City Physical Security Manager Interview

Author: Dan Gelinas, Published on Mar 14, 2019

This physical security pro is the Physical Security Manager for the City of Calgary. He is a criminologist by training with an ASIS CPP credential. He tells IPVM that managing surveillance and security for Canada’s 3rd most populous city has a number of unique challenges.

Based on our interview with Calgary Physical Security Manager Brad Labrenz, we look at the following topics:

  • Integrator/customer reckoning
  • Tools should fit the customer, not the other way around
  • Cooperation with Police
  • Not always lowest bidder
  • What camera and VMS brands do they use
  • Integrators often talk the talk, but can't walk the walk
  • Continuous new product evaluation
  • Rigorous about privacy

**** ******** ******** *** ** *** ******** ******** ******* *** the **** ** *******. ** ** * ************* ** ******** with ** **** *** **********. ** ***** **** **** ******** surveillance *** ******** *********’* *** **** ******** ******* * ****** ** ****** **********.

***** ** *** ********* **** ******* ******** ******** *********** *******, ** **** ** *** ********* ******:

  • **********/******** *********
  • ***** ****** *** *** ********, *** *** ***** *** ******
  • *********** **** ******
  • *** ****** ****** ******
  • **** ****** *** *** ****** ** **** ***
  • *********** ***** **** *** ****, *** ***'* **** *** ****
  • ********** *** ******* **********
  • ******** ***** *******

[***************]

****: *** **** **** *** **** *** ******** ******* *** the ****?

*’* *** ** *** ****. *’** **** **** **** ***** November ** ****. ****’* **** * **** *** ***. ***** to ****, * *** ** *** *** ********. * **** have **** * *** ** **** ** *******. *’** **** involved ** *** ******** ******** *** ****** ** *****. *’** been ***** ********/*** *********** ***** *** **** ********. * ****** in **** ********** ***** * ******** ** *********** ****** ** 96. **** * ****** *** *********** ***** **** **** * went ** *** ****** ******** ** ********, ********** ******** * Casino **.

****: *** *** *** **** **** **** ***?

*** ******** ** ********, *’** ********* ***** *** *** * number ** ***** ** * *********. *** *’* * ************* by ** *********. * **** *** ******** *** ** ********** me ** ***** *** * ***. ****** ****’* ****** ***** in *** *** ******** ** *******. ****’* *** *** ******** came *****. ** *** * ***** ******** ** **** ** move **** ***, ******. *** *** ****** ** *** *** older ** *********, *** * ***** ** *** *** ** was *** ***** ********.

****: **** ***** ** ************* *** ***** ********* ** *** manage?

* ****** **** ***** ****** ********* ********. * ****** **************, Physical ********—** ******** **** ** ****, ********* ********** *** ******** Security—Operations ***** ** *** ***** ******* *** *** ********** ******** Center **** **** * *** ** *** ******* **** ** install. *** * ****** ********. **** ** * *** ** the *******, **** **********, ********* *****, **** **** ** *****.

****: **** ***** * ************ ******* ********** *** ****, ** you **** ****** ****?

*** *** ** **. ** ****** **** ** **. ** have ***** **** ******** ********. ***** *** *** ******* **** our ******** ***** *********. *** ******* ** **** **** ***** normally ** **** * ********** *** ** ** ********** *** risk *** **** ** *** ********** **** ***** ** ******** would ** ****** ******* ****** **** *** ********** ******** ****** where ****’** ********* ** * ****.

****: *** ** *** ******* ********* ********? *** ** *** cameras *** ***********?

****’** *** ********* *** ********* ** *** ********** ******** ******, which ** *** ******* ******, *********** *** **** **’* *** backed ** ** *******.

****: **** *** **** ****** *** ******** **** *** ****** or ***** ****** ****** ***** ******* ** ****** ******?

**. ** ****, ** **** ** ***** ** *** ******* this **** *** **** ********, *** *********** *******, *** ** analysis *** **** ********** *** * **** ****. **’** ****** a **** ** *** **** ** ******* * ************** *** likely ***** **** ** *********** **** ******* ***** ************. * think *** ****** ** ****** ********** ********* ** ****** **** security *** **’** ****** ******* ** *** ******’* **** *** privacy **** ** ** ******* *** ***** *** ***********. **’** always ******* ** ***** ** ***** ******* *** *** ****’** monitored.

****: **** **** ** *********** ** ***** ******* **** ********* and ****** *********, ** *** **** ********* ****?

* ***** **’** *** * **** *********** ************ **** ****. They’ll ***** ******* ***** **** ** *** **’** ******* ** if *****’* * ****** *************. ** ***, **** ***********. **’** got ** ************* ** **** ***** ** ****** **** ****. Their ***** ***** ***** ***** ********* *** ****** *** **** versa. *****’* * **** ********* **** **** ** ***** *********** when ********.

****: *** ** *** ******/******** ******** *********** ** **** ****?

** **** * ****** ******** *** ************* *** *******. *** procurement ****** ****** **** *******, ** **’* ****** **** ****** for **. ** **** ******** *** ******** ****’* ****** *** then **** ** ** ****** *** *** ** ****** *** products **** *** *** ******* **** *** ****** *** *** *** *** ****** ***** *** ** *** project.

****: ** ** ******* *** ****** ****** *** **** *** job?

****’* ****** * *************, *** **’* *** *** ******** ********. It’s *** ** ************ ************ **** *** **** *** ******** and ********* **** *** ** **** ********. **’* *** ** most **** ** ******* *** ****** *** ***** ******* *****, as **** ** ****** **** **** *** ******* ****** ** right.

****: **** ************ ********—******* *** ***—**** *** ****?

** *** * ******* ** ********. ***** *** **** ***** business ***** **** ****** **** ** *** ******. ** ***’* manage ** ***. *** ********* ********, ** *** ********* ** our ******* ***** ********** ******** *** ** ********* *** ****, but *****, ***** ** * ******* *********, *****, ** *** application.

****: ** *** **** **** ******* ******* *** ***** ********* products ** **** ********?

***. **’** **** ********** ** *********** **********. ** *****’* *** a *** ** ******* *********** ********** ** ****. *** * say **** **** *** *********** ** *** **** ** *******, but **** ** ** ******** ****. * **** ***** **** integrating *********, ********* ******* *** **** *********. ******* ** * complex ******, * **** **** **** *********** **** *** ****, but **** ***** ************* ******* *** ********* ** *********** *************. I **** **** ************, ***—*** *’* ******** * ****** *****—******** integrators ***** *****-*******. **** ***** ***’* ******* ** ***********. * know **** ** *** ********** ******, ** **** ***** ***** needs ** ** * ********* ******* *** *** ***** *** high ************ ** *** ****** *** *** ** *** ****-*********** delivery ** *** **********.

****: **** *** **** *** ******** **** ******** ***********—**** ** IT *********, ***** ****************** ********, ***** ****-****** **** ****** ******, ***.?

**********. **** ** ** ********* ** * *** *******. *** organizations **** *****’* *********** **** ** ***** *** **** *******, and **** **** * **** ****-********** ** ****. *** * don’t **** **** *****’* *********** *** *****. *****’* * ********* between *** ** ********* ** *** ****** **** ****** *** integrator ****. *** ******* *** *** ********** ** **** **** often ***’* **** *** ******** ** **** ** *** ******. We’re ** ** ***** *** *** *** ** ***** ***. They ***’* **** **** ****** *********. *** *** *****, * hear ******* ** *** ****** ******** *** ******.

****:** *** **** *** ****** ** **** ******** ********** ******** or *********** **** ** ***** ** **** ******** **** *** the **** ** ** *** ** *** ******** ********?

** **** *** *********. ** **** ** **** *** ****** technology *** **** **** **** *** ***** *** **** ****** in **. *** ***** **** ** ** *** *** *** have ** *** **** *** ******** ******* **** ** ****. It *******’* ** *** ***** *** ******. ** *******’* **** to *** *** ******** ******* ** *** * ****. ** thought ** **** ** *******’* ** ***** ***** ***** **** don’t **** *** ***** *********.

****: ** *** **** * ********* ** ********* ******* *** the ****’* ******* *** ***** *******?

** **** * ********* *******. *** **’** ******* ** *********, as ****.

****:**** **** *** ****** *** **** *** *****?

** *** ***** **** * *** *** ********, ** * can’t ****** ***** ** ****. ***** * **** **** *** also ******. ** **** ** ********** ** ********** *** *** set ** ******** ** **** ******* *****’* ** ****** *** can’t **** * ********* *******.

****: **** *** ******** ****** ******* ** ****** ** ** cybersecurity ******** ***** **** *******?

** ** ****** **** ******* * *** **********.

****: **** *** **** ******** *** ****** ** ********* (*******, VMS, ********, ***.) ****** **** ****** *** ** ** **** made *** ****** *** **** *** ***** **** *** ******.

*****, *’* ***** ****** ***. ******* *** **** ******* ***** I’ve **** *****.

****: *** ***** ** *** ******** *** ****** *** ************ technology?

*********** ******. **’** **** ********** ** ******** *********** *** ** we’ll ** ** *** *********** *********** ******. ******* **’* *** or ***** ***********. **’** **** ********** ** **** ** **** their ********* ** ******* **** ** ***** ** ****** **.

****: *** ** **** ******* ******* (*.*. *** ** *** evaluate/judge *** ******* *** ******** ****** *** ******** ********* ******?) Was ** **** *** ** *** ** ******* * *********?

**’* **** ******* *********. **** ******* **** ** * ****, they’re ******** ** **** **** *** **** ***** **** **** learned. *** **** ** ** ******* *** *** *******, *** bidders *** ******** ** **** ******** *** ************ *** **** we **** ** ****.

****: **** *** **** ******** ** **** ***? ** ****** 4MP ****** *****?

*’* * *** ** *** ********'* ******* ** ******** ** push *** *** ** ***** ** **********. ***** * ******* solution ** ******* ********* ***’* ** ****** *********** ** ** for **** *******. **** ******* (***** ******), ****** ****** ********** to ***** **** ***** ** ****** ***. ***** ********** *** I ***’* **** ** *** ***** ** ***** **.

****: **** *** **** **** *****-****** *******?

*’** **** **** *** ******** ************* *** *********. ******** ******* long ******** ** *********, ** ***** ************ **** ******* ****** circumstances. **** *** ********** ** **** *** ******* * ***’* know **** ***** **** ** ********** ****** ** **** ***** but *** * ***** ****** **** *********** ************* *** *** possible.

****: **** *** **** ******** ***** *** *** ******* ** camera ************* ***** *** *********?

* **** *** *** ****.

****: *** **** ****** ** ********** *** ***** **** **** VMS/Server/Network/Power ************?

* ***’* **** *** ***** ******, *** * **** **** we **** ******** ************.

****: ** *** ** *** **** ****** **********? ** *** your ******* **** ** ** ***** ***** ****?

** **** * ***** **** **** **** **********.

****: ** *** *** *** ***** ********** ** ***?

**.

****: **** **** ******* ** ******* ********** *******?

*’* *** **’* * ***********. ***** **** **** ****, *** a ******* ** **** ** ****.

****: **** *** **** ***** **** *** ****** *******?

* ******* ** ** ***** **** **** ****** ***** *** there. **’** ****** ********* **** ** *** **** ** ***. There’s *** **** **** ****** ***** *** ***** *******, ******.

****: **** ******* ************** *** ***** **** * *********-***** ********** system **** *** ******’* **** **, ***, * ****** ******, or ** ****** ********?

* ***** ** ******** **** **** ***** ****** *** ******* concerns, ***** **** **’** ********** ** ******* ** ******* ********. We’re ******* ******* ** ****** ******** ** ******* ** ******* property. **’** **** ****** ******* ** *** ******* ** ****, but ** **** * **** ****** *******, ** ****. ****, we **** ****** ** ******* **** *********** ******* ******** ******’* have.

****: *** ***** ** **** ******* **** *** ** ***** off * *******? *** *******, ******** ** * **** **** or ******** * ******* ** *** ***** ** *** ** vandalism?

** ***** *****. ** **** ****** **** ****** ** *** ISC ********** ******** ******. ****’** ******* ** **** ******. **** do * ****** **** ***. ***’** *** *** ****** ** things **** ******. ******** ******** *** ****** ********.

****: *** *** ***** ****** **** ****** ***********, ***, *** analytics *** ****** **** ******** ******* **********, ******** **** **********, unusual/anomaly ******** *********?

* ***** *** **** **** ****** **’* ****, **’** ***** a **** ** ** ** *********** *** ********* *****. ** don’t **** * *********** ******* ** ********. *********, ******* ** will **** *** *** *** *** ***** ****** ******** ** working, *** * ***’* ***** **’** ***** ***. ** ***’* have *** **** *** ** ** ******* **** ******** * human. **’** ******* *****.

****: ** ******* *** *********/********* ** *** ****’* ********/************ ******* ever * *******?

**********. ***** ** ****** * ******* *** ********. * ***’* think **’** ** *********, *** ** *** ** * **** job ********** *** **** *** *** **********, **** ** ** ok. *** ******* ** * ********* **********, ********* *****’* * risk *** *** **** **** ** ****** **.

****: **** ** *** ******* *** *********** ****** ********* ********** the ****?

*** ********* ******** ******** ******* ****** ****** [***** ********** ******** ************* ******]*** ************* ****** *** **** ******** ********* ** *** ******** Security ********. **** **** ********* *********.

****: **** ********* ****** *** ******** ** ***** **? *** example, *** ****** ******** ************ ** **** ** ***** **** and **** ********** ************ ** *** ***** **** **** *** biggest ******?

“***********” **** ** ****** ***** *****. *** ******** ******** *** is ***** **** ** ******* *** ******** **** ******** * single **** ** ***** *** ******** ******** ******* **** *** this ****. **** **** **** ** ** ** ***** *** have *** ******* ** **** **** ******* ************* ********* ******** platforms. ** ***, ****’** **** **** **** ** **** *** talk.

Comments (5)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

03/14/19 05:21pm

*********** *******. ******* ** the *** ******* **** in ******. *******, ******** and ********* ******* *******.

Dennis Ruban

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 03/14/19 07:23pm

******* ** *** ***, as ********* ** *** smaller. *** ******** ******* about *** ***** ******** Burnaby, *******, ********, ***.

Avatar

Dan Gelinas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 03/14/19 07:46pm

********, ***** ** ** original ******** ***** ** based ** ******** **********, Calgary ** **. * in ***** ** **********. I **** ******** ****** *** ***** *****. Here ** * ********** of *** ***** **** Statistics ****** **** ***** Calgary ** **. *:

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Dan Gelinas | 03/14/19 08:32pm

************** ********** ** **** ** ************ ****:

Avatar

Dan Gelinas

IPVM | 03/21/19 02:59pm

* ****** ** *** in **** *********** **** didn't **** *** ********* in *** ********* **** Brad. * ****** ** this ********* ***** ***** an ****** ***** ** the **** ** *******,*** ******* ********.

*** ******* ******** ** a *****, ***** *****, outdoor ********, *** ********** that ***** ** ** a ******* ****** ***** year *** ******** *** population *** ** ****.

* ***** **** **** sorts ** ****** ********** this ***** ******* *** how ****** ****** ***** address ****.

**** ** **** ** had ** ***:

*** ******** ***** ***** with *** ** ****** on-site ********. *** ** course, ***** *** **** events **** ** **** plan *** ** **** facilities. **** *** ******* Executive **********, ***** ******** and **********, *** ********** Threat & **** ***********.

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