We at Northeast Security have a large number of employees of Haitian descent who have contributed so significantly to our success. We would like to take this opportunity to reach out to those employees who are being affected by the tragic events in Haiti. Northeast Security has established an active crisis response program for all of our employees. Anyone impacted by this tragic event should reach out for assistance. We have a wide range of resources to help you such as:

• Grief counseling.
• Obtaining additional information on the situation in Haiti.
• Related financial or travel assistance.

It is difficult to watch the images of devastation coming out of Haiti without feeling compelled to try to alleviate the pain and suffering. The problem is compounded by the fact that there is an overall lack of information coming out of Haiti, and many of our employees simply don't know the status of their friends and loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we are committed to providing you any support we can at this very difficult time.

Please contact our Kris Veinbergs or Joanna Converse at (617) 739-1500 and ask to speak to our Human Resources Department.

Donate to help people affected by the earthquake in Haiti

In the years since the 9/11 bombings a lot of time and money has been spent on upgrading security systems and procedures. However, one fundamental issue remains the same -- trying to detect potential threats prior to an actual event. Whether it is protecting against theft or potential terrorist incidents, it is important to try to identify the bad guys before they have a chance to act.

For obvious reasons, profiling someone based on individual characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity and religion) is not acceptable. Notwithstanding the possible legal issues, it is inconsistent with the concept of treating people with dignity and respect, and its efficacy is questionable.

A concept known as "Predictive Profiling" provides a solution. Developed by former Israeli Secret Service and El Al Airlines security personnel, it is a tool that identifies potential threats by profiling a person’s behavior rather than personal traits.

It is a method of situation and behavioral assessment to predict and categorize the potential for inappropriate, harmful, criminal and/or terrorist behavior and deploy the procedures required to eliminate these threats.

The process begins by looking for suspicion indicators. This involves looking for deviations from a typical profile (what is "normal" in the protected environment) that may suggest the potential for harming the protected environment and/or its inhabitants. Once a suspicion is developed, the next step is to determine if there is an actual threat. Looking at the suspicion indicator you assess it and try to confirm or refute it. If you are unable to refute the suspicion, it then becomes a threat. There is a further series of actions taken to identify the threat and take the necessary steps to mitigate it. It is not possible in this short article to fully expound on the process of predictive profiling. The important part is that it has been shown to work and has direct implications for protecting our clients' properties.

The recent attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight brings to mind similar event where predictive profiling was successfully utilized. This incident gives a brief look at how predictive profiling is applied. In 2001, Richard Reid obtained passage on an Air France flight and tried to detonate a bomb in his shoe. That part of the story is well known. However, there is a prequel to the story that has not been publicized. On three consecutive days prior to the Air France flight, he attempted to board a similar flight with El Al Airlines. On each occasion he was denied by the Israeli airline. El Al did not deny him access because he was a young, Middle Eastern male, they denied him because of distinct behavior he exhibited on each occasion that included:

• Attempting to purchase a one-way ticket.
• No luggage.
• Unkempt appearance and extremely poor hygiene.
• No satisfactory information on address or points of contact at the destination city.
• Planning extended stay with limited resources and no confirmed employment.

Additional suspect behavior was identified during the interview process, and ultimately he was denied a ticket. Unfortunately the screening process at the other airline did not detect the threat and were it not for the heroic actions of fellow passengers he would have been successful.

Northeast Security has continuously partnered with subject matter experts to enhance our training and provide cutting-edge tools to our staff. Whether it is with Ritz-Carlton to deliver legendary customer service or with Chameleon Associates for detecting and mitigating threats, we are committed to providing the highest levels of service to our clients.

Jim O’Neil
Vice President of Operations
Northeast Security, Inc.

Boosted airport security measures will be at the top of US lawmakers' agenda when they return to Congress, amid intelligence failures exposed by the botched Christmas Day attack. Top senators vowed to grill intelligence bosses on the alleged failings, with Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and National Counterterrorism Center director Michael Leiter in the firing line."We will ask Admiral Blair and Director Leiter why the intelligence community was unable to bring together pieces of intelligence held by various agencies to detect this plot," vowed Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman. Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, will hold hearings on how to improve U.S. security in the wake of the thwarted attack. "This incident raises concerns not only about the effectiveness of our aviation security screening, especially internationally, but also about the degree to which we are connecting the dots and sharing information in the intelligence community," said the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller. Several other panels have promised to examine the intelligence lapses. President Barack Obama has ordered a sweeping overhaul of U.S. intelligence, which he has blamed for missing red flags that could have detected the plot.