Meet our Mid-Valley: Shawntay Negrete works to protect, and reflect, the community

Tracy Loew, Salem Statesman Journal
·4 min read
Shawntay Negrete runs Turtle Island Protection Service, an Indigenous woman-owned security service. She said her diverse staff is trained to deescalate situations and handle a mental health crisis or drug overdose.
Shawntay Negrete runs Turtle Island Protection Service, an Indigenous woman-owned security service. She said her diverse staff is trained to deescalate situations and handle a mental health crisis or drug overdose.

This is part of a weekly series introducing readers to individuals who are passionate about our Mid-Valley community.

When Shawntay Negrete started her security business, she knew she wanted it to be different.

Negrete, 40, spent two decades working in security in the Salem area. As an Indigenous woman, it was “interesting,” she said.

“It’s an industry that’s overrun by men. And typically cis white men,” she said.

Often, women aren’t taken seriously, Negrete said.

Many security workers try to act like they are police, with an authoritarian mindset that doesn’t feel safe for people, she said. Some have very conservative views, or belong to militant organizations such as the Proud Boys, yet staff diverse events and spaces, she added.

And few receive training beyond state-required certification.

“So, my goal was to change that,” Negrete said.

A new kind of company

Turtle Island Protection Services opened in 2020 as the only Indigenous and woman-owned security company in Marion County.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the business got off to a slow start. But, Negrete said, that allowed her time to scale up slowly, making sure to do things right.

Now, she employs about 65 people and will soon hire more.

“We have everybody on our team, from queer folks, from every race, people that speak lots of different languages,” she said. “It’s exciting to get more minorities in places where they should be.”

Her team seems to be everywhere in the community.

They’ve staffed the World Beat Festival and the Salem Art Fair and Festival. They’ve monitored marches and protests. They’ve escorted public officials and staffed weddings and quinceañeras. They check IDs at bars and pubs, and keep shopping malls safe.

And, recently, the company began providing security for Salem Health.

Negrete also does a lot of minority-based and equality-based events, often for a reduced price or even staffing them herself for free.

“We do a lot of anti-racist work,” she said.

Growing up in the Mid-Valley

Negrete was raised in Keizer by her maternal grandmother, attending Gubser Elementary and Whiteaker Middle School.

She had her first child at 14, then attended Barbara Roberts High School. She finished a year early and graduated just a day after giving birth to her second child.

“I insisted that they release me so I could go walk my graduation,” she said.

For the next two decades, Negrete raised her kids while working in security. She started in loss prevention, then worked in bars and other types of security.

Shawntay Negrete runs Turtle Island Protection Service. “We do not only the state certification, but we also do first aid, CPR and Narcan training. We also do de-escalation, equity and inclusion training with Black Joy Oregon," she said.
Shawntay Negrete runs Turtle Island Protection Service. “We do not only the state certification, but we also do first aid, CPR and Narcan training. We also do de-escalation, equity and inclusion training with Black Joy Oregon," she said.

Starting in 2014, she also managed group homes for two different companies during the week, and worked security on the weekends.

Four years ago, she married Joseph Negrete, who had a similar background working in security and group homes, but in the Chicago area. He now works full time for Turtle Island Protection Services.

The couple have four children: Miguel, 25; Jayda, 22; Isys, 17; and Zion, 11. Isys also works for the company, doing event parking.

Communication and additional training

Negrete said she thinks the keys to her company’s rapid expansion are her emphasis on training and communication.

“Normally companies will give you the state certification, give you a shirt, and send you on your way,” she said. “We do not only the state certification, but we also do first aid, CPR, and Narcan training. We also do deescalation, equity and inclusion training with Black Joy Oregon.”

New hires learn how to deescalate situations, how to handle mental health crises and drug overdoses, and how to assess and handle situations in ways that are not threatening and are not going to escalate the situation, she said.

In all, Turtle Island employees receive about 18 hours of extra training.

Negrete also encourages employees to share personal or other issues, and makes sure to visit worksites regularly.

“Sometimes a personal issue can cloud your judgment when you’re in this position,” she said.

Negrete said she is encouraged by the feedback she is receiving. Some clients even request a woman or BIPOC guard.

“When we go into spaces, I’ve noticed that our customers that come in when we are working are thrilled. They’re excited to see people that look like them, people that speak their languages. They’re excited to see women,” she said. “People see that we’re not threatening, we’re not aggressive.”

Tracy Loew covers the environment at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips: tloew@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6779. Follow her on Twitter at @Tracy_Loew

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Shawntay Negrete runs Turtle Island Protection Services