A mass shooting on Park Avenue has led to a surge in demand for corporate security services, with companies seeking measures such as armed guards, German Shepherds, and improved elevator and turnstile security. The incident, which killed four people and injured one, has sparked a panic among some corporations headquartered in office buildings across the city.
The shooting came seven months after another violent incident, in which a man allegedly killed a UnitedHealthcare CEO in revenge for perceived corporate greed. This event also led to a similar ramp-up in security measures, with firms working with CEOs to wipe their social media accounts and increase security assessments.
Now, companies are requesting evaluations of what they can do to keep employees safe, ranging from hiring armed guards and canine units to improving elevator security. Manhattan-based companies have sought services from top security firms, including Allied Universal, which has assessed the need for key card systems in elevators and turnstile upgrades.
While increased security measures may provide some benefits, experts warn that stopping an armed individual determined to carry out a violent act is extremely difficult. “If somebody is hell-bent on doing this it’s very, very hard,” said Ty Yorio, owner of Citadel Security. However, additional measures can still buy time for security guards or police officers to intervene, with just 4-5 seconds being enough for someone inside the building to react.
As demand for increased security shows signs of cooling off, experts predict that companies will return to normal soon. “We’re seeing a similar trend after last Monday as we did after Dec. 4,” said Glen Kucera, president of Allied Universal’s enhanced protection services. The panic is likely short-lived, and companies will eventually find ways to “forget about things like this” that happened.
Source: https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-offices-add-armed-guards-dogs-and-new-turnstiles-after-2-midtown-shootings