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Ask a Man-About-Town: Security guard answers your questions
The Web site for the award-winning alternative weekly, the Philadelphia City Paper.
Ask a Man-About-Town: Security guard answers your questions
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The Clog would like to introduce a new feature, "Ask a Man-About-Town." The idea is that we'll tell you a little about said man (or woman), and then you can submit questions you'd like to ask them, which they'll answer. For instance, we give you a window washer; you ask, "How far up buildings do birds nest?" or "Ever see anyone jump?" or even "How did you get rid of those damn streaks?!" Please submit your questions in the comments or e-mail them to holly.otterbein@citypaper.net.
Sulaiman Kumara didn't foresee becoming the Philadelphia Security Officers Union treasurer when he started as a security guard at the PMA last year. At the time, he was working in the Park House (he now has shifts at both the Park House and the museum's main building), which is patrolled by only one security guard at a time, so he'd heard nothing of a union until every guard was called in for a mandatory meeting. The meeting was anti-union: "Vote no," the guards were allegedly told. "The union just wants your money." Kumara says he didn't believe it.
Kumara learned more about the union from campaign organizer Fabricio Rodriguez and since then, he's been an active member of the group. He thinks that AlliedBarton and other security firms take advantage of the fact that most of their employees don't know about their rights.
"I'm going to do everything I can because I can't just stand by and watch," he says.
When he's not at the PMA, Kumara is studying finance at Temple University. He's also a big Eagles fan and likes to read personal development books. He grew up in Southwest Philly and now lives in the Northeast.
Hey Sulaiman, what's your favorite piece of art in the PMA?
Sulaiman Kumara, what's the craziest thing you've ever seen happen as a security guard? Did you ever have to fight anyone?
Dear Sulaiman - Thanks for agreeing to be the Man-About-Town! I have a few of questions: 1. What is the most unusual situation you've encountered while patroling the PMA ? 2. How do keep from getting distracted by all the art around you ? 3. What qualities do you think make a successful security guard ? Thanks and Best Wishes!
do you notice any flaws in the system of security at the PMA? and if so, if you were to commit a crime (say, steal an art piece from the PMA), how would you then circumvent security?
I've been in places where the security guards didn't make me feel very, well, secure. What kinds of training or protocol go into becoming a guard? Are there different requirements for guards stationed in different locations (like a shopping mall guard vs. a college campus guard)?
Have you ever foiled an art heist? You ever see a ghost in the museum? How do you pass the time in a long, uneventful shift?
Have you ever been afraid on the job?
[...] couple weeks ago, we introduced you to Sulaiman Kumara, the treasurer of the Philadelphia Security Officers Union (and a security guard, of course, at [...]
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