Buffalo, NY (WBEN) You may be noticing more and more security presence in places that previously haven't had it. Stores, churches and businesses are stepping-up security efforts after the mass shooting in Buffalo and an uptick in gun violence nationally.
Those security demands are placing pressures on local security firms to meet the increased needs and find the staff qualified to keep venues secure.
Mario Rodriguez of Forseti Protection says demand has more than doubled in the past few weeks. "These industries are now having conversations that they've never had to have before, or some of them even refuse to have," says Rodriguez. He notes the demands are increasing because of gaps in security in a number of industries.
Rodriguez says with increased demand, the challenge of finding qualified security officers increases as well. "If you talk to some of the retired officers, many move away after they retire, they don't seem in the same area. So trying to find those personnel and get them back on your roster and on your team to be able to use their experience in the in the field certainly has its challenging moments," explains Rodriguez. He says it's important for companies like his to come to the table and make sure that clients are getting security and getting way more proactive in their approach.
At the Buffalo Catholic Diocese, spokesperson Joe Martone says there's been a heightened alert for some time. "Based on concerns that actually in early May, about possible disruptions at mass is following the leaked Supreme Court opinion regarding Roe versus Wade, the Diocese of buffalo officials alerted pastors about possible disruptions in mass," says Martone. He adds ushers and greeters have been advised to be vigilant during mass.
Martone says the diocese has made another recommendation, that each parish may wish to contact police agencies requesting their presence in church or to be on call in case of a disruptive situation. "It's up to each parish decide how much security is needed," says Martone.
Martone says it's an unfortunate part of the world we live in. "I'm sure people have concerns in their daily life and it's just one of those challenges we've seen as a free society these days," he says.
