My Turn

Going from Law Enforcement to Asset Protection

By Curtis Bridges

In the last issue of LP Magazine, Joseph Alvino gave his personal account of making the transition from a career in Asset Protection to law enforcement.

After reading Joseph’s personal account, I thought it might be interesting to share an article which addressed the opposite side of his journey as a comparison for those currently involved in this occupation.

When I graduated from Eastern Michigan University, back in the Vietnam War era, you were offered only four job choices: fireman, teacher, policeman and soldier. Hard to believe; but true.

I was fortunate to have both a law enforcement and teaching offer in part due to the shortage of available men. Having always wanted to join a well established department, I was sworn in with Ann Arbor Police a mere 10 days after college graduation.

I worked around the station at various jobs until the academy started several months later.

Upon completion of a three month program provided in teaching the basics of law enforcement I hit the streets and was soon confronted with almost two solid years of student and race riots.

Long days and weeks of never ending tension shared by patrolling the streets with three other officers in the same car watching for the next rock or missile thrown our way.

Finally when things settle down, I became a fatal accident investigator and later the recruitment and background verification officer.

Although more fulfilling than pushing around a patrol car around for 8 hours, the desire to excel brought me to the Lakewood Police Department in Colorado where a college degree and three years of experience was a basic requirement.

Here I joined an elite group of men and women who to date have provided more police chiefs in the United States per capita than any agency.

I found the completion to achieve rank extremely intense and slow deciding to take a turn into the field of criminal justice planning eventually running a 28 agency crime prevention program housed at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

Like Mr. Alvino, I had experience a job in Asset Protection as a security executive trainee with the J.L. Hudson Company in Detroit. I thought this was an exciting field, but I knew that if I had accepted a full time position upon college graduation, my draft exemption would disappear and next stop would have been the induction center.

Upon leaving Colorado state government, I secured a position as Manager of Security Services for the Denver Dry Goods.

At the time DDG was a 90+ year old high end retailer who was looking for a back up person to train under the current Director of Loss Prevention.

Finally, advancement was at hand when 7 years later DDG was bought by May Department Stores and closed.

I had learned many things about the private sector of law enforcement in those 7 years. I learned the importance of looking and acting like a businessman at all times which required wearing a suit and white shirt. I learned the real importance of profit and loss and return on investment. I changed the focus of the department from shoplifter apprehension to that of investigating employee theft. Goals and objectives along with the importance of annual reviews, proper hiring and termination all became a major focus in my new career choice. Far different indeed from acting as a solo unit patrol the city streets responding to citizen complaints and request for assistance. I liked the difference and wanted to make Asset Protection my career.

Upon the closing of the Denver Dry Goods, I was recruited by a new company called PACE Membership Warehouse to become their first Vice President of Corporate Security. All of a sudden I found myself using the management the skills learned at DDG as invaluable in establishing a new Asset Protection program for this $320 million dollar Denver based company.

This is when the law enforcement side prevailed in that I called the department Security—big and bold operating in a clearly different segment than the upscale department store industry. Additionally, I was not responsible for the audit and safety functions within the company, thus security was indeed a more appropriate title for the area I was responsible for on a daily basis.

Establishing hiring standards not really scene in this industry before: all applicants were required to have ten years of experience and a college degree.

With the help of Downing and Downing, I was able to grow the department to over 35 members in a $4 ½ billion company reaching from Puerto Rico to Alaska.

The job of a life time indeed. Unlimited support and financial backing from the president along with being voted the best department in the entire organization. How could life be any better?.

I guess the true success of the program resided in the fact none of the security department employees ever left and the recovery dollars approached total dollars spent for the security operation prior to being purchased by Wal-Mart in 1993.

As my career continued I worked as a Regional Director for Kmart and later as the Executive Director for American Coin/Coinstar.

As I reflect back over this wonderful career, I was very fortunate to have experienced, like Mr. Alvino, the opportunity to serve in both the public and private side of law enforcement.

As for me, I totally enjoyed being part of the management team and setting polices which had a direct bearing on the bottom line. I was fortunate to realize my goal of establishing a Asset Protection/Security department from the ground floor while understanding the importance of providing measurable results to gain recognition.

Being an active participant in NRF and the relationships that resulted more than compensated for those days of riding around with three other officers in a patrol car waiting for the next call for service.

When it’s all done and you feel satisfied with the career you have chosen---then I guess that is personal success.

For those leaving a career in public law enforcement and joining the Asset Protection field, your opportunities are many. Yes, there are many differences but the skills learned in protecting the public and investigating crimes will be invaluable in the career with many option which lies ahead.