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ASSIST
history and origins
Going by the code
By Ann Ball
All State Guard Service, Inc.
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Members of the 2002 convention committee worked on updating the ASSIST Code of Ethics. Shown here left to right are members Phyllis and Dee Grimes, Ruben
Amaya, Ed Clendenin and Don McGray.
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When ASSIST was first formed, they had several problems to combat, not the least of which was dealing with unethical companies. An operator might drive by and chunk a brick through a store window one night and go back the next day to sell a security contract. Some city ordinances allowed police to demand a security company�s customer list; police officers then often went to the companies on the lists and competed against the security company for the customer�s business.
So, from the very first, the founders of our organization drew up a code of ethics. Each member was expected to sign the code in agreement, and members received a copy which was usually hung prominently on their office wall. At some point, probably because of the cost of printing the certificates and because the new law began to control some unethical practices, the use of the ASSIST code faded, although long-time members continued to display it. During the late 1990s and early part of this decade, the subject of ethics came back to the fore. Part of the continuing education mandated for managers included � and still does � two hours of ethics. In planning for the 2002 convention in Houston, the convention committee decided to give out copies of the code to all attendees. However, on looking at the code, the convention committee felt that some of the early provisions needed to be updated. This committee worked hard to propose a revised code which was accepted at the annual business meeting. It�s a good code and one we all should live by. If you don�t have a copy prominently displayed in your office, you should. The code is found on the website
[here]. You can print it, frame it, display it and live by it. Your clients will probably appreciate getting a copy of it, too.
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