KINGALARM Managing Director John Azar on Thursday declared that he is not the least bit fazed by the possibility of a lawsuit from the businessman who was seen in a recent viral video being smacked in the face and kicked in the head by two of the company’s security guards.

The security company was thrust into the spotlight last week Tuesday after videos surfaced on social media showing the KingAlarm officers hitting businessman and licensed firearm holder Andrew Wollery while he was subdued on the ground, at an apartment complex on Braemar Avenue in Kingston.

Wollery was being restrained after he allegedly shot the apartment’s watchman, who had tackled him to the ground.

On Thursday, Wollery’s attorney, Peter Champagnie, when contacted by the Jamaica Observer, maintained that his client had acted lawfully at all times.

“From my instructions my client maintained that he did not assault anyone,” the lawyer said.

He was also asked to respond to allegations from KingAlarm that his client fired the shot at the watchman after the company’s security guard had successfully pulled the watchman from Wollery.

“All I will say is that my instructions are that he acted lawfully, and if there is any assertion otherwise KingAlarm needs to answer why it is that they have visited sanctions upon their employees and agents and continue to try and reach out to my client,” Champagnie said.

During a press conference Thursday at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston, Azar, when asked if Wollery has expressed a desire to sue KingAlarm, said he was not aware of any such action by the businessman or his attorney.

“I can say if he or his attorney would choose to do that, that would be the least of my concerns,” he said. “My concerns remain protecting the KingAlarm brand; my concerns remain serving and protecting our in excess of 20,000 clients and, dare I say, I suspect that Mr Wollery and his attorney, based on what has been coming out [over] the past days, may have more pressing concerns,” Azar said.

“I am not in any way concerned about that (being sued). We have gotten our advice on solid grounds and, as I said, my concerns are my clients, serving and protecting our clients, and motivating our workforce to keep doing what they do,” he added.

Azar, who sought to outline the sequence of events that occurred on the day of the incident at the apartment complex, said his company will concede that all its employees did not act professionally, but said despite the negatives, there were positives to be taken from the incident.

He said he was heartened at the restraint exercised by the six armed guards, who he said pleaded with Wollery to drop his weapon. He said he was also proud of the officers who were willing to take a stand based on an alleged crime that was reported to them earlier that day.

Azar said he was also moved by the action of two of his officers, who he said put themselves in harm’s way to protect Wollery while he was struggling with the watchman, as they immediately went to his aid when he was tackled by the watchman and did not seek to rain blows on him.

“Perhaps my proudest moment when watching the video was when I saw six of our officers moving towards an agitated shooter in an effort to neutralise what they perceived to be an active threat,” he said. “It takes special character to move in the direction of danger to protect the lives of strangers while others are retreating to safety.”

Azar also disclosed yesterday that the female guard who was seen in the video kicking Wollery in his head and using expletives was sacked, following a disciplinary hearing. She is an ex-cop.

The managing director said she was one of two officers who were charged by the company’s internal disciplinary team. However, he said the second officer, who was seen hitting Wollery in the face, has retained the services of a lawyer to review the videos before the disciplinary hearing.

Azar said the senior supervisor who was present at the time of the incident has been suspended for not adequately exerting his authority. He said the supervisor, who has more than 20 years’ service with the company, on resumption of his duties will undergo vigorous training on situational awareness.

Azar also indicated that his staff will be receiving refresher training on justice and human rights from Jamaicans For Justice.

In the meantime, Azar expressed displeasure at the level of hypocrisy which he said was being exercised by the public in relation to the backlash that followed the release of the videos.

“Much of the people who were expressing concern in seeing a man in a suit being tackled or subdued are some of the same people, when you catch a mango thief in their yards they would perhaps be encouraging our personnel to act very differently,” he charged.

Azar admitted that last week was a rough one for his company, but said it was handled well.

“We issued timely statements to the press to reassure our clients of our standards and to reassure them of our investigation taking place, and thank God, I think that people have realised that any behaviour shown which may not have been in keeping with our best practices was isolated and unfortunate, and not truly depicting of the standards of the services we provide,” he said.