May 17th, 2010
On Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 the normal security operations at this mixed use retail and office property became anything but mundane. Security was notified of potential work place violence unfolding, as a former employee of one of the buildings tenants, who had been under investigation for embezzlement, notified them he was en route to the office. Immediately additional officers were called to cover the posts, photographs of the subject were disseminated, and a "be on the lookout" was issued. Security located the subject on property, kept him from making contact with the tenant through verbal persuasion, and had him exit the building. If the day had ended there, a pat on the back or an "atta-boy" would have sufficed for these security professionals but this subject, a former law enforcement officer who was believed to be in possession of a firearm, had more on his mind. Metropolitan Nashville police, also notified by security, attempted to serve an arrest warrant against the subject, at which time he attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon against the officer. Shots were fired and the parking garage of this property became the scene of a major police investigation. The threat was neutralized and the subject was treated at a local hospital and later taken into custody.
The four Brantley officers, Daniel Cavanaugh, Shonda Price, Carl Collier, and John Norman performed their duties admirably. Through the use of all available resources, this subject was located and detained prior to making contact with the tenant, which is textbook prevention. Further, when the situation escalated, the Brantley officers remained vigilant in the face of adversity and took the responsibilities of maintaining order and protecting the general public by quarantining off the area and providing other avenues of egress.
Mr. Thomas Cope, the client at the property had this comment: "The security staff performed at a level that exceeded even my lofty expectations. Daniel in particular is to be especially commended. There wasn't any aspect of their performance that could have been done better."
All four officers were presented with a letter of commendation and Brantley's highest award for performance, the Outstanding Service Coin on May 6, 2010 by Brantley Regional Vice President Charles Kirby. Mr. Kirby added, "As this situation unfolded, I was kept abreast as needed by our team. This allowed me to inform my superiors in a timely manner regarding the circumstances in the field. Being a former law enforcement investigator, once I had the benefit of a full and complete briefing I was especially proud of their actions regarding their interaction with the client, tenants, the general public and law enforcement. There was not a doubt in my mind that they deserved our highest honor."
