Akron security consultant believes malls need to make improvements after shooting inside Oregon mall

A local security consultant said he believes malls need to increase the level of security personnel in light of the mall shooting in Oregon that left three people dead, including the gunman.

"I've been saying for the last couple of years, we are going to start to have these incidences in the malls and I believe this is just the tip of iceberg," said Timothy Dimoff, who owns SACS Consulting in Akron.

Dimoff said mall security officers are usually unarmed and not a strong deterrent.

"It's more of comfort security more than I feel that it's a restrictive security," Dimoff said.

A spokesperson for Summit Mall, Kate Anderson, wouldn't discuss security when contacted by NewChannel5 on Wednesday.

"We're not able to comment on anything security related," Anderson said.

Some people admitted they were nervous to shop inside a mall a day after the Oregon tragedy.

"Especially, when you're a mom. You're already worried about your kids all the time," said a shopper from Fairlawn.

Others said the mall shooting was a terrifying incident, but it wouldn't deter them from going to the malls for holiday shopping.

Charlie Gerbelsky, 57, of Copley Township, put it this way: "I don't worry about it because there are all kind of crazies out there, and you know what, if you're going to live your life in fear, what good is that?"

To prevent copycat crimes, Dimoff said he believes malls need to take steps to enhance surveillance equipment and hire better trained, armed personnel.

"I think you need to have police officers, off-duty officers, ex-military or higher trained personnel," Dimoff said.

Inspector Bill Holland with the Summit County Sheriff's Department said officers and members of the SWAT team practice "active shooter" drills a couple times a year, but a drill has never been staged at Summit Mall or Chapel Hill Mall in Akron.