Normally, I don’t write about various criminal issues that happen from time to time among Walt Disney World’s personnel. There are over 60,000 cast members and it would be impossible to pre-screen out all the bad eggs. But for certain positions, I believe Disney should hold a stronger light.
One of these positions is the security guard. You see them everywhere, they’re the first person you turn to if your lost, feel unsafe, or need help. Since 9/11 they’ve also been handling every bag that enters a theme park. It’s a elevated position of responsibility for sure.
To help fill these important roles, Disney has taken to hiring ex-military or ex-police to the position. That was the case today when a security guard was charged with possessing child pornography. From the news story it sounds like the whole family works in the theme park business and other members of the family were surprised about the arrest. I’m not sure there was anything Disney could do catch this offender in any legal prescreening.
But I can’t help feel a little let down by this arrest too. Disney World isn’t Fort Knox, but it does contain something more precious – the children of families from around the world. News like this is not good for the resort. I know I won’t be the only one who feels like I can’t necessarily trust a security guard with my child or trust them to honestly screen my bag at the front gate (although that bit of security theater is so not necessary).
I’d hope that Disney decides to do what it takes to afford a security corps we can trust. If that means paying them more, training them more, psychological screening, whatever. Once is too much, they need to elevate so that this does not happen again.
So if it didn’t happen on Disney property, wasn’t on the clock at the time and did not effect anyone at Disney, What the hell does that have to do with Disney? Why is it that if something happens and the person happens to be employed by Disney, it automatically becomes a Disney news story?
As I said in the story, because it’s a security guard and the have access to guests that other Cast Members do not
Sorry John, but I don’t buy that. No background check in the world would pull up this kind of information if the person in question had never been caught. They can’t screen an applicant’s personal computer (most likely where the offending items were kept), so what do you expect them to do? Adding a question on an application – Do you trade in child pornography? – won’t do anything.
Unfortunately, in this kind of situation the person has to be caught before it would show up on a background check. How does paying them more or training them more reduce the chance of a Cast Member doing anything illegal? Those are absurd suggestions. Psychological screening might be something to add, and I’m not sure what’s currently done, but it’s probably easy enough to “cheat” your way past those tests as well.
Bottom line, the person was caught and it will now show up on their record whenever a background check is done. My guess is that their next job won’t involve children at all.
I totally agree with everything you have said Jeff.
No way to tell who is into this sick stuff. It may be the case that more guards and other cast members are into it but the type of people that are into it are very good at hiding it….hence the security guards family being surprised at his arrest.
Sorry John, but you are way off the mark if you think upping wages is the answer to weeding out paedophiles.
I’m not saying I have the solution. But I am saying Disney has to do more to reassure us they have the best security on the planet for our families. I think improving salary and benefits would be one step, I’m open to suggestions for others.
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