Guard exposes self to student

An AlliedBarton security guard exposed himself to a female student after he escorted her home Monday night, Division of Public Safety officials said yesterday.

The guard offered to escort the student from 38th and Sansom streets to her house, near 41st and Locust streets, at about 9:00 p.m. They arrived at her door, and he said something to get the student's attention. When she turned around, he had exposed himself.

The security guard, 21, was arrested shortly after the incident was reported and has permanently been removed from campus. He did not have a criminal record, Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said.

The guard's name has not been released because the victim has chosen not to press charges, Philadelphia Police officials said.

An e-mail that circulated through several Penn listservs last night suggested that the man may have been an imposter wearing a stolen AlliedBarton uniform, but Rush and AlliedBarton officials said that the offender was in fact a security guard, and that no AlliedBarton uniforms have been stolen or misplaced.

Rush also said that a series of programs have been immediately implemented to prevent similar incidents.

All escorts will now have to carry visible photo IDs and service cards with their names on them to give to anyone whom they escort home.

In addition to these measures, Rush said the minimum age for security guards is being raised from 21 to 25 to ensure that guards are "mature enough" to handle the job.

Penn has contracted its security services from AlliedBarton since 1996, and, according to spokesman Larry Rubin, the company has never had a similar experience.

"It is without a doubt one of the worst moments for the Allied team," Rush said. "They're heartbroken."

She also had harsh words for the security guard in question.

"He betrayed our trust. I am furious," she said. "It's really important that you take this as one example and not forget the example that all the other [security guards] have set since 1996."

Rush added that all AlliedBarton security guards go through extensive training about sexual harassment and violence against women before they are hired.

Following the incident, officials have stressed to guards once again to follow rules and regulations, Rush said.

As far as long-term changes go, Rubin said AlliedBarton is completing a survey "to re-evaluate and reiterate the responsibilities and expectations of all officers working in escort assignments."

Rush also stressed that students should still feel comfortable calling an escort, especially in light of the sexual assault involving a female student Monday morning.

"This is not the time to not use walking escorts because of this incident," she said.

However, most students interviewed said their views on the escort service have been swayed.

College senior Elyse Monti said she would still call in for an escort if she needed one but with "much, much more caution."

Others, like Wharton senior Jessica Trief, still see the escort as a valuable resource.

"I don't think all the security guards are like that. I think it's a one person thing, so I wouldn't be scared to use it again," she said.

- Staff reporter Julie Cohn contributed reporting to this article.

Comments (10)

[QUOTE id="5715c786-efdf-421c-b6dc-e144a2fa8a8b"]Who is Elyse Monti and why does she get to give the closing quote to two stories in one day? Is she the designated "College senior"?[/QUOTE] Elyse Monti is fucking AWESOME and she should be allowed to give the closing quote to EVERY story that this pathetic piece of shit excuse for a newspaper called DP publishes. At least it would be worthwhile hearing what she has to say.

Allied Barton management has been a part of the DPS for at least 12 years and this service comes under Maureen Rush and her Director of Security. Rush keeps trying to make it sound like AB falls under someone else and that she is not responsible. The operation of AB has been delegated to others. You may delegate authority but not responsibility. There are AB employees fired frequently and turn over has been relatively high. Remember the labor issue between the University, AB management and their employees. With such a hostile work environment it is hard to attract good employees. What you get is a man hired with questionable intentions escort a young female Penn student home, take out his penis and stroke it until he is fully erect hoping to ejaculate on his own or that the female will finish him off. Penn is equally responsible for this incident along with AB and the pervert who was fired.

Who is Elyse Monti and why does she get to give the closing quote to two stories in one day? Is she the designated "College senior"?

A high turnover, low-wage, no benefits job can only attract more questionable people. If they are only outsourced staff, why is "Penn Security" on their uniforms? A lie to make people feel safe? I am sure all the money they save on this sham will pay for more management expertise. I understand AB is owned by Penn trustee Ron Perlmann. It is sad profits are more important than student safety. DPS should be more than a retirement resource for the connected.

The high rate of turnover for these positions ensures that the proper steps to train and screen Allied employees will not always be taken. This is the same reason guards positioned on block corners can be seen sleeping against light poles and even hanging out in Apartment foyers on cold and rainy nights. Their presence provides a mixture of actual security and a false sense of it. I am not sure what the solution is, but it is clear that with increasing rates of crime in the area something needs to change.

I am impressed that this young woman is not pressing charges and she probably sees that this young man has problems. That's a very decent thing to do and speaks highly of her and Penn.

If no uniforms have been stolen and he is indeed an allied guard, how will wearing/handing out ID stop this in the future? Most of those guards check in with what they're doing and so he was obviously going to get in trouble if she told. I think he was just hoping that she would be impressed with what she saw...lil white girls usually love the BBC

[QUOTE id="b6f4a57c-b8ba-45c5-bc7f-c6f816d2ee03"]If no uniforms have been stolen and he is indeed an allied guard, how will wearing/handing out ID stop this in the future? Most of those guards check in with what they're doing and so he was obviously going to get in trouble if she told. I think he was just hoping that she would be impressed with what she saw...lil white girls usually love the BBC[/QUOTE] you are a monster

You really think Perelman is pushing this to make money? Do you know how much money that family has donated so YOU can have opportunities here? Take your head out of the sand.... you are an ungrateful idiot.

It is very bad that the girl has decided not to press charges. The guard knows where she lives, likely is mad for being fired, and may victimize further people. By not prosecuting him, he will not get the police record that he deserves, and the community may be inadequately protected from him in the future. Also, since he likely lives relatively near to Penn's campus (I doubt people commute from New Jersey to work as security guards here), the guard may present a future danger to Penn students. Thus, I don't think the victim deserves any praise for deciding not to prosecute.

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