Security and Law Enforcement Conventions

Myself and the company's President of Operations attended the Police Security Expo 2008. Here are her thoughts on the convention.

I attended the Police Security Expo 2008 in Atlantic City at the Convention Center on June 24. I had no expectations about the convention because this was something new that I never attended or been a part of. My impression afterward was that of not being impressed. There were a lot of gun displays, police car displays, mobile unit displays, uniform displays and island trip displays which I thought at first was out of place but then figured what does an overworked law enforcement agent want but a vacation on a tropical island or a cruise to get away. I found the convention geared more toward law enforcement (cops, agents) than to security. I don't know what I expected to see but what I saw gave minimal interest. I did try to see if there were any products that we could market ourselves. My only thought was to add another component to the Harris Security empire which deals with law enforcement products (handcuffs, badges, uniforms, guns, etc).

I also noticed not many people of color there. In fact very few. Including us there were approximately 3 persons of color I saw. One was a rep, the other 2 had convention security outfits on. I did see what looked like military personnel outside the convention maybe about 5 or 6. That was all.

I think the word "security" is thrown into convention and expo titles just to seem that it is all inclusive. However my impression is that it is not. There are many facets to security and security consulting just like there are many facets to police work. They work hand in hand but somehow there is a very obvious division between the two. What are some of the tools of security? One tool is the devices needed to aid in monitoring and protecting such as cameras, dvrs, monitoring and recording systems, to name a few. Where were there representation? There was one display for a dvr monitoring system but that was it. These expos shouldn't be all about cops. They should be about all those who work tirelessly and effortless to protect our beings, property, family, and who are here to give the average person the sense of being safe. The police are not the only ones who do this. These expos need recognize both sides and represent accordingly.

And those are my thoughts and impressions on the Police Security Expo 2008.