ABSTRACT
While weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and bioterrorism, earthquakes and hurricanes, floods and fires, power outages, and personnel reductions may take the primary focus of Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Management, all of these can often result in security and legal issues. Frequently, the disruption caused by legal and security aspects has farreaching impact beyond an initial event. Unfortunately, these types of incidents occur far too often and are not always handled appropriately. They include:
Homicide: – Co-worker to co-worker – Customer to worker – Worker to customer – Customer to customer – Estranged partner to worker
Robbery: – On site with employees (e.g., bank robbery) – Off site (e.g., delivery truck)
Assault: – Physical or sexual assault – Co-worker to co-worker – Customer to worker – Worker to customer – Customer to customer – Estranged partner to worker
Other criminal activity: – Arson – Sabotage – Embezzlement – Destruction of property
While time does not permit us to explore the repercussions that emanate from each of these types of events, it is safe to suggest that each of these situations can result in a wide range of security and liability concerns. As an example, consider the sexual assault of a woman who is staying at a hotel. It is about 9:00 p.m. and the assailant is a welldressed man who has been sitting in the hotel lobby across from the elevators as if waiting for someone. A woman in her mid-twenties enters the hotel lobby and proceeds to the elevators. As he sees her cross the lobby, he follows her to and off the elevator and then pushes her into the dark room as she is opening the door. He blindfolds her, ties her up, rapes her, and then quietly leaves the room. She is discovered when her muffled screams are heard by other guests in the hallway and they notify the front desk. The front desk calls up to the room and there is no answer. Security is called and they go to the room, hear her calls for help, and proceed to open the door where they find her tied on the bed, partially undressed, beaten and raped.
