William McKinlay

Initially employed through contract security by River City Security at the Jacksonville Port Authority Security Operations Center, then hired directly by Jaxport after the contract changed hands in November 2021. Duties entailed coordinating communications via radio, telephone, and electronic media between Jaxport management and on-site contract security personnel, client/tenant organizations, and outside governmental agencies such as Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, US Customs and Border Protection, US Coast Guard, and others. Content of communications included oversight of routine port operations, incident response, mass notifications, documentation of incidents and daily activity, and distribution of information to all relevant parties.

This post was located in the lobby of the Jaxport administration building (PCOB) to provide for Access Control, as well as to monitor for safety hazards, suspicious activity, or any conditions which might impede the smooth functionality of daily operations, using radio communications and CCTV monitoring. Regular duties included frequent interactions with executive staff, Board of Directors members, and governmental VIP's. Before- and after-hours patrols of the premises were also required.

For a short while I worked at the front desk of Everbank Field for the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL franchise, providing Access Control to visitors, employees, and clients. I also conducted patrols inside the stadium to ensure Restricted Access areas were secure. Regular duties included interacting with celebrity VIP's.

For a brief period I worked at the Talleyrand Marine Terminal as a Lane Officer and a Patrol Officer. I provided Access Control for incoming and outgoing traffic at the main gate of the facility, and patrolled the premises in a company vehicle to protect access points, observe vessel operations, perform TWIC escorting, and watch for safety hazards and violations of port regulations.

Duties for this job entailed patrolling client locations among various zones around the city, driving a marked company vehicle. This company specialized in providing armed security for residential areas such as condominiums, gated communities, apartment complexes, a few hotels, and one (very large) trailer park. I experienced a wide diversity of working environments during my time with this company, ranging from expensive luxury residences to high-crime areas.

I remained in this position at the JEA Pearl Street Service Center after the contract changed hands from River City Security.

I was employed as an armed officer at the JEA Pearl Street Service Center. Primary duties included regular patrols of the premises, both interior and exterior, as well as some surrounding JEA properties. Patrols were conducted to provide Access Control, monitor after-hours employee activity, and to observe and report any safety hazards or suspicious activity such as trespassing, damage to company property, or vandalism.

During this time I remained employed by Giddens security on a part-time basis, filling in at numerous temporary posts while working full-time for River City Security.

I was employed full-time at Giddens working overnight shifts first at FSCJ Cecil Field Aviation Center, then shifted to Whitewave Foods as an Access Control officer at the main gate of the facility.

After graduating high school, I first entered the work force at our family business, manufacturing rubber stamps and other office supply-related products. I learned skills such as typesetting, proofreading, printing, engraving, stencil-making, and embossing. After my father passed away in 1998, then my uncle retired in 2005, my cousin and I took over the business until a declining economy forced us to close the shop in 2009, at which time I shifted my career path to the security industry.