Security and the Down Market............

Security: WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ASSET? THE MARKETS AREN'T YOUR ONLY RISK,

Featuring Andrew C. Hopkinson, CEO of Personal Defensive Tactics LLC

Security and the Down Market…………….As the nation’s financial crisis makes headlines, many of your family’s clearer and present dangers may be flying under the radar. Wealth brings considerable attention and security exposure to families across the globe, and many take appropriate counter measures only after costly, disruptive, or embarrassing events unfold. However with drastic times come increases in, crimes to the person, strong armed robberies, home invasions and abductions. So with that said, your family is your greatest asset, they are often the weakest link in your security blanket.
According to security expert Andrew C. Hopkinson, CEO of Personal Defensive Tactics LLC, a threat management and security consulting firm, “A lot of high net worth families are led to believe that security is a function of how much they spend. Quite to the contrary, true security is a function of putting countermeasures in place that specifically address the types of threats a family faces.” Andrew goes on to explain that some appropriate measures come at little or no cost, but families are often sold expensive equipment or monitoring services based on fear tactics.
A better approach is to consult a security expert who can evaluate your lifestyle and exposure to threats. Areas of particular concern to many families include:
Personal Security
• Protection of your home, family, valuables & possessions
• Monitoring of in-home service staff, trained personnel on staff; in CPR First Aid• Interior & perimeter monitoring, well lit areas are a deterrent…..
• Safeguard monitoring around swimming pools, driveways & play areas
Identity Theft Protection• Safeguarding against the loss of wallets and purses, proper home office document shredding!
• Monitoring credit bureaus for suspicious credit activity
• Implementing cyber-security measures to prevent hacking of personal information
Background Investigations• Comprehensive investigations of work history, criminal history, credit history, education and credentials of prospective domestic or corporate employees
• Deep assessments of character, integrity, and personal history through interviews of associates and former employers
Special Event Planning
• Minimizing the risk of a crime, unwanted exposure, or terrorist activity through site planning, technology assessment, access controls, and transportation planning
• Providing incident response in the event of a threat, having trained personnel on staff; in CPR First Aid, Executive Protection/Personal Protection.


Security and the Down Market…………….

Global Travel Intelligence
• Assessment of your ‘value’ as a ransom target, bad guys will monitor private jet traffic……
• Assessment of the political, criminal, terrorist and kidnapping risk profile of each destination
• Recommendations of hotels, airports, travel routes, have an EP escape an evasion trained driver.
Cyber Security
• Establishing an information security policy, procedures, and access control
• Assessing network vulnerability, children are always online……
• Acquisition, deployment, and maintenance of information systems equipment
• Response, investigation, and management of cyber attacks
• Monitoring of compliance to existing laws, guidelines, and industry best practices
Stalking Mitigation
• Consultation on prevention, detection, and avoidance, continue training household staff
• Advice on eliminating the stalking threat or ending stalker activity, if you see something, say something
• Coordination with Federal, State and local authorities
Workplace or School Safety• Threat assessments to your office, review of your child’s school safety procedures
• Violence avoidance, “The Ostrich and the Eagle” situational awareness
• Employee training, I will say it again; in CPR First Aid, Executive Protection/Personal Protection.

History has shown us what can and does happen in a financial crisis, ask your self this, Security, if not now then when? What are your greatest assets really worth? Don’t play the Ostrich……
Andrew C. Hopkinson
Can be reached Andrew@personaldefensivetactics.com

Sergeant Andrew Hopkinson

Sergeant Andrew Hopkinson spent over 20 years with the Village of Mamaroneck, NY Police Department before retiring in early 2007. Upon retirement, he was immediately hired as a training sergeant for the town of Rye (NY) department of public safety. As an active shooter instructor and nationally recognized defensive tactics trainer working for two world renowned law enforcement training companies, Sergeant Hopkinson has trained hundreds of law enforcement and military units all over the United States and Canada. As a supervisor of the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department Marine Unit, he developed a “Maritime Defensive Tactics” program that was taught to numerous police marine units around the nation. He is a New York state municipal police academy instructor. He is also a certified Tactical EMT and a CPR, AED and First Aid Instructor. Hopkinson worked at Ground Zero after 9/11 and was employed as a private security contractor in New Orleans, Louisiana in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Sgt. Hopkinson is a Federal Bureau of Investigation certified firearms instructor as well as a New York state certified firearms instructor. A New York state certified general topics police instructor and a Monadnock MEB baton instructor. He spent 10 years as a search and rescue underwater crime scene diver & dive team commander. Sgt. Hopkinson has received instruction in responding to terrorist threats and first responder actions at bombing scenes taught by former members of the Israeli Special Forces. He has also attended training on multiple terrorist school siege doctrine taught by westerners who were allowed to investigate the Beslan (Russia) school massacre in 2004. He is currently instructing for Michael Stapleton Associates, a leading Counter Terrorism and Explosives Detection company in NYC, where he is teaching Security and Counter Terrorism. He is a charter member of ILEETA (International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Association) and a member of the International Counter Terrorism Officers Association.