IRVINE, Calif. — Global security and facility services company Allied Universal security professionals continued to perform “exceptional acts of bravery” during the last quarter of 2024, saving lives while on duty at client locations across North America.
“The work of security professionals never sleeps, standing post 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” says Allied Universal global chairman Steve Jones in the company announcement. “Our industry is demanding, unpredictable and regularly encounters situations where critical thinking and training recollection are imperative.
“During the busiest quarter of the year, I’m extremely proud that Allied Universal was once again represented by heroic individuals who stayed composed and successfully worked through high-stress situations to save innocent lives.”
Q4 2024 Allied Universal Hero Hall of Fame Highlights
- Active Shooter Situation – Bel Air, Md.: While on duty, gunshots erupted from a children’s entertainment store at a shopping mall. Without hesitation, our security professional rushed into the store to evacuate patrons and found a wounded victim. Drawing on his 30-plus years of EMS experience, the Allied Universal security professional provided life-saving aid to the victim and relayed crucial information to dispatch. The victim was later airlifted to a trauma center.
- Drug Overdose – Riverside, Calif.: During a shopping center patrol, a security supervisor discovered an unconscious man in a vehicle surrounded by drug paraphernalia. The supervisor attempted to communicate with the man but observed that the subject was slipping in and out of consciousness. A police officer arrived on scene to assist and instructed the man to step out of the vehicle. Upon doing so, the subject’s body went limp, and he fell to the ground. Realizing the man was likely overdosing, the supervisor administered Narcan. After the man remained unresponsive, our security professional began chest compressions under the guidance of the police officer. A second dose of Narcan revived the man, who was stabilized by paramedics and transported to the hospital where he was expected to make a full recovery.
- Detection of Concealed Firearm – Greenville, N.C.: A security professional operating an x-ray machine at a courthouse checkpoint identified a firearm inside a backpack. She instructed the individual to proceed through the magnetometer, secured the backpack, and immediately surrendered the bag to the on-duty deputy.
The individual who brought the backpack was identified and arrested on multiple charges. It was later found that he was under an active domestic violence protective order, which prohibited him from possessing firearms. Due to level-headedness and thorough work, our security professional averted a potentially dangerous incident.
“The true meaning of being a security professional lies somewhere between continuing to show up for others and doing so knowing your daily sacrifices may go unrecognized by the world,” Jones said. “As a company we acknowledge this, and our recognition will always stand for the bravery of those who choose to stand guard and protect others.”
