Hawkeye: Securing Jamaica for 37 years

WHEN you say “Hawkeye” in Jamaica, it evokes greater than only a model; it brings to thoughts a picture of black-clad response groups, purple patches, and swift-moving professionals stepping out of branded automobiles. That placing presence helped set the corporate aside early in its existence, turning what started as a modest enterprise into one of many island’s most recognised names in personal safety service.

The corporate has its genesis in 1985 when brothers Derrick “Ricky” and Mark Mahfood launched Ranger Safety and Safety, a standard guard service. Three years later, in February 1988, they noticed a chance to develop into digital surveillance, a transfer that led to the beginning of Hawkeye Digital Safety.

“On the time, I used to be working with my father on a challenge,” recalled Derrick Mahfood, government chairman and CEO of Hawkeye Digital Safety Ltd, in an interview with the Jamaica Observer at its 24 South Camp Street department. “When that ended, my brother and I began speaking about digital safety. That’s once we began [to] examine digital safety.”

Neither brother had a background in electronics, however they noticed a spot out there. With Ranger already established, they seen digital safety as a pure extension of their providers. Initially, Ranger dealt with the bodily guarding, whereas Hawkeye targeted on the tech facet. Ultimately, each operations merged underneath the now-familiar Hawkeye model.

“We each had a small quantity of financial savings and invested it within the enterprise,” Mahfood stated. “And little by little, it began to develop.”

Hawkeye’s early presence was small however strategic. The corporate launched with 13 shoppers — companies situated in two procuring plazas alongside Fixed Spring Street in St Andrew. One two-man response staff patrolled the realm, prepared to reply to alerts from shoppers. Inside a 12 months, the corporate grew to greater than 100 clients. In a market that was nonetheless dominated by conventional guard providers, Hawkeye launched one thing new: seen, tactical, armed response items outfitted with bulletproof vests. On the time, the idea of armed response was nonetheless comparatively novel in Jamaica.

Hawkeye’s daring strategy not solely stuffed a necessity but in addition made an announcement. Whereas many have since adopted related methods, Hawkeye’s early innovation, mixed with its sturdy model identification, helped the corporate stand out and keep high of thoughts.

In September 1988, simply six to seven months in enterprise, Hurricane Gilbert disrupted its operations briefly. With electrical energy out for days, working an digital safety firm grew to become a problem. Throughout that interval, Hawkeye primarily targeted on conducting cell patrols in areas thought of extra susceptible to crime, simply to provide clients a way of presence and reassurance. As soon as electrical energy was restored, the enterprise rapidly rebounded.

“Little by little, individuals started to see digital safety in its place or an addition to what they already had and with the options and advantages that it may present for them,” stated Mahfood.

Hawkeye’s core enterprise is offering alarm programs for houses and companies, full with door and window sensors, movement detectors, and keypads used to arm the system when leaving the property. As soon as armed, any breach triggers the alarm and alerts the corporate’s 24-hour monitoring centre. Prospects even have entry to distant panic buttons, which might be activated to summon a response staff in the event that they hear one thing suspicious throughout the evening.

Along with alarm programs, Hawkeye affords a variety of superior safety options, together with CCTV surveillance, entry management for restricted areas, automobile monitoring, gate automation, limitations, intercom programs, and article surveillance — an anti-theft answer broadly utilized in retail.

“You’ll discover this in locations like Ammar’s and Lee’s Fifth Ave, the place the clothes are tagged as a part of our retail theft prevention programs,” Mahfood defined.

In 1989, Hawkeye expanded its providers to incorporate cash-in-transit operations, safely gathering and transporting funds to banks on behalf of shoppers. That service has since grow to be one of many firm’s core choices.

The corporate began working from 2 Seaview Avenue, simply off Previous Hope Street, with a staff of solely seven staff. A couple of years later, Hawkeye acquired property at 14 Belmont Street to help its rising operations. By the mid-Nineties, the corporate had expanded past Kingston, opening branches in Montego Bay, Mandeville, and Ocho Rios. Right now, Hawkeye employs greater than 3,000 individuals throughout the island. However over its 37 years of operation, the corporate has additionally endured moments of tragedy, together with the heartbreaking lack of staff members within the line of responsibility.

“It’s been very painful for me; these have been males I knew personally,” Mahfood shared with the Enterprise Observer. “It’s extremely troublesome to deal with.”

To honour their reminiscence, the corporate has devoted a wall at its South Camp Street department, the place pictures of every fallen staff member stay on show as a long-lasting tribute.

“I look to the Lord for every thing — steering, provision, and serving to us discover the appropriate individuals,” he stated.

With regards to constructing the appropriate staff, Mahfood believes religion has guided lots of these selections. Nonetheless, he admits that labour challenges persist. Whereas the corporate actively seeks out appropriate candidates, a lot of the technical work at Hawkeye is very specialised. Because of this, staff — whether or not in IT, gross sales, or set up — obtain thorough in-house coaching. The programs and applied sciences used at Hawkeye usually transcend customary networking, requiring employees to develop abilities tailor-made to the corporate’s distinctive choices.

From its inception, Hawkeye has positioned sturdy emphasis on remaining on the forefront of innovation, dedicated to delivering cutting-edge safety options to each companies and householders in Jamaica.

Enterprise succession is already underway at Hawkeye, with one in all Mahfood’s sons lately becoming a member of the corporate. He’s presently being uncovered to key departments resembling human assets, consumer care, and operations, as a part of a deliberate effort to familiarise him with the total scope of the enterprise. The aim at this stage is to find out whether or not the function aligns together with his long-term pursuits and strengths.

As the corporate seems to the long run, development stays a key precedence. Hawkeye plans to develop its buyer base by providing a wider vary of safety options aimed toward strengthening current infrastructure. With the rising value of manned guarding, there may be an rising deal with integrating know-how to cut back reliance on bodily safety personnel. Whereas tight-lipped on particulars, the corporate hinted that acquisitions stay part of its development technique shifting ahead.

Cybersecurity has been thought of, however for now, the corporate is concentrated on strengthening its core choices and guaranteeing constant service supply.

Reflecting on his journey, Mahfood shared that endurance, dedication, and perseverance have been key components to Hawkeye’s success.

“Among the classes for me have been about staying dedicated to your objectives, placing within the laborious work and further hours, and giving the enterprise the time it must develop. Issues don’t occur in a single day,” he stated. “Once I look again, I realise that every thing that has been achieved has been with God’s assist.”