Rhino
04-17-2006, 01:07 PM
DHS Dumps British-Owned Security Firm
Monday, April 17, 2006
By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos
Fox News
WASHINGTON — Not long after national debate raged on the use of foreign entities to operate critical U.S. infrastructures, the Department of Homeland Security has made an about face, dumping a British-based security firm that was contracted to protect the buildings where U.S. domestic security policy is formed.
DHS had received a variety of complaints about Wackenhut Services, Inc., and was supposed to sign a new security contract on April 1. Instead, Paragon Systems of Chantilly, Va., announced last week it was getting the five-year, $29 million contract.
"I welcome the news that the Department of Homeland Security is finally starting to get serious about its own security," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who with Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., praised the department's switch. "We will keep a close eye on the new contractor and make sure that higher standards equal better security at the department tasked with keeping our nation secure."
Wackenhut, however, isn't gone from the U.S. grid. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Wackenhut Corporation, which in 2002 merged with a Danish security conglomerate, now known as Group 4 Securicor and based in London, England, Wackenhut Services Inc., has had security contracts throughout federal, state and local governments for decades.
Among the U.S. sites where Wackenhut provides security are no fewer than 30 nuclear power plants, a number of Army bases and some nuclear weapons facilities. The deal with DHS was reportedly worth $9 million a year.........http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191941,00.html
Monday, April 17, 2006
By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos
Fox News
WASHINGTON — Not long after national debate raged on the use of foreign entities to operate critical U.S. infrastructures, the Department of Homeland Security has made an about face, dumping a British-based security firm that was contracted to protect the buildings where U.S. domestic security policy is formed.
DHS had received a variety of complaints about Wackenhut Services, Inc., and was supposed to sign a new security contract on April 1. Instead, Paragon Systems of Chantilly, Va., announced last week it was getting the five-year, $29 million contract.
"I welcome the news that the Department of Homeland Security is finally starting to get serious about its own security," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who with Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., praised the department's switch. "We will keep a close eye on the new contractor and make sure that higher standards equal better security at the department tasked with keeping our nation secure."
Wackenhut, however, isn't gone from the U.S. grid. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Wackenhut Corporation, which in 2002 merged with a Danish security conglomerate, now known as Group 4 Securicor and based in London, England, Wackenhut Services Inc., has had security contracts throughout federal, state and local governments for decades.
Among the U.S. sites where Wackenhut provides security are no fewer than 30 nuclear power plants, a number of Army bases and some nuclear weapons facilities. The deal with DHS was reportedly worth $9 million a year.........http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191941,00.html