by Patricia A. Miller
The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office will hold a awareness program in Waretown on March 11 aimed at training security personnel how to screen patrons and enhance safety in "soft target" areas.
Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said his office will partner with the state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness in the Security Awareness and Vigilance for Everyone (S.A.V.E.) program.
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The program - developed and presented by Protecting the Homeland Innovations, LLC - is tailored to public and private sector managers, planners and security personnel.
S.A.V.E. is designed to help identify measures that can fill gaps in patron screening at “soft targets” such as mass transit, non-secure public areas of airports, hotels, sporting events, shopping malls, theme parks, and many government facilities, Coronato said.
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"The combination of high patron volume in confined areas with no screening makes such places ideal targets for a terrorist attack," he said.
The program provides security personnel with a behavior assessment technique to counter these threats and to enhance security measures in the layered defense concept.
The program will help security personnel responsible for protecting specific areas of infrastructure by providing behavior assessment screening training.
Participants will have a better understanding of the threat to their sector and their role in identifying and reporting suspicious behavior, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
“For this audience the “See Something – Say Something” approach is not enough," Coronato said. "Their plans and protocols need to go far beyond that in order to assure their patrons safety. This programs provides insight into those critical security measures needed to prevent acts of terrorism.”
The program will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ocean County Training Center, 200 Volunteer Way, Waretown, NJ 08758. The program is offered at no cost, but those wishing to attend should pre-register as seating is limited.
To register visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LC2WK55. If clicking on the direct link does not work, copy the link and place it in your browser.
Additional details and directions will be sent out to participants upon registration. If you have questions or need additional information regarding this course, contact the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Emergency Management Office at 732 929-2027 Ext. 5824.
