The tragic slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan has stirred discussions among large corporations, particularly those on Long Island, over the need to bolster personal security measures. Two experts in corporate security who cater to Long Island clientele indicated that despite the NYPD labeling this as a ‘specifically targeted’ incident, some organizations are leaning towards embarking on proactive defensive upgrades. This incident saw Thompson victim to a concealed shooter as he exited the Hilton Hotel on Sixth Avenue – a moment sorrowfully etched in memory at around 7 a.m. on the fateful Wednesday. The incident occurred near key city landmarks and has since prompted a strenuous search operation.
A.J. Caro, who holds the highest executive position at Arrow Security in Smithtown, a firm renowned for providing security to executives nationwide, shared that a number of their clients, including those from Long Island, voiced intentions to intensify personal security protocols in light of the incident. Caro noted a prevailing trend amongst many corporate executives, who invest significantly in bolstering defenses at their company premises, often negligently overlook their personal safety, a lapse he views as ‘lax’.
According to Caro, many executives ensure their workplaces are impervious by hardening measures like bulletproof glass, but paradoxically expose themselves to vulnerability while outside of the fortified premises. This blind spot usually occurs when they choose to stay in hotels with their executive teams. However, Caro believes the recent incident can serve as a critical wake-up call for those who previously dismissed personal security.
Following the regrettable incident, the leader of the Long Island Association voiced that it is essential for businesses to reevaluate whether additional protective measures are warranted for their executives. Glen Kucera, the president of the Manhattan-based security firm, Enhanced Protection Services, under the auspice of Allied Universal, echoed similar sentiments. He stated a surge in requests from Long Island clients seeking more thorough security assessments, which also entails monitoring of executives’ social media activities to assess the potential threat levels they face.
Kucera went on to clarify, however, that a resulting race to ensure round-the-clock protection for all executives had not been the reaction. He emphasized that this level of protection is not universally sought after despite the high stakes. He stressed that executives’ value as potential targets increases in line with their public visibility and their role in formulating policy.
Not all businesses slated for comment deemed it necessary to share their respective safety protocols. Bob Sullivan, a founding partner at the attorney firm of Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C. located in Garden City, characterized Long Island as a largely secure area.
Sullivan cautioned against any knee-jerk reactions that might prompt ill-conceived security enhancements, viewing this as an unnecessary cost on his legal practice. In his words, tighter security measures would make his practice ‘non-profitable.’ That said, he conceded that increased consideration for protective measures could be justified for larger Manhattan-based corporations.
Matt Cohen, as the president and CEO of the Long Island Association business group, substantiated Sullivan’s opinion, believing that each business should approach the issue from its subjective viewpoint and that a one-size-fits-all approach was ill-advised. He further acknowledged that the role of a CEO often involves making difficult, often unpopular decisions that could potentially have adverse effects on others, thus varying the need for protection.
On the day he was attacked, the deceased Thompson, aged 50 and resident of Maple Grove, Minnesota, was on his way to an annual investor gathering. As of Friday, the official police investigation is ongoing. Appearing unfazed by the incident, Sharon Schultz, spokesperson for Intellicheck, Inc., a Melville-based identity verifier, stated that no changes had been planned for their executive security protocols.
Matthew Finn, a junior marketing manager at Napco Security Technologies, a security firm located in Amityville, similarly confirmed that the company had no plans to alter its security arrangements in response to Thompson’s murder. Echoing their sentiment, John A. Catsimatidis, founder of the holding company, Red Apple Group, Inc., stated that he viewed the incident as an isolated event unlikely to reoccur.
Catsimatidis, whose conglomerate includes Manhattan-based supermarkets and the United Refining Company in Warren, Pennsylvania, minimised its personal implications. Provocatively, he shared that he already takes a form of self-protection, sleeping with a firearm by his side. Even in a worst-case scenario, he said, he could always use another gun.