CAAP Security Brief Security SectionDepartment of General Services

CAAP Security Brief Security Section/Department of General Services/ Secretariat for Administration and Finance. May 16, 2019

OAS Physical Security Risk: Attacks on OAS Facilities, Personnel, Delegates, and visiting Dignitaries. • • • The Organization continues to be vulnerable to random or planned attacks on its facilities, Diplomats, and personnel lacking the appropriate security counter measures to deter and respond to serious incidents Occupying five (5) installations in down town D. C. , with over 600, 000 Sq. Ft. , of office space, housing over 800 employees, tenants, contractors , and hosting over 70, 000 visitors in 2018, 110 visiting Dignitaries that included the VP of the United States, we remain one of the least protected International organizations in the White House neighborhood. Outdated security systems and methodology of the organization in protecting its infrastructure and assets and decreasing security services budgets increase the Organizations vulnerability and present a “soft target” to groups or individuals looking to take advantage of our proximity to prominent U. S Government installations to create a city wide crisis and embarrassment to the Organization.

INOPERABLE SECURITY SYSTEMS AGING CAMERA SYSTEM INADEQUATE ACCESS CONTROL LIMITED PHYSICAL SECURITY

The OAS Security Program requires modernization and investment. • • In recent years the Department of General Services has invested in some improvements limited to its operating budget, however, additional funding is needed to continue to modernize the outdated Access Control and Surveillance security systems, add physical security barriers such as “turn styles” and implement an “ Alarm Monitoring Center” centralizing the organizations security infrastructure. Professionalization of contract guard services to Special Police Officers is should be considered to provide appropriate protection for Diplomats, installations, staff and the capability to respond to armed attacks if necessary. Appropriate protective services methodology for the Organization is needed to improve security vulnerabilities, integrate security operations , and decrease long term cost through the use of technology and professionalized contract security. The results of a 2018 Department of State, Security Protective Liaison Division, foreign missions security survey , confirmed the need for improvements to the Organizations protections for its Diplomats and Vising Dignitaries.