Dear Jonathan's Landing Homeowner,
This communication is to inform you on how a very important decision regarding our security guards came about at the April 26th Board of Directors meeting.
During the meeting the Security Committee provided an update on our current Security staffing challenges.
Basically, staffing in the security industry is facing the same challenges as the rest of the market and this is impacting our staffing at Jonathan's Landing.
Our goal is to have highly skilled and very well trained security officers to keep JL a safe place to live. We prefer to have officers with previous experience in the military, law enforcement, a college education in criminal justice, or five years of outstanding performance in the security field. We are adding this to our hiring criteria.
Our contracted security company, Cambridge, has shared several reasons why they are having difficulty attracting the best for JL. One key reason is that better trained officers choose to work at places where they can use their training and skills for the Community and part of that is being armed while working. This also applies to Paramedics. Cambridge has advised that the best quality Paramedics want to work in communities where they and the security officers are armed.
Thus, first we must arm our officers and then we will be able to hire better qualified Paramedics.
The Board, after discussion and careful consideration of the Security Committee's recommendation, voted to authorize the transition to security officers being armed. The Board will continue its thorough review of any impact to our insurance coverage prior to beginning this policy change.
The Board realizes that this is a major step for JL and that members of our Community have varying views on this topic. However, it believes that it needed to make this decision in order for JL to provide better than just adequate security and staff with top notch officers protecting our homeowners.
The decision was taken based on the following considerations:
• Highly trained and skilled security officers and Paramedics want to be armed while working and facing unknown intruders, frequently in the dark.
• The better officers choose to work at places where they can use their training and skills to the best advantage of the community.
• Cambridge indicates that having armed officers in JL will enable them to attract more qualified officers whose attitudes and professionalism is increased when they can fully utilize their training and responsibilities.
Our contract with Cambridge Security already provides at no additional charge:
• Trained officers with a Security Class G (armed) license.
• Cambridge assuming the liability through a very strong indemnification clause
• Weapons, ammunition, and holsters to our officers.
Additional factors that were considered:
Our security officers provide the first line of defense for our residents against a variety of threats to their safety and well-being. Armed officers can better diffuse any dangerous situations within our community.
Crime is increasing in both Jupiter and Palm Beach County. Trends indicate that criminals are moving into this area from Broward and Miami Dade Counties. In the past year there have been an increasing number of crimes north of PGA Boulevard including robberies, burglaries, assaults, vehicle thefts, drug and narcotics violations, and weapons violations.
Several neighboring gated communities in Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens have experienced trespasses and break-ins by armed perpetrators. JL has experienced an increasing number of perimeter security alarms from our perimeter camera system.
JL should not be the "weak link" amongst the upscale communities as perpetrators will look for the communities with unarmed security.
As an unincorporated community within the town of Jupiter, the Jupiter Police do not respond to JL. Instead, the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office does. The closest PBSO location is in Palm Beach Gardens. If they are on other calls, it could take up to a half hour for them to respond to calls from JL.
How and when will this occur?
Arming the Security staff will be phased in under the supervision of Michael Keyes, Director of Security. A strict training protocol and evaluation checklist must be met by each officer to ensure they meet our standards prior to carrying a firearm in JL.
Security staff must also undergo periodic refresher trainings on the Firearms Simulator, on Active Shooter Response, Handgun Range practice and Firearms Retention.
We expect to begin this process in the next 60-90 days.
The Security Committee & The Board of Directors
