GROUP 77
Why Choose
Group 77
Founded in 2009 by Brian Higgins, former Chief of the Bergen County Police and Bergen County Director of Public Safety, Group 77 is a skilled team of security and public safety professionals. Since its inception, Group 77 has grown through our reputation and in 2019 Group 77 acquired STA-Precision, a consulting firm founded by the commanding officers of a bomb squad and SWAT Team. The merger provides a more expansive pool of experienced law enforcement, military, and professional security personnel, from the practitioner to executive level. It also expands our training services. Our trainers develop and deliver customized training programs based on each client’s unique needs, size, and operations.
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An Elite Team
Our team members possess extensive knowledge and experience in security management, public safety administration, physical security, infrastructure protection, safety, emergency practices and response, tactics, as well as asset protection and recovery.
Our group of consultants also includes:
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Brian Higgins
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As former police chief in Bergen County, New Jersey, Higgins has a strong understanding of not only security and safety, but also emergency readiness, business continuity and disaster recovery.
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Over 30 years of combined military and civilian law enforcement experience, serving in the National Guard, as Chief of the Bergen County Police Department and as the Bergen County Director of Public Safety
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Experience overseeing eight divisions, including the County Police, the Fire Marshall’s Office and the County Office of Emergency Management, responsible for all emergency plans, management of major incidents, as well as policy setting and distribution of Homeland Security Funding for all 70 municipalities, serving a population of nearly one million residents.
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Worked closely with federal and state governments on antiterrorism programs and initiatives and has experience in policy direction, strategic planning, training, research and development and emerging technologies.
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Has worked as a key security consultant for Fortune 500 companies, college/university campuses, houses of worship
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Certified instructor, by the NJ Police Training Commission, and has been a guest lecturer for numerous organizations
Kevin Cassidy
Kevin Cassidy is a Professor in the Security, Fire and Emergency Management Department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He also lectures at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. He holds a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Kevin was the Director of Public Safety at John Jay College of Criminal Justice from 2013 to 2016 where he oversaw the safety and security of over 15,00 students, faculty members and employees. Kevin developed access control and visitor strategies for a campus encompassing eight buildings in Manhattan.
Prior to that he was Global Head of Security for Thomson Reuters, the international financial news reporting agency, where he oversaw security, safety, and emergency management for over 55,000 employees in over 75 worldwide locations. During Kevin’s career he managed and oversaw security and emergency planning during the 1993 World Trade Center attacks, the September 11th, 2001, attacks, the August 2003 north-east blackout and the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami near the cost of Sumatra to name a few. Kevin has written one book entitle Fire Safety and Loss Prevention and has authored various article in the security and emergency manage field. Kevin is also a licensed Private Investigator in New York, New Jersey, and Florida.
Vincent Mayo
With 20 years experience in law enforcement and professional security training, Vincent has a vast level of experience with a diverse range of expertise including investigating and de-escalating situations involving public safety, emergency response, high-risk response, and tactical operations.
Before retiring as a Sergeant from the Bergen County Police Department, now the Bergen County Sheriff’s - Bureau of Police Services, he served in the patrol division and criminal investigations division, having received multiple awards to include Life Saving Awards, a Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Valor Award.
During his time in investigations, he held the ranks of Detective and Detective Sergeant, handling investigation for Criminal and Youth Services divisions, as well as being the supervisor for the Internal Affairs division.
He was also a member of multiple specialized units including the County Police SWAT Team as an operator and supervisor, the Emergency Service Unit as an Assistant Commander, and the Water Search and Recovery Unit as a diver.
During his career he served as an academy instructor training both recruit and in-service courses for Active Shooter Response, Room Entry/Clearing, Firearms, Chemical and Less Lethal Munitions and Defensive Tactics.
Post retirement, Vincent has traveled to multiple states and overseas to conduct training for law enforcement and security professionals in various courses to included active shooter response and tactical operations.
Vincent holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science – Criminology from Ramapo College of New Jersey.