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OPERATION COOPERATION
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DEVELOPMENT IN GREEN COUNTRY
POSTED 6 MAY 2008
 Vic Meyer CPP, Director of Operations and Security at Grace Church in Tulsa spoke at our May chapter lunch meeting and briefed us on Operation Cooperation progress. He introduced visiting members of the OKC Operation Cooperation Sub-Committee as well as the Tulsa Sub-Committee.
From left to right: Bill Price, Deputy Chief Fitzpatrick, Captain Roberts, John Cartwright, Vic Meyer, and Chief Ron Palmer. (See complete committee listing link on this page)
- ASIS INTERNATIONAL AS A LONG TIME PARTNER WITH GOVERNMENT
- ASIS has been involved with Operation Cooperation since its inception in 1999; working together with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Sheriff’s Association with funding from the US DOJ.
- The history of ASIS working together with public agencies goes back to its inception in 1955 when private security working for defense contractors needed an interface with federal agencies.
- Private security fills the niche where private funds are available to provide a greater level of protection than public agencies can provide.
- LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PRIVATE SECURITY ARE EXCLUSIVE SIDES OF THE SAME COIN
- The missions of law enforcement and private security are not at odds but are different sides of the same coin; PUBLIC SAFETY.
- Law enforcement is after all about enforcement. A robust apprehension and prosecution program maintains the integrity of law. Officers reduce crime by removing some criminals while discouraging others with probable arrest and conviction. If those who commit crimes do not fear enforcement, laws degrade to mere suggestions.
- Just as law enforcement minors in crime prevention, private security minors in apprehension while its primary focus is making criminal acts more difficult to carry out. Private security hardens targets to reduce the burden on police and offers many tools to assist prosecution, making the police more effective. Private security often does the investigation determines that a crime has been committed and their work becomes the basis for arrest by law enforcement.
- THE LIMITING NATURE OF EXCLUSIVITY
- Diversity does not make us strong but it does make us interesting. It broadens our view with depth of field and contrast. A focus only on differences is dangerous in that it magnifies unresolved differences which too often become wedges.
- It is our opportunity as citizens to use our unique positions, professions, and training to look for goals common to all of us and maximize our joint impact on public safety.
- A new focus of our common goals along with respect for the other’s mission opens exciting new possibilities.
- COMMON GOALS, UNCOMMON RESULTS
- It is hard to imagine any levels of cooperation with the police that do not indirectly benefit all who are served by the police.
- It is hard to imagine any efforts by police to interface with security personnel that will not indirectly make the individual security officer or his or her company more valuable to their client.
- Representatives from security equipment vendors here today, will benefit from the networking opportunities which come from adding new faces to our chapter. Contacting Tulsa’s corporations with the common goals of Operation Cooperation will be the proximate cause of expanding all of our business and professional networks.
- With corporate involvement comes the possibility of corporate financing of police projects that would otherwise go unfunded. Corporations have traditionally been generous to their communities. I believe Operation Cooperation through ASIS can show them how to secure their community’s future by investing in public safety.
- AMBITIOUS GOALS START WITH WELL ORDERED SMALL STEPS
- ASIS Chapter 38 involvement
- Our chapter will serve as the common ground interface between public and private agencies playing a part in Operation Cooperation.
- Our Fall Seminar has well served the private security officer with the opportunity for Continuing Education Units but this year we will focus on training that can be accepted by CLEET for law enforcement or security.
- Operation Cooperation is the theme this year and will be the continuous thread throughout all presentations with a special lunch time presentation. Chuck Jordan a long time police officer serving both TPD and TSCO will recount a career long interaction with security officers to solve crimes.
- Our afternoon session will be on Incident Command principles which will go into use during any disaster or major criminal situation.
- Both groups will train together for the first time and build relationships that will pay off later
- PROPOSED LETTERS OF ANNOUNCEMENT
- The committee is talking about a letter or letters coming from Tulsa’s top cops, Chief Palmer and Sheriff Glanz to introduce Operation Cooperation both to police officers and to private security agencies.
- We are discussing a similar letter to Tulsa’s corporations, addressed to their security departments to announce Operation Cooperation and explain Chapter 38 involvement. The same mailing list could be used a day later to mail invitations to attend chapter luncheons and explain how ASIS can help further their security goals and their interface with Operation Cooperation.
POSTED 25 APRIL 2008
 Chief Ron Palmer of the Tulsa Police Department, our luncheon speaker on 1 April 2008, was the first to bring Operation Cooperation to the attention of ASIS Tulsa Chapter 038. Begun in 1999 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Operation Cooperation is a concept of coordination between law enforcement agencies and private security; working together to enhance public safety to the mutual benefit of both groups.
The Operation Cooperation concept is based on researched examples across the nation, of how shared resources of training, intelligence, hard assets, and extra eyes and ears on the street have been a force amplifier for private and public agencies. While Operation Cooperation is not a new concept, it is new to Oklahoma and is being promoted by the Council of Law Enforcement Education and Training, our governing body over peace officers and security officers. ASIS International is also a sponsor of Operation Cooperation and the ASIS Tulsa Chapter 038 has become a vital link between law enforcement and private security. John Cartwright, branch manager of the Securitas Tulsa office and Vic Meyer CPP, of Grace Security Inc, are working together with Captain Dave Roberts of the Tulsa Police Department and Captain Bill Bass of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office to develop an Operation Cooperation program unique to the needs of Green Country.
Our first meeting, held on 25 April 2008 resulted in the plan to use the annual Fall Seminar put on by ASIS Tulsa Chapter 038 to promote the goals of Operation Cooperation. Our seminars typically offer Continuing Education Units to security officers as required by CLEET but this year we will focus on offering training needed by law enforcement agencies as well as private security.
Vic Meyer will report on the progress of Operation Cooperation in Green Country at our regularly scheduled chapter luncheon at the Petroleum Club on 6 May. See details on our event page.
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