Report To Respond To DHS Request for Information
Report To Respond To DHS Request for Information
It is worth mentioning that the Department of Homeland Security ensures that the nation is safe from the danger of attacks, especially external threats from terrorists and other attacks that may make Americans feel insecure. Apart from that, homeland security ensures that in the case of an attack on Americans, the impact does not escalate. Hence, it is an all-around entity that was set up to safeguard the security interests of all Americans regardless of which part of the country one resides. Also, both natural disasters and human-made disasters are taken care of by this department.
In a bid to operate smoothly and efficiently, the department of homeland security partners with the private sector to develop infrastructure that would be used to ensure the safety to all American citizens. As a result of this, Tumbler Technologies has been contracted to provide the support that the department needs so that it can continue providing services to all the people. In essence, Tumbler Technologies is an American company that deals in security infrastructure. The firm offers several products including security cameras, electric fences, communication gadgets, and alarm systems among many other products related to homeland security (Porikli et al., 2013). The company was founded in the year 1997, and it will be celebrating twenty years of active operation in 2017.
In essence, Tumbler Technologies operates in the New York area, but it has offices in the main cities across the country. Some of the branches are situated in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Chicago, Texas, and Miami. All the offices are coordinated by competent people who have skills as well as experience in the security industry. Some of our employees are former military officers and FBI investigators (Broder & Tucker, 2011). Therefore, the expertise means that the company can tackle any security issue, both from inside and outside the country.
In essence, the primary roles of Tumbler Technologies are to source for intelligence from different trusted bases and offer counter-crime services bodyguards and security officers for private residences. Apart from that, the firm also provides information to the department of homeland security so that they can act on it. Furthermore, they offer advice on security matters to state governments as well as the federal government (Kleiven, 2007). The company has grown over the years to become a major partner of the department of homeland security. The organization may even donate security officers in case of an emergency (Van de Walle & Turoff, 2008). In other words, the company is robust security company that offers any security service that individuals or organizations may require.
Security is a sensitive issue for both individuals and the government. Any company mandated to ensure the safety, whether private or public, needs to take the job seriously and make sure that nothing is left to chance. The people assigned to offer security on behalf of the company should do so in an extremely efficient manner (Mason & Suri, 2012). When they perform their duties diligently, the public will not only be happy, but the profile of the company as well the status will be improved. Therefore, the firm needs to set up strategies that will ensure that it provides the best kind of services to all clients and partners like the Department of Homeland Security.
It is the expectation of every client to be served with the best service available. At Tumbler Technologies, the concerns of all customers, including the department of homeland security, are given priority as the company seeks to satisfy all of them. Due to this, the firm has put in place strategies and steps to ensure that the services remain top of the range. In essence, any job starts with a contract between the client and the company. Notably, the contract is written and witnessed by a legal practitioner. Apart from that, the agreement specifies the details of the security plan agreed upon by the client and the company through a representative.
Firstly, after the contract is signed by the client and the company representative, an employee of the organization visits the home of the client or the location where the security services are needed. The representative studies the area, looking for potential danger zones around the area and possible escape routes in case of an attack from an external source. After that, the employee sets up a plan with the client regarding the security detail. In the plan, the daily schedule of the client is addressed. Apart from that, the employee offers advice on possible methods improving safety. After that, the expert trains the client on basic self-defense skills as well as ways to get out of an attack in case it happens.
The representative also shows the client how to bargain and buy time in case the attacker wants something in return for the freedom of the client. The third step entails getting accustomed to different potential attack situations and how to avoid them. The customer is taken through some of the possible conditions so that they can be prepared when a real attack occurs. During this stage, the client is also taught how he or she can protect themselves in the case of an explosion attack like a grenade or bomb. Essentially, there are positions that one can adopt to protect against explosions and increase their chances of surviving the attack.
For organizations like the department of homeland security, the company offers different packages and uses a different strategy from the one it uses on individual clients. For instance, the company first has to get into a written contract with the department, which is signed by the head of the center. After that, the company offers some of its employees to the department and they will under the command of the commanding officer. However, they will remain on the payroll of Tumbler Technologies. All instructions that they will receive will come from the department of homeland security. Further, they will also report to the commanding officer at the department. By doing that, they would not be a conflict of interest between Tumbler and the department of homeland security.
Challenges Faced
Tumbler Technologies faces some issues when offering security services. For instance, some situations are extremely complicated, and others may even involve a loss of life. However, amidst all the complexities involved, clients demand that the employees assigned to them must provide security. If anything goes against the expectations, the company bears the wrath of the clients. Some customers sue the company for such incidences.
Another challenge is a lack of adequate finances to facilitate certain security drills. In essence, some drills are done outside the country. Therefore, they require a lot of money. The company sometimes lacks the funds to take the employees of these training, ending up compromising with certain security details. Further, some equipment is expensive to install. Furthermore, some clients may demand that the gadgets but fail to pay accordingly. The company, therefore, bears the losses.
Sometimes, clients may refuse to cooperate with their bodyguards. Primarily, this is a challenge as the act may put the life of the customer as well as the guard in danger. When a guard tells a client to do something, the client may defy. Some claim that they pay for the services, and therefore should give instructions and not the other way round. They end up compromising the work of the bodyguards.
Another challenge facing Tumbler Technologies is the increase in terrorism and crimes related to extremists. As a matter of fact, this is a global issue, but Tumbler, being a private security company, experiences the challenge first-hand. In fact, terrorism has now become unpredictable, and the use of suicide bombers has further complicated issues. The employees of the firm have to be alert in the terror hotspots such as the major cities and in gatherings that have lots of people. Apart from that, terrorists are difficult to identify because they blend in the surroundings and attack when they feel it is convenient. For this reason, the company has had to invest a lot of money on surveillance equipment.
Expectations for the Department Of Homeland Security
Since this is going to be some partnership between Tumbler Technologies and the department of homeland security, we expect that the department will also stick to the terms and conditions that will be laid out in the contract. Apart from that, the employees that will be attached to the department are still workers of Tumbler Technologies. Therefore, it is expected that the department of homeland security will treat them with respect and dignity. If their rights are violated at any time, Tumbler will cancel the contract immediately without any prior notice. Tumbler also expects that the department of homeland security will cooperate fully because the issue of safety is an affair that should be handled with cooperation and sharing of information. The department of homeland security needs to treat Tumbler as an equal partner. Apart from that, the department of homeland security can assist Tumbler Technologies by offering some intelligence concerning the security of the country. The agency can also help the firm financially and also by assisting to train the employees of Tumbler. Since the federal government manages the department, it would be easier to access funds. The department can assist Tumbler by donating equipment.
References
Broder, J. F., & Tucker, E. (2011). Risk Analysis and the Security Survey. Elsevier.
Kleiven, M. E. (2007). Where's the intelligence in the National Intelligence Model?. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 9(3), 257-273.
Mason, W., & Suri, S. (2012). Conducting behavioural research on Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Behavior Research Methods, 44(1), 1-23.
Porikli, F., Brémond, F., Dockstader, S. L., Ferryman, J., Hoogs, A., Lovell, B. C., & Venetianer, P. L. (2013). Video surveillance: The Past, present, and now the future. IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, 30(3), 190-198.
Van de Walle, B., & Turoff, M. (2008). Decision support for emergency situations. Information Systems and E-Business Management, 6(3), 295-316.
