Website question/proposal

[RockemSockem]

If I may, I would like to make a proposal for the site.

I realize that this is primarily a law enforcement site, however, as of recently areas have been added for security, explorers, etc.

Is there any way that one section could be added for "Verified Loss Prevention"?

I know right about now, some of you may be snickering or rolling your eyes ...

But in all seriousness, I know that folks who work in loss prevention may enjoy a place to have discussions that are not public for the same reason that police enjoy this capability. I, for one, would like to be able to talk to others in this field about investigations, tactics, and safety issues without everyone on the internet being able to learn about how we do things, what companies place what restrictions on us, etc.

Perhaps the verification could be done much the same way the LEO verification is done. Generic security guards and the like would not be included in this; loss prevention is really a very specific type of security.

Of course, "verified LP" would not be allowed on any verified police areas, and Verified LEO's WOULD be allowed in the LP areas.

If this is not possible, then sorry for wasting your time reading this :D

Just a question ...

[Citicop]

I can appreciate your point... but I see several problems with it.

1.) How would one verify the difference between an LP officer and a "regular" security guard? In my state, they have the same certification, authority, and training. That would be a nightmare.

2.) The verifiers here do so on their own time and for free. Adding a whole new class of people to verify would be very cumbersome and burdensome to them.

3.) The new site owners are largely absentee landlords. The old owner is still an admin, but has always been reluctant to make changes like the one you suggested.

I'm not saying that it would not be a good idea, but I don't know if it would work on this site...

Just my $.02-

-Citicop.

[Roger Dat]

As a person who spent 7 years in loss prevention and appreciates the job I have to ask.... ARE YOU SERIOUS???

[Plazoo]

I doubt that there will ever be a Verified section for loss prevention. That said, you can open an area in the "social Groups" page and make it specific for people in your area. You can also make it private so only folks in your group can get in...that way you guys can discuss all your secret squirrel stuff without us nosey cops snooping. :p

[RockemSockem]

As a person who spent 7 years in loss prevention and appreciates the job I have to ask.... ARE YOU SERIOUS???

I'm absolutely serious.

Perhaps the issues dealt with by loss prevention are not rape, robbery, and murder, but as you well know, they involve tactics, safety issues, and policies.

I do not want the general public knowing that at XYZ company, loss prevention is forbidden from going past the sidewalk and cannot touch a shoplifter, while at ABC company, they are allowed to pursue and go hands on.

I also do not want persons who commit nighttime burglaries of stores to be able to see us discuss how we are working to combat this. I do not want dishonest employees to be privy to our discussions on how we handle unique issues related to policy and the law that come up in the course of those cases.

As a person who has worked in loss prevention and has experience on the law enforcement side, I can very well imagine what is discussed on the verified side of this site. Aren't there things there that you don't want the general public knowing? That is why that area exists. That is what led to my proposal.

[RockemSockem]

I can appreciate your point... but I see several problems with it.

1.) How would one verify the difference between an LP officer and a "regular" security guard? In my state, they have the same certification, authority, and training. That would be a nightmare. I would discriminate not by certification, but simply by position held. Working for a contract company would not qualify; working where the title is "loss prevention" would.

2.) The verifiers here do so on their own time and for free. Adding a whole new class of people to verify would be very cumbersome and burdensome to them. Perhaps new verifiers who work in LP could be added to handle this, after they themselves are verified.

3.) The new site owners are largely absentee landlords. The old owner is still an admin, but has always been reluctant to make changes like the one you suggested. Well then this is the reason that it would not happen. But I do think the other points you raised could be dealt with as I pointed out.

I'm not saying that it would not be a good idea, but I don't know if it would work on this site...

Just my $.02-

-Citicop.

Just an idea. If the members here are largely against it (and, most importantly, the site admin would not want it), then who am I to rock the boat?

[retdetsgt]

Not trying to be a smartass, but there aren't any forums for loss prevention people?

[Curt581]

Not trying to be a smartass, but there aren't any forums for loss prevention people?

Nope, there aren't.

LP people need to come here and talk us into accomodating them, because after all, they're cops, too.

I say let's do it.

When the Freemasons come, we should give them their own verified subsection. When the Cub Scouts want one, we give them their own section. If a few furnace repairmen or plumbers want one, we should give it to 'em. Let's set up one each for tree-trimmers, circus clowns, kindergarten teachers, welders, dental hygenists... and oh, yeah, botanists. Botanists need a Verified section, too.







:rolleyes:

[Roger Dat]

Im not being an ahole but but if you really want to do something constructive involving LP information and tactics then I will suggest you do what I used to do. Call the local stores and speak to their LP managers. Get together once a month for an hour or two and discuss what your currently seeing, what the hot merchandise is, popular level of concealment etc.

Trends are usuall specific to an area. Also there are MANY LP magazines as well as groups you can join that will send literature to you that they collect from nationwide sureys, latest technology etc.

[retdetsgt]

When the Freemasons come, we should give them their own verified subsection.

:rolleyes:

Nope, not the Freemasons.... I saw on The Discovery Channel that they're trying to take over the world....

[Curt581]

Nope, not the Freemasons.... I saw on The Discovery Channel that they're trying to take over the world....

Okay, scratch the Freemasons.... what about the Rotary Club?

I always wanted to ask... what rotates?

[RockemSockem]

Nope, there aren't.

LP people need to come here and talk us into accomodating them, because after all, they're cops, too.

I say let's do it.

When the Freemasons come, we should give them their own verified subsection. When the Cub Scouts want one, we give them their own section. If a few furnace repairmen or plumbers want one, we should give it to 'em. Let's set up one each for tree-trimmers, circus clowns, kindergarten teachers, welders, dental hygenists... and oh, yeah, botanists. Botanists need a Verified section, too.







:rolleyes:

I'm not a cop. Being a cop or not is irrelavent to what I do. I have authority to detain people, and that's all I need. I don't need to talk to cops about LP issues. I brought this up only because the site already has an LP/Security area. I didn't think this would be such a stretch.

I'm not sure that botanists, Freemasons, plumbers, or teachers deal with any type of things that are not (or should not be) public information.

There used to be several decent message board sites for LP. They are mostly defunct.

Really, whatever image you have of me in your mind is wrong, I can almost guarantee you.

I'm not a self-important, backwards ballcap wearing, wanna-be cop living in my mother's basement and taking police tests. I'm a professional who works a non-security or LE full time job and works LP on the side. As I stated before, I simply wouldn't mind being able to discuss certain things behind closed doors. I'm not sure why that draws your ire.

On second thought, I know why that draws your ire. Because of the horrible reputation that LP has. I agree with you; but that's not my fault and I'm not "one of them". Your barking up the wrong tree on that one.

[RockemSockem]

Not trying to be a smartass, but there aren't any forums for loss prevention people?

Not much anymore. There used to be a ton, for whatever reason they dried up.

I've been on other police boards where cops (or people who say they are and seem to be) discuss things that absolutely should be on the "verified side". I was able to learn the chase policy of a local dept. The guy writing seemed legit. I should not be able to learn that on the internet.

Similarly, I feel that some of what gets discussed by LP should not be public. Any idiot who wants to use google should not be able to find out how we do what we do and why so that they can circumvent us.

[Curt581]

You missed my entire point: We are not Loss Prevention. You are not cops. You are corporate employees. We are Government. You enforce company policy. We enforce State and Federal law. While some of our methods and tactics may, MAY be similar, we are not the same.

Your attempt to impose what you want on our site is no different than a group of kindergarten teachers or concert cellists or carpenters coming here and asking what you're asking.

Not much anymore. There used to be a ton, for whatever reason they dried up.

Not our fault. Why is it suddenly our responsibility to take up the slack?

I've been on other police boards where cops (or people who say they are and seem to be) discuss things that absolutely should be on the "verified side". I was able to learn the chase policy of a local dept. The guy writing seemed legit. I should not be able to learn that on the internet.

We can't be held responsible for what goes on at other sites. It doesn't happen here.

Similarly, I feel that some of what gets discussed by LP should not be public. Any idiot who wants to use google should not be able to find out how we do what we do and why so that they can circumvent us.

Fine. Set up your own site. Verify anyone you want. Discuss whatever tactics or methods you like.

Not here.

[RoadKingTrooper]

Nope, there aren't.

LP people need to come here and talk us into accomodating them, because after all, they're cops, too.

I say let's do it.

When the Freemasons come, we should give them their own verified subsection. When the Cub Scouts want one, we give them their own section. If a few furnace repairmen or plumbers want one, we should give it to 'em. Let's set up one each for tree-trimmers, circus clowns, kindergarten teachers, welders, dental hygenists... and oh, yeah, botanists. Botanists need a Verified section, too.







:rolleyes:

Hey, you left out MIMES:mad: They are a mostly forgotten art form that are routinely dismissed as just silent clowns. Well they AREN'T. I takes years of study and discipline to perform the ART of MIME .

Besides it isn't like they would take up much bandwidth Their fingers would never make contact with the pretend keyboard;)