Ep. 130: Protecting America’s Mall

What does it take to keep the nation’s busiest mall safe, day in and day out?

In this episode, we talk with Will Bernhjelm, Vice President of Security at Mall of America, about a career shaped by service, adaptability, and purpose. Will has been an integral member of the MOA security team, which he now leads, for more than 23 years. Will and his team of highly trained, dedicated professional security officers are the best of the best.

Will shares how his time in the Army National Guard influenced his leadership approach and elevated security training at MOA… a program that leads the industry. We explore the “Swiss cheese” model of security, where layered people, processes, and technology work together to keep guests safe. From bike and patrol officers to K9 teams and advanced tools like license plate readers and facial recognition, used responsibly and thoughtfully, combine to keep the Mall safe.

At its core, this conversation is about why security matters, and the deeply personal motivation behind protecting a place where millions of families come to make memories.

1:00 Will’s professional journey that led to Mall of America
3:10 Army National Guard deployments to Kosovo and Iraq led to supervisory role in security training
5:30 A new outlook on security training, leading the retail and attractions industries
9:00 The Swiss cheese strategy that keeps Mall of America safe
11:45 MOA bike officers, year-round patrols in all types of weather
12:50 Everyone’s favorite… Mall of America K9 teams
14:25 MOA Patrol Officers, the modern day ‘beat cop’ at the nation’s busiest mall
15:30 Technology at MOA including LPR cameras
16:45 How Facial Recognition technology is used responsibly at MOA and leads the industry
19:45 Why we work hard to keep this place safe (it’s all about family)

To learn more, visit: https://mallofamerica.com/security

Guests: Will Bernhjelm, Vice President of Security at Mall of America

Your host: Daniel Jasper

Presented by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.