18 KEYNOTES DECEMBER 2022 WWW.ALOA.ORG INSTITUTIONAL SPOTLIGHT I am intrigued by the number of articles and studies published re- lating to school security since the Columbine massacre. Think of all that has taken place since April 20, 1999. It seems that this event was like a crack in time. We have been challenged by this event to be better at what we do protecting life and property, whether your role is working as a locksmith, law enforcement officer, hardware manufacturer or hardware distributor. We are all continually being called higher to supply useful applied security solu- tions. We cannot change society — we can only help protect it from itself. What I find lacking in what I read about school security is the human factor. As security profes- sionals, we understand statistics, product lines, procedures and policies. Remove all of that, and what do you have? People trying to help protect people. Sure, I could quote you statistics, get information from cut sheets and comb through some catalogs to fill up space. I am not going to do that. Rather, I’d like to focus on the people behind the security — those who have become trusted advisers, building relationships that last for years. The kind of person who has your best interest in mind. I am not saying that product information and statistics are not important; they are. This information is necessary and has its place (although, truthfully, I don’t find that as interesting as the human aspect). You have heard it said, almost to nauseum, that “people are our greatest resource.” I wholeheartedly believe that. Our clients/ customers are worth saving and protecting. I have seen and experienced a lot in the last 45 years in this industry. It always comes back to the people and relationships. I cherish working with people who put people first. From manufacturer reps to hardware distributors, the people factor has always made me better at what I do. The Relationship Between Human Capital and Security As I researched for this article, I came to understand that once an event like Sandy Hook, Marjory Stoneman Douglas or Chardon High School takes place, the trajec- tory of lives changes. No price tag can be put on human capital — the idea of worth as a person. At Sandy Hook, a teacher shielded her students with her body. Victo- ria Soto put herself in harm’s way providing security to her students as they shel- tered in closets. Ms. Soto paid with her life, the ultimate sacrifice. She was shot four Moving Beyond the Bottom Line in School Security Steve Fryman, CRL, CAI, CISM, AFDI, discusses the people involved in school security issues. times, and there’s no telling how many lives were saved. Life paths changed by her selflessness. Frank Hall, coach at Chardon High School, chased a shooter from the caf- eteria after three students were mortally wounded. After chasing the shooter out of the school, he went back and helped the wounded until help arrived. Both these caring people are examples of those who understand the worth of life and human capital, putting themselves in harm’s way. Soto and Hall were not security profes- sionals. They were the frontline protectors who stepped in when the hardware, cam- eras and software were not enough. As se- curity professionals, we have these kinds of people in mind when we are doing our work. Protecting students, faculty and staff should be on our minds. We are doing se- curity assessments or working on access control systems that secure perimeters and interiors of schools — hoping that when that day arrives, what we’ve done will save lives, aiding those who are in harm’s way. Our work is in place to help these coura- geous educators do their jobs. The People Behind the Funding U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, Florida’s 4th District, created the STOP School Violence
