ABC 15 News Report at wpde.com
wpde.com - by Ashley Gooden - Friday, June 23rd 2017
Advanced Protection Services, LLC is hoping Sunday shooting changes opinions of security officers.
As originally reported from ABC 15 News wpde.com - by Ashley Gooden - Friday, June 23rd 2017
Myrtle Beach, S.C. (WPDE) ‐ Many have seen the video that went viral of a shooter taking aim at several people on Ocean Boulevard. Seven people were injured including a security officer.
In an ABC 15 exclusive, we’ve learned more about that officer from a close friend and colleague.
They may not wear the same uniforms, but the men and women who work for Advanced Protection Services are trained to protect and serve too.
They say they’re tired of being called “rent-a-cops,” “flashlight cops,” and &ldquolmall cops,” and one security officer said he hopes the heroism of his colleague shows people what they’re capable of.
You may think you know the duties of a security officer but it’s more difficult than some may think. With boots on the ground, the men and women of Advanced Protection Services say they are always ready.
“You have to determine where the problem is coming from, what around you is not normal, the amount of people around you,” said Ron Tapley, Command Staff Sergeant with Advanced Protection Services.
Those things are exactly what Tapley’s coworker and friend did during Sunday’s shooting. He says that officer’s split second decision was the reason that situation didn't end with more injured or killed.
“I do believe the situation would have been a whole lot worse if he hadn’t been there,” he said.
In the video, you see the officer fall next to a bush after being grazed by a bullet.
“The officer we’re talking about is a very close friend of mine. We have interacted many times on the job and off the job, he’s a very dependable man,” said Tapley.
That man also has many years of military training--he was in the U.S. Air Force.
Several security officers are military veterans Tapley says he hopes this situation will help security officers gain more respect.
“If we go through something like that and you still want to call us flashlight cops, shame on you. A security officer puts his life on the line just like any other officer whether it be a police officer or a security officer, at the end of the day, you’re an officer.”
This particular officer who put himself in danger lived up to the APS motto, “above and beyond.”
“Any man or woman that runs to gun fire and gets wounded that way and keeps his eye on the ball, he’s not just a hero, he’s a superhero,” said Tapley.
Tapley says the agency plans to use the Facebook live video for training the incoming security officers and they’re adding more technology to training to make sure that each one is prepared for whatever situation they may be faced with.
The injured security officer is doing well even though he has a bit of a limp at the moment. He said he’s already excited about getting back to work.