ShowMeBlog

I Need a GPS Unit

  I need a GPS unit. Well I need a brain. I got the directions off the hospital site on how to get to the hospital. I could not find it. I should have checked MapQuest before I left home.
  I took the MetroRail to Douglas Road station, which is Coral Gables. I was told that the Trolley would take me to the hospital. Well it did not. I rode it to the of the route and back again.
  Then I gave up and headed home. I went to BestBuy on the way home to put in an application. They only take applications for work over the Internet. So I went home and did one on the Internet.

  Darlene called me and did her normal talk.. same stuff from a to z. I told her she needed to take the medication the doctor told her to take. I been telling her that for years.
  Darlene said that Arby has called Jimmy to go back to work. It may only be part time for now.

Doctor's Hospital

  I am going to the Doctor's Hospital in Coral Gables FL and going to put in an application for Security Officer 3. The pay is listed as $9.70 an hour.
  Wish me luck. That is the only Security Officer 3 job they have listed. They have other security positions for less money..but I am going to hold out for that one.

Lot of papers on the floor

  I been trying to get all the paper work ready that I need to put in applications for work. I also been using MapQuest and trying to find out were the heck the places are located.

  One of the best paying contract guard places is Wackenhut. They do screen people. I think they get a kick out of rejecting people. I have never put in an application but I know a lot of people that got rejected by them.
  I can not put in an application with them until Tuesday. I am going to try and not accept some job on Monday ...but I hate being without work and income money heading my way.. So I got to try and control myself on Monday not to just take any job. I need to try for Wackenhut.

  Wackenhut has the MetroRail system contract. Those are armed jobs. I don't have my calls G permit. I can get one ..but it cost me about $500.00 to get it. I am not sure if they will pay for it or not. I guess I will find out on Tuesday. If they hired me with out it.. Not sure ..what they would do with me until I got the permit.

  I may check CompUSA tomorrow. Maybe I can get to BestBuy. I don't think they pay well at all. Maybe with commissions you can make a bit more money. It would be nice to not be doing security work.. I am tired of it.

 

Comments Part II

  Is it Comments Part II or World War II - smile.

  "I looked into this IPC company that you claim is second rate. On thier
website they say that the have contracts in over 300 shopping centers. I
visited other companies websites and I don't see anything about them, the
website has a section on training requirements, the others didn't."

  I don't think I said they were second rate. I think Max said that.. When a place has security there are a number of types of security that they can have... One is their own in-house security, the next is contract security and the last is off duty police officers.
  Now in general and most of the time that is the order that gives you the best security. Your own employees working for you as in-house security is best. Then next you contract with a company and pick a guard company. They are second rate. The last is off duty police officers. In general off duty police officers give you very poor security.
  Now that is all sort of basic and in general. If you have your own in-house security and you don't hire a good manager then you can end up with a bad security program. It depends on the type of business and depends on other factors that input it. Then there is a mix. You might have your own in-house security and use contract and off duty police from time to time. (At Dadeland Mall they use IPC, a contract guard company, and on Friday and Saturday they use an off duty police officer.) It seems most hospitals use in-house security. Some will use an off duty police officer in the emergency room area. So you can not spell it out and say this is always true or that is always true.
  Now IPC has shopping mall security down pat. That is their area..the area they have decided to make their own. If you own a mall and don't want to have your own employees and want to use a contract company.. Your best bet would be IPC.
  I see some problems with them.. They are big and they have rules that are made by guys in suits far away. These guys making the rules.. well I will not go into that..but.. when an out fit is big.. often it is not in touch with the real world. (It is sort of like Washington DC not knowing what real America is all about.)
  I had to read thru training here on what to do at the mall during cold weather and ice and snow storms. I had to read it and take a test on it.

  One thing about being big and having lots of sites.. It does not mean that your good and doing things correct.  Remember Argenbright Security? They did the air port security for just about all of the airports until 911. Now they have just about zero business and we know what a very poor job they did of security.
  I am not saying that IPC is anything like Argenbright. I am just saying that big is not the same as good. I used to work for Burns, Pinkerton, Wells Fargo and others and I owned stock and got the company reports and what they told stock holders was far from the truth.

"... But for a company that claims they have almost 10000 employees,
has been in business over 25 years, has over 300 shopping center contracts,
something MUST be right. Just my opinion..."

  Other officers at the mall told me that this mall was not like other malls were IPC had officers. There are a number of others malls here in Miami that use IPC. The guys at work said that something was major wrong with Dadeland Mall. IPC does not control all details of the security. The owners or management company at the mall has a great deal to do with what conditions are like at the mall. Somethings are out of the hands of IPC. Now I think that IPC should speak up if there are problems and not allow certain things..but...They they lose the contract.. All all that stuff is over my head.. But it does enter into everything.  Dadeland Mall is a Simon Mall.

"Oh... One more thing, you seem to post alot of dirty laundry on this site
about your old job. Why not post a photo of the damage on here and let us
judge it. You do have a new snazzy camera. Just my opinion."

  Well right after I found the damage. I got the company digital camera and took three photos of the damage. No damage showed up in the photos. The patrol cars are white. I had to use the flash. Maybe during daylight you could get a photo of the damage..but it would be hard.. the damage.. was metal pushed in some.. very hard to get a photo of it.
  But I was thinking of you all and ShowMeBlog. I had my own digital camera with me at work. I wanted very bad to take a photo and post it on the blog that morning. But IPC/Simon is sort of like a police state. That have a rule of no photos allowed at the mall. If my supervisor had seen me take a photo with my own camera.. He might have had a heart attack. So I did not take a photo. I could not get one from the company camera. I do wish now that I taken out my cameras and taken a ton of photos .. It would have made it more easy for you all to know what we are talking about here. Most of you think we are talking about a fender laying on the ground or a crushed tail gate. So.. I kick myself or not getting some photos to post here.
  On the other hand..if I had taken a photo with my camera.. I think they would have fired me. Hell they want to fire you if you have a cell phone at work.

 

$6 Billion for Bush's Helicopters

  The United States is going to spend $6 billion to build president's helicopters!

  Read about it on CNN.

  That is too much money. Let him take a cab or let him just stay in the White House. $6 billion is too much money. Of course...they have to spend it because of 911. I get tired of them using 911 for everything.
  Bush does not have money for social issues. He does not have money to help the poor and the homeless...but he has $6 billion helicopters.

 

 

Looking for Work OnLine

"Thank you for using Monster, and good luck in your job search!

Date of Submission: 1/28/2005
Job Title: Security Area Manager
Company Name: Company Confidential
Job Location: US
Title of Resume: Security and Safety Officer Since 1972"

"Thank you for using Monster, and good luck in your job search!

Date of Submission: 1/28/2005
Job Title: Security Supervisor
Company Name: Security Forces Inc
Job Location: US
Title of Resume: Security and Safety Officer Since 1972"

"Thank you for using Monster, and good luck in your job search!

Date of Submission: 1/28/2005
Job Title: Security Officer
Company Name: Vanguard Security
Job Location: Miami-Dade, Florida
Title of Resume: Security and Safety Officer Since 1972"

Let Me Reply to Comments Posted

I am going to post some comments that were posted here and reply to them here:

"I don't understand why you are upset with the management. If you were
treated the same as the 'black' officer, then how is it the management's
fault."

  My problem with management is that they have created and fostered a sense of fear. Officers are fearful of reporting damage. Also for months none of our CCTV have worked. We have a "control" center and an officer in it but none of the monitors are working. They don't want to spend the money to fix it. If the monitors were working all those areas would have been monitored and taped.
  Also a correct investigation was not done. If they could have given me a lie detector test. I would have passed. I am sure the next person they told was going to be tested would have confessed before the test. Again.. they are too cheap to pay for that.

  Also I don't think the black officer should have been treated the way he was treated. If he found the damage he should not have been written up. (One officer told me he had to pay for the damage. I don't know if that is true or not.)

"It looks like they were right on the numbers. You didn't check for
the damage, assumed the responsibility of the vehicle, drove it for an
hour, then found damage. I am not trying to point the finger...but if it
was me, I wouldn't drive until I was 100 % SURE there was no damage."

Well I did check the vehicle. But I did not go over it inch by inch. If I had put the car in a well lite area and did a good check of it.. I don't think I would have found the damage. Remember I had the car in a well lite area later and used the tailgate and did not notice it. I only found it when I shut it and the cover over the tail gate light fell on the ground. Remember I called my supervisor and said there is damage to the tail gate and he did not see it and I had to point it out with my finger. (Now the day shift officers in the morning acted like ..hell sure..anyone would see that damage...how could any one miss it. These are the same officers that come in and park were they are not allowed to park and that are late every morning. I don't think they are the super officers that they pretend to be.)

  Sounds to me like you would be one of those same sort of super officers since you would be 100% sure. I don't think you can be 100% sure. I noticed on one of the cars an officer had used white out to cover a scratch.

"It's also funny how when someone quits, gets fired whatever.... they always
have to point the finger to someone else. I am not trying to sound rude
Jim, but it sounds to me like you're upset and want to think that it's
everyone elses fault."

I don't see how you can say that.. I have said that I don't blame the officer who did the damage and did not report it. I have said I can understand their fear. I do blame management for that fear. I said that I did not blame Donny, the black officer, for being  up set and wanting to make sure I was treated the same (even thou he is a very poor excuse for an officer). I do not think I am guilty of the charge your making. Maybe I should go back and read the postings again. But I think your 100% off on that charge.

"Bringing in the 'race card' is a bunch of crap, and
makes you look like a bitter fool. What color was your boss? If he was
black then you written up and the other guy doesn't, then you have a leg to
stand on. But if he was white and the other officer is black and you don't
work there, and he does...then how can you say it's racial. To many people
use that as a cruch!"

  I think I have posted a little of my history online ...but you have no way of knowing that I fired an officer for making anti-black statements and went toe to toe with a director of security over remarks and statements that he made...In fact two directors of security at two hospitals. I don't think you can accuse me of being anti-black.
  In this matter.. it was the black officer who came up with this crap.. Plus he is a worthless officer. I have seen it before.. He blames everyone for picking on him because he is black. Any duties you give him and it is because he is black. I have called him to unlock a door or pick up an escort and he would take forever to show up and I would call and check to make sure he got the radio message..and he would reply rude on the radio ...so the person with a race problem is not me but him. (By the way down here you got people that speak Spanish that will say they are not treated correct because they speak Spanish. It makes for an interesting life.)

"As far as the rest of the officers... I would think that if that place was
that bad, then they would be quitting. I can't imagine someone putting up
with that much shit and get paid that little bit of money. You did say that
the pay was low."

  I don't think there is a big turn over of officers. Now in director of security we have had three in less than a year. Guys moved their entire family to FL and told me ..how much they loved FL and bang the next thing they are gone.
  The starting pay is $8.50 an hour for officers. Many of these guys.. do not speak English very well. They fake their way thru lots of things.. I got to give them credit for appearing to speak and understand English better than they do in real life. (Sort of like me and my hearing.)
  If this were some other state I think you could use your standard...how much turn over is there in employees. I do not think it will work down here. 

"Just my 2 cents. It boils down to look at yourself and what you did that
was inapproriate and try not to blame the world for your troubles."

  Well I don't think your correct on anything except that I did not get down and check each inch of that car with a flash light. The company would say that I should have done that.. I also should have known that this was going to happen.. Threre have been warnings... people trying to hide damage and stuff.. So I had lots of warnings..
  Also when I found the damage my supervisor told me..you better say you found it when you went on duty at 11 pm and my ego and pride was such..that I said to myself..I am Jim Howard and I don't lie..I should have let him put down 2300 ..he did that on the white board and I pointed out that I had put 0000 and told him that I was not going to lie and he removed the 2300 that he put on the board.
  On the race issue your 100% wrong on me.. I have been on the right side, well it should be the left side, of this issue all my life. I have been a hero on this issue and can tell some stories about stands and issues that I took a stand on.. so on that issue your wrong.
  On the issue of blaming others.. I don't think your correct. But maybe if I went back and read everything that I wrote.. Maybe your correct or maybe I just did not express myself very well when I wrote the information.
  I do thank you for the comments. I wish more people would take the time to give me feed back and you did more than one word or one line of feed back.
  Don't think I am mad at you..sometimes.. when a person comments or someone does a reply it looks like they are mad or name calling or something..the printed work works that way sometimes.. thanks for your time and input.. Jim

The Ship

  Did I post a photo of the ship I was on the other day?

This is a photo of it at night however.. I took the day trip.

If you want to see photos of my day trip:  Casino Princesa

Interview on Monday

  I have an interview with a contract guard company on Monday. They had called me on the same day that I got hired at Dadeland Mall. I told them I already had a job. I gave them call and they said I would have to come in and fill out a new application.
  I am not sure where there office is located. I will have to find out. I also am not sure now if they have work that is easy for me to get to via the Metro system. They did have posts back in April.

  I just called SprintPCS and had them take everything off my phone. Now my phone bill will be $35.00 a month. But I will not have voice dialing or Internet access. What will hurt is that I will have to wait on a week day until after 9 pm for any long telephone calls with anyone. Before I was paying an extra $5.00 a month and I could talk after 7 pm. So I will have 300 minutes for $35.00 a month and unlimited calling after 9 pm on a week day and all weekend.

  Next project is call the cable TV people and see what I can cut back on.. Problem is that I am going to have to take one of these digital boxes to them. I think they have one someplace in this area and I should be able to find it.

 

Turned in Everything Last Night

Last night I took everything to work and turned the stuff in... the midnight shift supervisor was all worried about details.. poor guy... He is so worried that he is going get into trouble... It is sad.. I picked up my pay check and W2, tax forms, and now I have everything to do my taxes. I hope I don't need to pay any taxes this year.

Let me see... one officer last night told me that he did not think that I should have quit. He said he would never had done that... He said that made me look guilty. I did not ever think of that.. I am not sure I believe it. He could be correct.

I have an "Exit Questionnaire" that I can fill out. I don't think I will do it. I am done with that place. It is not going to do any good. I don't want to spend any more time thinking about the place. I do still have one pay check that I will get from them, I think it will be for four days. Also they will refund a $100.00 deposit for uniforms.

If you read an entry here in the past about the patrol car deal..you will remember that I mentioned that a young black officer, from the day shift, that morning was asking me questions and being a real ass (which is normal for him). When he went out side to meet the day shift supervisor, at her car, and tell her everything.. I told my midnight shift supervisor ...what in the fuck is wrong with Donny.. The supervisor said.. well he got written up and in trouble a while back.. He took over the patrol car on the ramp and he was in the car on the ramp.. then about an hour later he found damage to the car and he got written up over it. I told the night shift supervisor.. Well I know what is going to happen now.. He is going to demand that I get into trouble over this.. He is going to say that the white guy better get the same punishment that he got. Well last night I found out that is just what took place.. Right away he started demanding that I get into trouble or else.. it was a race thing.

I feel sorry for everyone at work now.. they are going to so fearful that they are going to have this all happen to them. Maybe they will check the patrol cars inch by inch now.. But there are still going to be things that are not noticed or are missed.. Also now.. more so than before.. if anyone finds damage after they do that first check..they are not going to report it. If anyone does any damage to the patrol car they are not going to report it. Well it is not just the cars.. the will not report damage to a palm device, radio or anything else.

A number of people commented on me being fired. I quit the job. I feel like I had no choice however.. I was not going to play their little games. If I had stood by and allowed them to do all that shit..It would be acting like they knew what the fuck they were doing.. I worked 30 years hospital security... I worked part time for contract guard outfits.. there is not space here to list them all.. I owned my own security company for a year... I was a shift supervisor and have been a department supervisor and was often acting director of security.. These people are a fucking poor excuse for management..  The department over their is a mess. I feel sorry for all the officers that have to work and put up with it.  I am not even mad at the officer that backed the car into a yellow pole (my bet is that it was a yellow pole in service Court 5). They should have reported the accident right away..but look what happened to me.. I am not even mad at them.. I just feel sorry for them. I understand their fear. I am mad at management.

Max, a friend from Kansas City, and I worked with each other for 18 years. Max asked a couple of questions and made a few comments.. Let me answer them here now..
I did quit. I am not sure what they were going to do ...so they might have fired me. But I  quit.
The mall has three patrol cars. Even on midnight shift we have two of them in service all the time. When we come into work at 11 pm, at least,  two cars are in service. That night when we came to work at 11 pm only one car was in service and the car that had the damage had been sitting at dispatch since 9 pm.
How bad was the damage? Well I walked around the car looking for damage two times and did not see it. Patrol cars have be backed into the parking space at dispatch and the side walk is right there and since the car was parked since 9 pm.. God only knows how many officers and others had to walk right next to it.
I then checked the lots to get a feel of what conditions were.. which lots had lots of cars and stuff like that.. then I took the car to to a well lit areas to pull out some parking cones that were in the back. I walked to the back of the car and did not notice any damage. I opened the tail gate and did not notice damage. I closed the tail gate and did not notice damage. When I shut it the cover off the door handle light bulb fell on the ground. I picked it up. My face was inches from the damage area. I did not notice anything. I picked it up and said..what the fuck is this.. where did this come from.. and I said to myself.. I better check this out.. I started looking hard at the tail gate area and then I saw the damage. I informed the supervisor and when I told him that the car had damage I took him out and said.. look and he did not see anything..then I had to point it out ... then he was ... oh shit oh shit..   Now.. when the day shift came on duty.. of course it was day light.. and they had the damage pointed out to them.. They all acted like.. wow.. how could anyone miss seeing that damage..
How bad was the damage.. well were it was hit, the tail gate, it almost looks like that is just the style or normal shape of the door in that area.. But it had to be hit hard.. and were it  hit the door handle is a bit messed up.. I think it is pretty big damage.. I don't think it is going to be just a simple dent to remove.. I think there is some major damage. Max knows a lot about cars and he knows I don't know much..but I think it is some pretty major damage. There was a small spot of yellow paint on the handle. The midnight shift supervisor thinks that the car was washed after the accident that night. I am not sure of that..
I do not know who backed the car into a yellow post. I think it was a black female security officer. You know.. I don't know.. and I don't care. Again.. I think the problem is the supervision and the management.

I am done with the place. I will run into the officers from time to time as I go over to the mall to eat and shop. I am sure they will have questions or comments from time to time. Also until I get my final check and deposit I maybe making some comments here..but soon..you will not hear anything about IPC security and Dadeland Mall. I will be moving from this area in June.

I just called a local security company and they have work and I am going to go over and fill out an application on Monday.