City Physical Security Manager Interview

By Dan Gelinas, Published Mar 14, 2019, 12:01pm EDT (Info+)

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.

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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 ******** ******* *** *** ****?

*’* *** ** *** ****. *’** only **** **** ***** ******** ** 2018. ****’* **** * **** *** job. ***** ** ****, * *** in *** *** ********. * **** have **** * *** ** **** in *******. *’** **** ******** ** the ******** ******** *** ****** ** years. *’** **** ***** ********/*** *********** since *** **** ********. * ****** in **** ********** ***** * ******** my *********** ****** ** **. **** I ****** *** *********** ***** **** when * **** ** *** ****** industry ** ********, ********** ******** * Casino **.

****: *** *** *** **** **** that ***?

*** ******** ** ********, *’** ********* known *** *** * ****** ** years ** * *********. *** *’* a ************* ** ** *********. * knew *** ******** *** ** ********** me ** ***** *** * ***. Things ****’* ****** ***** ** *** oil ******** ** *******. ****’* *** the ******** **** *****. ** *** a ***** ******** ** **** ** move **** ***, ******. *** *** change ** *** *** ***** ** difficult, *** * ***** ** *** end ** *** *** ***** ********.

****: **** ***** ** ************* *** Human ********* ** *** ******?

* ****** **** ***** ****** ********* security. * ****** **************, ******** ********—** actually **** ** ****, ********* ********** and ******** ********—********** ***** ** *** guard ******* *** *** ********** ******** Center **** **** * *** ** the ******* **** ** *******. *** I ****** ********. **** ** * lot ** *** *******, **** **********, proactive *****, **** **** ** *****.

****: **** ***** * ************ ******* throughout *** ****, ** *** **** manage ****?

*** *** ** **. ** ****** some ** **. ** **** ***** from ******** ********. ***** *** *** cameras **** *** ******** ***** *********. The ******* ** **** **** ***** normally ** **** * ********** *** do ** ********** *** **** *** part ** *** ********** **** ***** be ******** ***** ** ****** ******* linked **** *** ********** ******** ****** where ****’** ********* ** * ****.

****: *** ** *** ******* ********* together? *** ** *** ******* *** communicate?

****’** *** ********* *** ********* ** the ********** ******** ******, ***** ** the ******* ******, *********** *** **** it’s *** ****** ** ** *******.

****: **** *** **** ****** *** pushback **** *** ****** ** ***** rights ****** ***** ******* ** ****** places?

**. ** ****, ** **** ** front ** *** ******* **** **** and **** ********, *** *********** *******, but ** ******** *** **** ********** for * **** ****. **’** ****** a **** ** *** **** ** develop * ************** *** ****** ***** will ** *********** **** ******* ***** surveillance. * ***** *** ****** ** pretty ********** ********* ** ****** **** security *** **’** ****** ******* ** the ******’* **** *** ******* **** we ** ******* *** ***** *** mitigations. **’** ****** ******* ** ***** we ***** ******* *** *** ****’** monitored.

****: **** **** ** *********** ** there ******* **** ********* *** ****** resources, ** *** **** ********* ****?

* ***** **’** *** * **** cooperative ************ **** ****. ****’** ***** request ***** **** ** *** **’** provide ** ** *****’* * ****** investigation. ** ***, **** ***********. **’** got ** ************* ** **** ***** is ****** **** ****. ***** ***** would ***** ***** ********* *** ****** and **** *****. *****’* * **** agreement **** **** ** ***** *********** when ********.

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

** **** * ****** ******** *** comprehensive *** *******. *** *********** ****** manage **** *******, ** **’* ****** arms ****** *** **. ** **** evaluate *** ******** ****’* ****** *** then **** ** ** ****** *** try ** ****** *** ******** **** fit *** ******* **** *** ****** *** *** *** *** ****** would *** ** *** *******.

****: ** ** ******* *** ****** bidder *** **** *** ***?

****’* ****** * *************, *** **’* not *** ******** ********. **’* *** is ************ ************ **** *** **** was ******** *** ********* **** *** be **** ********. **’* *** ** most **** ** ******* *** ****** the ***** ******* *****, ** **** as ****** **** **** *** ******* itself ** *****.

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

** *** * ******* ** ********. There *** **** ***** ******** ***** that ****** **** ** *** ******. We ***’* ****** ** ***. *** corporate ********, ** *** ********* ** our ******* ***** ********** ******** *** we ********* *** ****, *** *****, there ** * ******* *********, *****, on *** ***********.

****: ** *** **** **** ******* getting *** ***** ********* ******** ** work ********?

***. **’** **** ********** ** *********** everything. ** *****’* *** * *** of ******* *********** ********** ** ****. And * *** **** **** *** perspective ** *** **** ** *******, but **** ** ** ******** ****. I **** ***** **** *********** *********, disparate ******* *** **** *********. ******* as * ******* ******, * **** that **** *********** **** *** ****, but **** ***** ************* ******* *** standards ** *********** *************. * **** that ************, ***—*** *’* ******** * little *****—******** *********** ***** *****-*******. **** often ***’* ******* ** ***********. * know **** ** *** ********** ******, at **** ***** ***** ***** ** be * ********* ******* *** *** where *** **** ************ ** *** client *** *** ** *** ****-*********** delivery ** *** **********.

****: **** *** **** *** ******** with ******** ***********—**** ** ** *********, being ****************** ********, ***** ****-****** **** ****** orders, ***.?

**********. **** ** ** ********* ** a *** *******. *** ************* **** today’s *********** **** ** ***** *** very *******, *** **** **** * very ****-********** ** ****. *** * don’t **** **** *****’* *********** *** there. *****’* * ********* ******* *** IT ********* ** *** ****** **** versus *** ********** ****. *** ******* for *** ********** ** **** **** often ***’* **** *** ******** ** well ** *** ******. **’** ** it ***** *** *** *** ** every ***. **** ***’* **** **** inside *********. *** *** *****, * hear ******* ** *** ****** ******** the ******.

****:** *** **** *** ****** ** your ******** ********** ******** ** *********** when ** ***** ** **** ******** plan *** *** **** ** ** you ** *** ******** ********?

** **** *** *********. ** **** up **** *** ****** ********** *** make **** **** *** ***** *** well ****** ** **. *** ***** that ** ** *** *** *** have ** *** **** *** ******** process **** ** ****. ** *******’* be *** ***** *** ******. ** shouldn’t **** ** *** *** ******** process ** *** * ****. ** thought ** **** ** *******’* ** going ***** ***** **** ***’* **** our ***** *********.

****: ** *** **** * ********* or ********* ******* *** *** ****’* cameras *** ***** *******?

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

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

** *** ***** **** * *** the ********, ** * ***’* ****** speak ** ****. ***** * **** from *** **** ******. ** **** as ********** ** ********** *** *** set ** ******** ** **** ******* there’s ** ****** *** ***’* **** a ********* *******.

****: **** *** ******** ****** ******* to ****** ** ** ************* ******** limit **** *******?

** ** ****** **** ******* * VPN **********.

****: **** *** **** ******** *** brands ** ********* (*******, ***, ********, etc.) ****** **** ****** *** ** so **** **** *** ****** *** were *** ***** **** *** ******.

*****, *’* ***** ****** ***. ******* has **** ******* ***** *’** **** there.

****: *** ***** ** *** ******** new ****** *** ************ **********?

*********** ******. **’** **** ********** ** employee *********** *** ** **’** ** to *** *********** *********** ******. ******* it’s *** ** ***** ***********. **’** very ********** ** **** ** **** their ********* ** ******* **** ** where ** ****** **.

****: *** ** **** ******* ******* (i.e. *** ** *** ********/***** *** cameras *** ******** ****** *** ******** installed ******?) *** ** **** *** or *** ** ******* * *********?

**’* **** ******* *********. **** ******* goes ** * ****, ****’** ******** to **** **** *** **** ***** what **** *******. *** **** ** go ******* *** *** *******, *** bidders *** ******** ** **** ******** the ************ *** **** ** **** up ****.

****: **** *** **** ******** ** High ***? ** ****** *** ****** 1080P?

*’* * *** ** *** ********'* efforts ** ******** ** **** *** bar ** ***** ** **********. ***** a ******* ******** ** ******* ********* PTZ’s ** ****** *********** ** ** for **** *******. **** ******* (***** freeze), ****** ****** ********** ** ***** more ***** ** ****** ***. ***** innovation *** * ***’* **** ** see ***** ** ***** **.

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

*’** **** **** *** ******** ************* but *********. ******** ******* **** ******** or *********, ** ***** ************ **** similar ****** *************. **** *** ********** on **** *** ******* * ***’* know **** ***** **** ** ********** growth ** **** ***** *** *** a ***** ****** **** *********** ************* are *** ********.

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

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

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

* ***’* **** *** ***** ******, but * **** **** ** **** multiple ************.

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

** **** * ***** **** **** live **********.

****: ** *** *** *** ***** monitoring ** ***?

**.

****: **** **** ******* ** ******* are******* *******?

*’* *** **’* * ***********. ***** more **** ****, *** * ******* of **** ** ****.

****: **** *** **** ***** **** any ****** *******?

* ******* ** ** ***** **** some ****** ***** *** *****. **’** slowly ********* **** ** *** **** we ***. *****’* *** **** **** legacy ***** *** ***** *******, ******.

****: **** ******* ************** *** ***** with * *********-***** ********** ****** **** one ******’* **** **, ***, * retail ******, ** ** ****** ********?

* ***** ** ******** **** **** rigor ****** *** ******* ********, ***** that **’** ********** ** ******* ** private ********. **’** ******* ******* ** public ******** ** ******* ** ******* property. **’** **** ****** ******* ** the ******* ** ****, *** ** have * **** ****** *******, ** well. ****, ** **** ****** ** funding **** *********** ******* ******** ******’* have.

****: *** ***** ** **** ******* help *** ** ***** *** * problem? *** *******, ******** ** * drug **** ** ******** * ******* or *** ***** ** *** ** vandalism?

** ***** *****. ** **** ****** good ****** ** *** *** ********** Security ******. ****’** ******* ** **** things. **** ** * ****** **** job. ***’** *** *** ****** ** things **** ******. ******** ******** *** public ********.

****: *** *** ***** ****** **** facial ***********, ***, *** ********* *** things **** ******** ******* **********, ******** time **********, *******/******* ******** *********?

* ***** *** **** **** ****** it’s ****, **’** ***** * **** to ** ** *********** *** ********* tools. ** ***’* **** * *********** network ** ********. *********, ******* ** will **** *** *** *** *** smart ****** ******** ** *******, *** I ***’* ***** **’** ***** ***. We ***’* **** *** **** *** in ** ******* **** ******** * human. **’** ******* *****.

****: ** ******* *** *********/********* ** the ****’* ********/************ ******* **** * problem?

**********. ***** ** ****** * ******* for ********. * ***’* ***** **’** an *********, *** ** *** ** a **** *** ********** *** **** and *** **********, **** ** ** ok. *** ******* ** * ********* everywhere, ********* *****’* * **** *** you **** **** ** ****** **.

****: **** ** *** ******* *** determining ****** ********* ********** *** ****?

*** ********* ******** ******** ******* ****** ****** [***** ********** ******** ************* Design]*** ************* ****** *** **** ******** completed ** *** ******** ******** ********. They **** ********* *********.

****: **** ********* ****** *** ******** be ***** **? *** *******, *** should ******** ************ ** **** ** novel **** *** **** ********** ************ do *** ***** **** **** *** biggest ******?

“***********” **** ** ****** ***** *****. The ******** ******** *** ** ***** able ** ******* *** ******** **** provides * ****** **** ** ***** for ******** ******** ******* **** *** this ****. **** **** **** ** be ** ***** *** **** *** ability ** **** **** ******* ************* operating ******** *********. ** ***, ****’** only **** **** ** **** *** talk.

Comments (5)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

03/14/19 05:21pm

Interesting article. Calgary is the 4th largest city in Canada. Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver precede Calgary.  

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Dennis Ruban

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

Calgary is the 3rd, as Vancouver is way smaller. You probably talking about GVA which includes Burnaby, Langley, Richmond, etc.

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Dan Gelinas

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

Actually, based on my original research which is based on Canadian statistics, Calgary is No. 3 in terms of population. I have added the link in the story above. Here is a screenshot of the table from Statistics Canada that shows Calgary as No. 3:

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Undisclosed #2

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

Understandable conflation of city vs metropolitan area:

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Dan Gelinas

IPVM | 03/21/19 02:59pm

I wanted to put in some information that didn't come out initially in the interview with Brad. A reader of this interview asked about an annual event in the city of Calgary, The Calgary Stampede.

The Calgary Stampede is a giant, combo rodeo, outdoor festival, and exhibition that draws up to a million people every year and inflates the population for 10 days.

I asked Brad what sorts of unique situations this might present and how public safety might address them.

Here is what he had to say:

The Stampede board works with CPS to manage on-site security.  But of course, there are many events that we must plan for at City facilities.  This can include Executive Protection, event security and monitoring, and conducting Threat & Risk Assessments.

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