Image by Alex Proimos
Security on Guard
Derrick Parks, CEO of Metropolitan Protective Services (MPSI), based in Washington, D.C, has a message for possible soft targets of gun violence and terror. It’s time to start thinking proactively about security; the sooner the public begins to do this, the better off we will be. I spoke to Mr. Parks at length recently about his views on the security issue.
“Moving forward from the recent spat of shootings, security should be an immediate option for your safety. The public needs to think in a more ‘what if’ posture; ie, where are my exits, how can I get out of here if I need to, how do I escape, what is my next move. In other words, be able to react to an unanticipated, violent development.”
Mr. Parks is a retired assistant chief of police in the D.C. area and founded MPSI in 1997 to take advantage of his experience in law enforcement, and follow his vision to stand up a security company that focuses on safety, excellence in performance, customer service, and client satisfaction. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a multi-million dollar organization; he continues to oversee the day-to-day operations.
The company is a Maryland based and licensed in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. MPSI is certified by the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, and contracted and registered on the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule.
MPSI’s customer base includes private commercial industry, foreign governmental entities, and federal, state, and local governments.
“Unfortunately we live in an age with an evil component,” said Mr. Parks. “The sooner we realize this is the nature of the age, the better off we will be. The attacks will not stop, that is not reality. In the past, everyone slept with windows unlocked, routinely hitchhiked, etc. But then came the missing girls and society changed. The abduction rate increased, and as a society, we had to learn how to adapt. We are seeing the same type of transformation now in America. People need to adapt again to gun violence.”
You can find further information on MPSI here on the companies website.
MPSI provides armed uniformed guards, unarmed uniformed guards, and loss prevention services, and GSA Certified Officers trained in Department of Homeland Security efforts. These include top secret cleared officers, emergency response team services, incident management and continuity of operations, law enforcement training, and locksmith services.
“The problem today, and what is important for a target like a church, is that people don’t want to spend the money, they don’t think there is a threat, or they want to hide someone in the congregation that doesn’t have training. This is not an effective policy. Clients need to hire an effective team that has decades of experience. MPSI is that team.”
Sounds like good advice.
