New Security Training Program Begins

NEW YORK CITY-More than 250 security officers from 31 buildings in Midtown, which are owned and operated by Fisher Brothers and Vornado Realty Trust, will take part in New York Safe & Secure. The joint labor-management program will increase building security training by providing 40 hours of in-depth training. Currently, only eight hours is required by the state.

The curriculum, developed by the Office of Emergency Management and the New York Police Department with the assistance of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, deals with modern security concerns and includes segments on terrorism, evacuation procedures and coordination with police, fire and emergency personnel during a crisis. Trainees will receive instruction on the history of terrorism, examine case studies of previous terrorist attacks and their responses as well as receiving briefings on identifying different types of explosives devices and fake identifications. The training will be conducted by off-duty NYPD officers and recently retired instructors from the New York Police Academy.

In addition to providing training sessions to their security officers, Fisher Brothers and Vornado have agreed to compensate their workers in lost wages for participating in the program. The cost of operating the program is being shared through an agreement between Local 32BJ and the Realty Advisory Board.