Security Officer Honored for Helping Save Man’s Life

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A Charlesbrook Protection Services security officer is being honored for helping save a man’s life at Mel Trotter Ministries in Grand Rapids.

Ryan Ruffini says he was alerted that a man wasn’t breathing and that he credits his training that helped him through the tense situation. It happened on Feb. 22.

"He didn't appear to be breathing," Ruffini said. "This gentleman was lying on the ground. His shirt was off and his torso was white, and his hands and his face were purple."

Fortunately security officers who work for Charlesbrook are not only trained to protect, they also know how to save lives.....

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Former Sheriff’s deputy raises the bar on private security

In his time in law enforcement, Ryan Woodford had his share of encounters with private security.

As a police officer and Sheriff’s deputy, it wasn’t uncommon for Woodford to be called to assist private security firms with situations they were unequipped or unqualified to handle. And though he enjoyed being on the front lines, the Grand Rapids native couldn’t help thinking some of these situations could have been handled without police assistance if the security officers had a little more training or experience. So, Woodford decided to start a company that could provide seasoned and professionally trained security services and, in 2014, established Charlesbrook Protection Services.

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Grand Rapids Security Firm Now Using Body Cams

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The head of a Grand Rapids security company says he’s begun equipping security workers with body cameras as they continue to do more police-type work.

Charlesbrook Protection Services CEO Ryan Woodford says the move is all about innovation.

“We decided that it was going to be best for our clients, best for our employees, and best for the public,” Woodford told 24 Hour News 8. “The benefits are for everybody and they’re pretty significant.”

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Marine and Combat Dog Working Together Again

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — This is a story of man and man’s best friend — one best told through pictures from the battlefield.

That’s where Marine Cpl. Jeff DeYoung and his bomb-sniffing, life-saving partner Cena became best pals. The pair teamed up to seek out explosives in Afghanistan back in 2009.

“He cleared the roads, he found the IEDs, he cleared routes and everything and kept us safe,” DeYoung said of Cena. “During firefights, I would have to lay on top of him over myself because he’s a more valuable asset than I was.”

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MILITARY GRADE: Employers Find Value in Veterans’ Military Experience, Work Ethic

After 23 years of active duty in the U.S. Army, Jason Schenkel faced an uncertain future when he retired from the military a little more than a year ago.

“I was in for so long, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I grew up. I didn’t know what was out there,” said Schenkel, who previously was the commander for the Army recruiting station in Holland. “I had a good recruiting background and a good (human resources) background.”

It was then that he learned of an opportunity at Holland, the trucking firm, in the company’s human resources department. Based on his military experience, he was hired as a talent acquisition and fair employment manager.

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