Masters Company

International Mining Company contracts with Masters Company

2011-10-13T07:44:00.001-07:00

President Bill Masters announced today that Masters Company has received a short term contract from a Fortune 500 international mining corporation to provide protection services during a sensitive industrial operation.

Bank Security 2011

2011-10-09T14:15:00.001-07:00

Bank Security 2011
by Bill Masters

“Yes, as through this world I've wandered, I've seen lots of funny men;
Some will rob you with a six-gun, And some with a fountain pen.”
The ballad of “Pretty Boyd Floyd” by Woody Guthrie

The day in 1934 that Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd, bank robber, murderer and killer of police officers, was buried in Akins, Oklahoma an estimated twenty thousand people showed up for his funeral. The noted song writer Woody Guthrie was quoted on that day “Pretty Boy Floyd could have been elected governor and he would have made a good one.”
There was no doubt that Floyd was a thief and a criminal his whole life. A few prison terms turned him into a man who would and did kill anyone who got in his way. He stole pennies from the post office, payrolls from companies and as much as he could in a string of bank robberies and murders that made him a Robin Hood style hero to those suffering through the depression.

”But a many a starving farmer, The same old story told, How the outlaw paid their mortgage, And saved their little homes”.

The popular opinion of the day was that the Banks and the Bankers caused the depression in a grand scheme to line their own pockets with profits and bonuses all at the expense of the small farmers, workers and the common man. The populist politicians, radio hosts, song writers and newspapers all jumped on the blame the bankers bandwagon, extolled the bank robbers’ exploits and fed the publics’ desire for a scapegoats and heroes.

“Others tell you 'bout a stranger, That come to beg a meal,
Underneath his napkin, Left a thousand dollar bill.”

Due to poor police reporting standards in the 1930s it is difficult to determine if crimes against banking institutions were as frequent and as dramatic as stated in the newspapers of the day. According to reports many bank robbers also kidnapped businessmen and “industrialists” for ransom. Protests against banks and foreclosure actions were common during the depression. Many of the most violent protests, spurred on by communist organizers, surprisingly occurred in rural farming communities in Iowa and Nebraska.

“And as through your life you travel, Yes, as through your life you roam, You won't never see an outlaw, Drive a family from their home."

Paradoxically today during, reportedly, the worst economic conditions since the Great depression, we are seeing a dramatic decrease in overall crime including bank robberies. According to the FBI’s now well kept statistics on bank crimes, bank robberies are down from a high in 2006 of 6,985 robberies to 5,546 in 2010. In the first two quarters of 2011 just only 2,088 bank robberies were reported. There are a number of theories from experts as to why crime and robberies are down from increased prison population to changing demographics, I am not going venture to guess which is correct.

Although crime in general is down and bank robberies specifically those in the commercial banking industry should maintain a degree of vigilance. The similarities in social moods in the current recession and the Great Depression are growing. The “Occupy Wall Street” protest has a degree of rhetoric that fringe elements or “frustrated” desperate individuals could use to justify criminal acts against financial institutions.

Local events in communities could cause unpredictable reactions. In my small county one man was found, by Deputy Sheriffs with eviction papers, hanging from the rafters of his bank foreclosed home. The family was distraught but rational in their response, others may not be. A popular business, a well thought of family or a fringe individual going through foreclosure process should be considered a possible security issue for an institution and their involved employees/legal staff.

All bank employees from CEOs to tellers and legal staff to cleaning crews should be trained at keeping a low profile both on line and in their everyday lives. Driving to work in flashy cars (for all employees) or arriving at meetings in limousines etc. should be reconsidered. Management, employees and family members should use caution in using social networking sites.

Besides the anti-robbery training and drills that most banks conduct, institutions should develop and drill response to protests, mob actions, bomb threats, kidnappings and angry customers. Sally-porting entryways to bank lobbies and other security remodels should be considered, designed, funded and constructed now. Retain relationships need to be developed with professional security providers before specific concerns arise or an incident occurs.

Bank managers should not assume that most customers understand the current economic conditions, the value of lending institutions in our system or how deposits are returned to the community. Conducting public and high school educational campaigns regarding how banks work and proper debt to income levels should be considered.

Promoting a safe and effective response to bank robbery has been a goal of the industry since the days of Pretty Boyd Floyd, Machine Gun Kelly and the other criminals of the 1930s. Crime statistics show the systems put in place by banks and law enforcement paid off in the past few years, however now is not the time to reduce our vigilance. Social moods, the economy, protesters and the media may be creating new unforeseen threats that require immediate acknowledgement and attention.

Bill Masters is the President of Masters Company LLC an Executive Protection firm based in Colorado.

Telluride Alarm and Masters Security form new company

2011-10-07T17:28:00.000-07:00

Telluride Alarm and Masters Security have combined to form a new company "The Alarm Company".
Masters Security President Bill Masters stated today (Oct 1, 2011) "Ownership of the companies has basically remained the same however they will be working together bringing the best of both to serve the entire region better. The Alarm Company will be providing 24 hour response to all of our 1000+ customers and have technicians always available to assist business, residents and the local emergency service providers."

Masters Company will continue to be owned and operated by Bill Masters and provide Executive Protection and security consulting services to it s many customers.

Masters Company provide Executive Protection Services

2011-10-07T17:16:00.000-07:00

Masters Company was once again called upon by a returning confidential client who required services during an event that included a former head of state and his extended family. Masters Company agents worked closely with the Secret Service and local law enforcement agencies to see that the high profile event was a success.

Masters Company contracted to direct security operations

2011-03-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

Bill Masters announced today that Masters Company has been providing protection services to an entertainment industry enterprise for the past 8 months. Mr. Masters stated “After a violent encounter involving an armed man occurred at one of our client’s locations we immediately responded to arrange for direct security services and upgrades to existing systems and procedures. We are currently involved in a complete assessment of our client’s protection needs and developing cost effective systems to fulfill long term security requirements.”

Masters Company Hired to Consult on Border Issues

2010-10-31T15:05:00.000-07:00

Masters Company agents recently traveled to US-Mexico border to conduct ranch security assessments for clients who's holdings are on or near the border.

Green and Stauder Join Masters Company

2010-04-24T12:44:00.001-07:00

Bill Masters recently announced that Johnny Green and Carl Stauder are now partners in Masters Company. Johnny Green brings to the company extensive experience in high risk international security assignments. Carl Stauder has security and industrial businesses experience in both China and Central America. The current focus of the company continues to be in Colorado and with international operations expanding with select clients in Central America.

Masters Company contracted to provide Executive Protection services to Federal Government

2010-04-23T19:30:00.001-07:00

Masters Company President Bill Masters announced that the Company recently was contracted to provide Executive Protection services to a branch of the Federal Government.

Mr. Masters stated. "I am proud that our reputation has brought the Federal Government to have confidence in our abilities to serve the public good during these difficult times."

US Corporation Contracts with Masters Company

2009-12-13T10:29:00.000-08:00

Fortune 500 Company has contracted with Masters Company to provide short term Executive Protection services to the CEO of the company.

Nicaragua

2009-12-13T10:27:00.000-08:00

Masters Company agents conducted advance inquires in Nicaragua during November 2009.

Masters Company provides Executive Protection to founder of major US Corporation

2009-08-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

August 18 2009

A returning client has once again turned to Masters Company to provide experenced but low key agents to protect and serve a mission critical VIP of a Major Corporation.

Bank contracts with Masters Company to protect asests

2009-08-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

August 15 2009

A large lending institution has contracted with Masters Company to provide construction site security in Colorado. Together with our partner Masters Security alarms, cameras and on site guards have been provided to the client.

US based Mining Company contracts with Masters Company for security services

2009-08-19T10:58:00.001-07:00

August 2009 A large US based mining company has contracted with Masters Company to provide construction site security in a remote setting in Colorado.

Masters Company Contracted with Major Bank

2009-08-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

July 2009 A major US lending instution has contracted with Masters Company to proivde fraud investigative services on the western slope of Colorado.

Masters Company Provides Emergency Protection Services

2008-09-06T09:27:00.000-07:00

When labor issues caused the need for emergency protection services at an industrial site the owners turned to Masters Company. Within hours Masters Company had a full team of agents stationed on site providing 24 hour services. Technical agents with Masters Security immediately went to work installing an emergency fire/intrusion alarm system together with video surveillance. Bill Masters, President of Masters Company stated "Our Team of protection agents and technicians were able to quickly and effectively respond to our clients emergency situation. We are unique in the security industry in that we can combine our technical and protection agents together at a moments notice to come up with solutions that protect our clients property and document events."

Major Flim Production Companies turn to Masters Company for anti-piracy services

2008-09-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

For the 5th year Masters Company was contracted by major film production companies to provide film print security and anti-piracy services during the Telluride Film Festival. Masters agents provided in venue anti-piracy surveillance using night vision devices and low light binoculars during 12 different showings of unreleased films. Masters Company President Bill Masters stated "Through the use of our tectnical capabilites and trained agents we were able once again to protect these valuable assests. We want to thank the motion picture industry for turning to us in this important industrial protection assignment."

Masters Company Provides Security Services to International Energy Company

2008-07-21T06:12:00.000-07:00

Masters Company was recently contracted to provide security services to an international energy company in Colorado. Masters Company CEO Bill Masters stated "Once again we would like to thank all our clients for their continued faith and reliance on our company for their security needs. Our services speak for themselves when we continue to receive referrals from existing customers."

Masters Company Contracted to Provide EP Services

2008-07-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

June-July 2008 Masters Company agents were contracted to provide 24/7 services to high profile clients in Colorado. Executive protection agents, medics and counter surveillance investigators were employed to provide a low key but safe and private environment for the clients. Masters Company CEO Bill Masters stated "Our assignment was completed without any major incidents thanks to all our hard working staff".

Masters Company Provides Executive Services to Production Company

2008-04-26T10:38:00.000-07:00

Masters Company Agents recently completed a confidential assignment with a production company. Agents were assigned to provide around the clock services in a remote location. The assignment included executive protection, site security, emergency medical, threat and counter measure assessments . "Once again our agents were able to conduct the mission in a low key manner that held to the clients' confidential requirements." stated Bill Masters.

Drug War Addiction by Sheriff Bill Masters

2008-04-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

"An early pioneer... Bill has let the genie out of the bottle... He has an awful lot of courage for stating this... If you have a drug problem you should go to the doctor, not to jail."

-- Sheriff Bob Braudis, Pitkin County, Colorado

Sheriff Bill Masters fought the "Drug War." He was good at it. He even won an award from the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Through his real-world experiences as a law officer, Masters concluded drug prohibition must be repealed. He discovered the drug war is itself an addiction, more damaging to the fabric of American society than drugs could ever be." Scholars and policy leaders such as Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman, Superior Court Judge James P. Gray, and Governor Gary Johnson agree: the drug war does more harm than good and corrupts law enforcement, politics, and community values. Masters has served as sheriff of San Miguel County (Telluride), Colorado, since 1979, and he is the nation's first Libertarian sheriff. He argues police should spend their time getting violent criminals off the streets. He also seeks cultural renewal in our nation by returning to the principles of personal responsibility, simple laws, and limited government.

In this book, Sheriff Bill Masters explains why we need to kick our nation's drug war addiction.

Chapter Summaries
Introduction "Have you checked out... the endless loss of individual rights in the name of the drug war? When reformers point to the flaws and problems of the drug war, the warriors' answer is to do more of it. More money. More guns. More authoritarian control. Isn't that the response of all addicts?"

1. 'Collateral' Damage in the War on Drugs "[W]hen innocent children, mothers, and fathers are killed in the drug war, a lot of people shrug their shoulders and accept those deaths as the costs of waging the war."

2. Getting Our Priorities Straight "What kind of peace officer, what kind of society would allow a peace officer to use one minute of time, spend one dollar, or use any jail cell for a marijuana smoker, when vicious child murderers are on the loose?"

3. Drug Dealer Whack-A-Mole
"'When a bust goes down, the price goes up.' That was Rick the Stick's 'business' motto."

4. Police Integrity: A Post-Mortem "Our police departments suffer corruption as a direct result of drug prohibition. The most obvious problem is that police officers can make big money dealing drugs, protecting drug dealers, or simply looking the other way. But drug prohibition also creates problems that aren't so obvious."

5. The Military and Foreign Intervention "Zeke [Hernandez] was an 18-year-old high school student who stumbled upon a group of camouflaged and armed U.S. Marines assigned to Joint Task Force Six drug interdiction team. The Marines shot and killed young Zeke, mistaking him for a drug runner."

6. Drug Warriors Tilting at Windmills "Violence in drug sales is caused by prohibition, not by the drugs themselves. Similarly, during alcohol prohibition, violent gangsters ran illegal alcohol."

7. Drug Wars and Gun Wars "Conservatives who care about the right to bear arms should also care about repealing drug prohibition. Besides the fact that prohibition drives the violence that's behind the sentiment to ban guns, drug prohibition and gun prohibition are rooted in the exact same social philosophy. Instead of regulating violent behavior, prohibitionists want to regulate inanimate objects. Historically, gun control is intimately linked to drug prohibition, as when alcohol prohibition led to the gangster violence, which became a pretext for passage of the 1934 National Firearms Act, the first federal gun legislation to apply to the general population. Liberals who are sensitive to the injustices of drug prohibition should also be wary of gun restrictions."

8. A Spiritual Matter "Drug addiction is the ultimate consequence of the notion that happiness is divorced from action and from a person's character. When a person feels so empty inside, all those drugs are supposed to fill the void. Ultimately, abusing drugs is like drinking sand when you're dying of thirst."

9. Simple Laws: Pathway to Freedom "Have you taken up your duty, not just to guard the Second Amendment, but are you truly the shield, the protector, of the beautiful but fragile lady we call liberty? ...Pass only the laws that are really necessary. Keep them few in number, and make them easy enough for a child to read and understand. If we took this simple advice to heart, we would find new respect for, and honor in, our government and its institutions."

Appendix A: A Biography of Sheriff Bill Masters (by Nancy Lofholm)
Appendix B: A Brief History of the Drug War (by Stephen Raher)
To read more about Sheriff Bill Masters, see his web page at www.libertybill.net.