be told, it may not actually need them, because even under current laws, savvy prosecutors can add up the value of stolen goods in order to bring felony charges. But they don't. A statute directly on point - showing the way for police, prosecutors and judges to bring felony charges in cases of multiple thefts - would help.

Prisons are still crowded, but not so much that serial shoplifting can't be charged as the serious crime that it is. A bill to make it easier for prosecutors to tackle organized theft, AB 1065, has moved through the Legislature but needs a final push in the Senate to make it to the governor's desk.

Store owners hurt by shoplifting have been receptive to some of the anti-reform pushback, but like other Californians, they would be better served by better local practices and better laws that respond to real problems, like organized retail theft. Some such thefts currently dismissed by police as misdemeanors can and should be treated as felonies. And, by the way, police, prosecutors and courts that currently don't even bother with misdemeanors in general ought to do so, and lawmakers should pave the way with other carefully crafted laws. latimes.com

LP Wearing Body Cameras Across The Pond
British supermarket chain Asda issues security staff with personal CCTV devices
Shop workers have being given body cameras to fight a rising tide of violence in stores. Asda has become the first supermarket in Britain to issue security staff with personal CCTV devices to record thuggery and abuse.

Bosses have hailed the £1.5million scheme a success, with a 34 percent drop in attacks at their worst-affected branches.

About 250 retail workers were verbally or physically assaulted every day last year - a 25 percent rise on the previous year.

The Asda bodycams launched in 286 stores are worn like a lanyard with the store logo and a message reading: "Safety and security recording."

Asda says the cameras are not switched on permanently and are used as a deterrent. Video is relayed to the supermarket's head office in Leeds and can be used to help police prosecute offenders. mirror.co.uk

Walmart accused of 'legalized shakedown' after alleged shoplifting
at Portage store
Chicago Tri. Writer Tries to Link Restorative Justice with Civil Demand
Chicago Tribune writer picks up on a shoplifting case in a Portage, Indiana, Walmart and proceeds to try to parallel it with Indiana's restorative justice case where the Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill issued a formal opinion earlier this year against the store's deferment practice, which also is in use by other retailers across the country.

Walmart's Staheli noted, "We are simply pursuing what's called civil demand and recovery based on Indiana state statute." While there was no prosecution, the individuals were still subject to civil recovery fees, he said. chicagotribune.com

Outsourcing Security Has Big Implications for Business Travel at Smaller Firms
The Future of Duty of Care - Automation & Chatbots
Not every company can afford a dedicated security director. There are services out there, though, that are evolving to offer more automated security solutions that aren't just for multinational corporations and global operations.

The past few years have drawn the security challenges faced by global business travelers into sharp focus. Whether it's the rising tide of female travelers, or the growing ranks of frazzled but ambitious millennials, safety and security should be a major concern when a company designs its travel policy. Often, though, it can take a backseat to practical considerations or financial limitations.

Automation is the future of duty of care in corporate travel, according to McIndoe. Instead of simply handing employees a card with an emergency number, digital systems are available that provide travelers with travel and risk information on demand.

"Companies now understand they are actually protecting people and travel is just a modality, especially our larger clients," said McIndoe. "Those companies are understanding this is a convergence of security, business continuity, and crisis management. Travel is a supporting actor in an overall program to protect their people. We now deliver an integrated risk management platform. Maintaining location awareness of employees is an important aspect of what we provide so they can determine if there is a threat.

"The future of corporate travel security will be defined by platforms rather than a variety of individual products like insurance that are added to specific trips. Artificial intelligence and chatbots will be used to anticipate traveler needs and provide them targeted information about their trips to better inform their choices on the ground. skift.com

Confronting Implicit Bias in NYPD
"Fair & Impartial Policing" Training For Entire NYPD
While explicit bias remains part of the fabric of life in the United States, elected leaders and chiefs of police have increasingly focused on what is often called implicit bias, inherently unintentional yet more pervasive.

In policing, the consequences of such bias can be dire. If officers rely on stereotypes instead of facts, routine encounters can escalate or turn deadly.

This year, the New York Police Department began a training program focused on implicit bias that is one of the pillars of the de Blasio administration's ongoing police reform efforts. It will run through next year, and all members of the department will be trained as part of a $4.5 million contract with Fair and Impartial Policing, a Florida company that has emerged as a leading provider of such training. nytimes.com

CVS Issues Apology after Chicago Woman is Accused of Forging Coupon
Camilla Hudson wanted to use a manufacturer's coupon at CVS on North Broadway on Friday night, but a manager who said he'd never seen a coupon like that called the police, she said in a Facebook post.

In the video, the manager, identified as Morry Matson, is seen shaking as he speaks with police on the phone. While describing Hudson to police, he calls her African-American to which she responds "I'm black. Black isn't a bad word."

Matson is running for 48th Ward alderman. Hudson said in her post that there were three officers who showed up in response to Matson's call, and she spoke with them before leaving the store.

Hudson said in a Facebook message that CVS Regional Director Joe Haas ''apologized profusely'' after the incident. She later wrote that Facebook had taken down the original viral post because it violated a policy, but she reposted the video. suntimes.com

Papa John's Boots founder out of the chain's office
Launches Special Committee to Deal With The Fallout
In under a week, John Schnatter has gone from being the face of Papa John's to being its biggest downfall. Since then, Papa John's has removed Schnatter's face from the company's logo and marketing materials. Now, it has booted him out of its office completely.

In a statement released to the press on Sunday, the company announced that it had launched a special committee to deal with the fallout. The committee agreed to terminate Schnatter's sublease in the Papa John's office, which he used while serving as the company's chairman.

While he was the company's CEO, his statements about the NFL dragged Papa John's into the middle of a polarizing debate, garnering backlash on the left and support on the right. Papa John's announced in late December that Schnatter was stepping down as CEO and would be replaced by Steve Ritchie.

Schnatter also came under fire in 2012 for saying the Affordable Care Act could be "lose-lose" for Papa John's franchisees and employees. The backlash was swift, with many promising to boycott Papa John's in response to Schnatter's comments. businessinsider.com

Tallahassee, FL Academy Sports Manager fired for stopping gun theft gets job back
Crouch spoke to the head of the Texas-based outdoors store Friday and has been reemployed, according to his attorney. "I am pleased to report that the head of Academy Sports + Outdoors stores spoke with Mr. Crouch and offered him his job back and Mr. Crouch accepted," his attorney Ryan Hobbs said.

A company spokeswoman confirmed Crouch's reemployment but had no further comment. Earlier, she said he was fired in accordance with corporate policy after he tackled a suspect who was attempting to run from the store with a .40-caliber handgun and several boxes of ammunition. tallahassee.com

U.S. Retail Sales Advance for Fifth Month, May Revised Up
U.S. retail sales rose for a fifth month in June and figures from May were revised upward. Eight of 13 major retail categories showed increases.

The Good - Health & personal care stores up 2.2%, biggest since 2004. Restaurant sales up 1.5%, and building material stores up 0.8%.

The Bad - Down 1.8% at department stores, the biggest since 2016; and a 2.5% decline at clothing retailers, the most since February 2017. bloomberg.com

Prime Day Is Becoming a Shopping Event for Retailers
Riding on Amazon's coattails
The number of retailers offering Prime Day deals on its platform rose from 27 in 2016 to 119 in 2017, and 54% planned to hold sales during this year's event. Department store Macy's has been holding "Black Friday in July" sales, while online electronics retailer Newegg is launching a four-day "FantasTech" sale today. Target is getting into the act this year with discounts across multiple product categories. emarketer.com

While News Outlets Call it The Great Blunder
The Daily's Calling it the Greatest Mistake in Years - That Everyone Wants to Copy
The Build-A-Bear Pay Your Age Payoff
"Build-A-Bear's brilliant idea to boost store traffic ended up inciting mobs," stated in retaildive.com. And every news outlet was like slamming Build-A-Bear. While Chuck-e Cheese and a few others copied them instantly. Tell me a CEO in America right now that wouldn't want this problem. You've got to wonder if Build-A-Bears CEO's apology was sincere, after ringing up sales numbers they've never seen before. Aww to have such a problem. I say do it again just be prepared for it. Just a thought Gus Downing

Now Build-A-Bear's started "Count Your Candles"
Customers can come in to build a bear during their birthday month and pay only the amount of their age. businessinsider.com

Protect the Paws: A K-9 Cause

Meet Tom & Colleen Stein: People Who Are Fundamentally Making a Difference

By Brett Ward, CFI
Divisional Vice President - Business Development & Client Relations
Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates

Every so often you have a moment that brings you back to what the world doesn't highlight enough - positive community involvement. Something that restores your faith in people and reminds you that all the negativity portrayed by the media doesn't wipe away the handful of those bringing positive into the world. Those storing their treasure where it counts.

I received a note from a friend of mine the other day and experienced one of these moments. We're very proud of our CFI's and the code of ethics they abide by, both within the walls of their professional life and beyond. Thomas Stein, CFI, is one of these guys. My relationship with Tom goes back 15+ years when he was running the LP department for HMS Host. As Tom progressed through different assignments in his career, he continued to bring education to his teams knowing the difference it will make. I have personally worked with Tom's teams dozens of times throughout his assignments, and often received feedback from his people on how much they appreciate Tom's desire to provide them the tools they need to be successful. Tom leads by example. That's what leaders do - they hire up, and then equip their team.

When I learned of Tom and his wife Colleen's latest act of kindness, I felt compelled to share. Tom and his wife are fundamentally making a difference in their community and, at WZ, we embrace individuals who strive to achieve more. As an organization WZ follows 16 Fundamental Statements that describe our values, behaviors, principles, and practices that are the foundation of our culture and recognizes individuals who demonstrate the characteristics.

Tom's actions with Protect the Paws are exemplary, and consistent. They touch on so many of the fundamentals the WZ Team lives by. They have been donating bullet proof vests to police departments anonymously for 10+ years. In 2015, the organization Point Blank introduced them to a non-profit organization in Miami called Protect The Paws, A K-9 Cause. Since Sept of 2015, they have facilitated the donation of roughly 32 custom made, Level II bullet proof vests for K-9 Officers throughout the states of Florida, Ohio and, this month, 14 vests will be donated to agencies and departments throughout Maryland.

Read more here.

Last week's #1 article --

AP Leader Mark Stinde Joins Fox & Friends to celebrate 7-Eleven Day & Discuss 'Operation Chill'

7-Eleven VP of AP Mark Stinde stopped by Fox & Friends on Wednesday to discuss 'Operation Chill' and celebrate 7-Eleven's 91st birthday with free Slurpees.

Operation Chill, started over 20 years ago in Philadelphia, brings law enforcement together with the communities they serve by rewarding children for good behavior. When a kid commits a good deed, police officers give them a "ticket" for a free Slurpee. Stinde says they've given out millions over the span of the past two-plus decades.

"So far, since '95, we've given out 21 million coupons," he told Fox News. "1.4 million coupons this year with over 1,100 police agencies engaged."

"In any way we can engage the law enforcement community in our stores, and really working with them as a partner - this is a great program for us to do that," Stinde added.

Click here for more of our coverage on 7-Eleven Day and Operation Chill.