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                                  EXHIBIT 10.21

                        RETENTION AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

         This Retention and Severance Agreement is made effective as of this 3rd
day of August, 2000 by and between International Total Services, Inc. (the
"Corporation") and Michael F. Sosh ("Sosh").

         WHEREAS, the Corporation has begun a process involving consideration of
various strategic options which, if pursued and implemented, could result in a
significant change in, or the elimination of, Sosh's employment relationship
with the Corporation; and

         WHEREAS, the Corporation recognizes that the strategic direction and
the achievement of the Corporation's strategic objectives will likely place
additional demands and burdens on Sosh and require special dedication and
efforts by Sosh, while at the same time, presenting Sosh with the distraction
and insecurity associated with the potential loss of employment.

         WHEREAS, the Corporation has determined that providing Sosh with a
retention incentive and severance protection is appropriate under the
circumstances so as to reinforce Sosh's dedication and focus in furtherance of
the Corporation's strategic objectives;

         NOW THEREFORE, the Corporation and Sosh agree as follows:

1. SEVERANCE PACKAGE. In the event the Corporation terminates Sosh's employment
other than for Cause (as defined below) or Sosh terminates employment with the
Corporation for Good Reason (as defined below), the Corporation shall provide
Sosh with the following Severance Package:

         A. A lump sum cash severance payment equal to two (2) times (i) Sosh's
annual base salary (as of the date of this Agreement) plus (ii) the annual bonus
(if any) paid during the year preceding the termination, payable within ten (10)
business days following Sosh's execution and delivery of the mutual release
referred to in Section 3 of this Agreement. In the event that the severance
payment becomes payable under this Agreement, such payment shall replace and be
in lieu of any other severance payment due to Sosh from the Corporation.

         B. The Corporation shall provide Sosh with continued health care
coverage for a period of two (2) years following Sosh's termination of
employment with the Corporation, subject to terms and conditions (including the
rate, if any, charged to Sosh) as are otherwise applicable to active Corporation
officers.

         C. The Corporation shall, at its cost, provide Sosh with the services
of a qualified outplacement professional (as selected by Sosh, subject to the
Corporation's approval which will not be unreasonably withheld) to assist Sosh
in seeking and obtaining new employment.

         D. The Corporation shall, at its cost, provide Sosh with the personal
computer equipment utilized by Sosh in providing services to the Corporation.



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                                  EXHIBIT 10.21

                  For purposes hereof, the terms "Cause" shall mean Sosh's fraud
         or commission of a felony which results in material injury to the
         business or reputation of the Corporation. Sosh shall be deemed to have
         "Good Reason" to terminate his employment under this Agreement if, at
         any time after August 3, 2000, (i) the Corporation materially increases
         Sosh's duties and responsibilities without his consent; (ii) the
         Corporation reduces Sosh's level of annual base salary (iii) Sosh's
         place of employment or the principal executive offices of the
         Corporation are moved to a location more than fifty (50) miles from
         Public Square in the City of Cleveland, Ohio; (iv) there occurs a
         material breach by the Corporation of any of its obligations under this
         Agreement; or (v) there occurs a "Change in Control" (as hereinafter
         defined) of the Corporation.

                  The term "Change in Control" means the first to occur of the
         following events (i) any person or group of commonly controlled
         persons, other than the voting trust established and maintained
         pursuant to the Voting Trust Agreement (the "Voting Trust") made and
         entered into as of November 1, 1999 by and among the Corporation,
         Robert A. Weitzel, H. Jeffrey Schwartz, John P. O'Brien and J. Jeffrey
         Eakin (the "Voting Trust Trustees"), acquire ownership or control,
         directly or indirectly, of more than twenty percent (20%) of the voting
         control or value of the equity interests in the Corporation; (ii) the
         shareholders of the Corporation approve an agreement to merge or
         consolidate with another corporation or other entity resulting (whether
         separately or in connection with a series of transactions) in a change
         in ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting control or
         value of the equity interests in the Corporation, or an agreement to
         sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the
         Corporation's assets (including, without limitation, a plan of
         liquidation or dissolution), or otherwise approve of a fundamental
         alteration in the nature of the Corporation's business; (iii) at any
         time during any period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months,
         individuals who were directors at the beginning of the 24-month period
         no longer constitute a majority of the members of the Board of
         Directors of the Corporation, unless the election, or the nomination
         for election by the Corporation's shareholders, of each director who
         was not a director at the beginning of the period is approved by at
         least a majority of the directors who (x) are in office at the time of
         the election or nomination and (y) were directors at the beginning of
         the period (the "Continuing Directors"); (iv) the election of any
         director to the Board of Directors of the Corporation who was not
         nominated by the Continuing Directors; (v) termination of the Voting
         Trust or change in the composition of the Voting Trust Trustees; or
         (vi) a change in ownership or control sufficient to trigger the
         requirements Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the
         "Code") as amended or the Treasury Regulations or Proposed Treasury
         Regulations thereunder.

2.       INDEMNIFICATION AND LIABILITY COVERAGE.

                  (a) INDEMNIFICATION IN NON-DERIVATIVE ACTIONS. The Corporation
         shall indemnify Sosh against any and all losses, claims, damages,
         liabilities, costs and expenses other than attorneys' fees (including
         any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses
         arising out of events occurring prior to the effective date of this
         Agreement) with respect to any threatened, pending or completed action,
         suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
         investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the
         Corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a consultant to or
         agent or officer of the Corporation, or is or



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                                  EXHIBIT 10.21

         was serving at the request of the Corporation as a consultant to or a
         director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
         domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, partnership, limited
         liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including
         judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and
         reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or
         proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
         believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
         Corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
         no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The
         termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order,
         settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
         equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that Sosh did
         not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to
         be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and with
         respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that he had reasonable
         cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

                  (b) INDEMNIFICATION IN DERIVATIVE ACTIONS. The Corporation
         shall indemnify Sosh against any and all losses, claims, damages,
         liabilities, costs and expenses other than attorneys' fees (including
         any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses
         arising out of events occurring prior to the effective date of this
         Agreement) with respect to any threatened, pending or completed action
         or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in
         its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a consultant to or
         agent or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the
         request of the Corporation as a consultant to or a director, trustee,
         officer, employee or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign,
         nonprofit or for profit, partnership, limited liability company, joint
         venture, trust or other enterprise, actually and reasonably incurred by
         him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit
         if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be
         in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, except that
         no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or
         matter as to which Sosh shall have been adjudged to be liable for gross
         negligence or gross misconduct in the performance of his duty to the
         Corporation unless, and only to the extent that the court in which such
         action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that,
         despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the
         circumstances of the case, Sosh is fairly and reasonably entitled to
         indemnity for such expenses as such court shall deem proper.

                  (c) COUNSEL. Sosh shall, at his own expense, have the right to
         retain counsel of his own choosing to represent him in connection with
         any matters as to which the provisions of this Section 2 apply.

                  (d) ADVANCE PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. Expenses, excluding
         attorneys' fees, incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding
         referred to in this Section 2, shall be paid by the Corporation in
         advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding
         upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of Sosh to repay such
         amount, unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to
         be indemnified by the Corporation as provided herein. Such fees and
         expenses shall be paid from time to time as incurred upon request by
         Sosh.

                  (e) NONEXCLUSIVITY. The parties agree that nothing in this
         Agreement shall be construed to limit or negate any rights of Sosh
         under the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation or Code of
         Regulations, as the same may be amended from time to time, or any other
         agreement, vote of shareholders or directors, or provision of
         applicable law, whether statutory or common



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                                  EXHIBIT 10.21

         law, or otherwise, which provides Sosh with broader protection than
         that provided herein. The Corporation will maintain officer's acts and
         omissions liability insurance for Sosh in amounts comparable to that
         maintained for other executive officers employed by the Corporation.
         Such liability insurance shall, at a minimum, cover all matters giving
         rise to an indemnification obligation by the Corporation and such
         coverage shall remain in effect until the expiration of the statute of
         limitations applicable to any claim that could give rise to such
         indemnification obligation. In the event that Sosh is subject to a
         liability in excess of the coverage limits of such insurance, the
         Corporation will be responsible for any such uninsured liabilities to
         the extent provided herein.

3. MUTUAL RELEASE. In the event Sosh's employment with the Corporation
terminates under circumstances otherwise giving rise to entitlement to the
Severance Package described in Section 1, the Corporation and Sosh shall
promptly enter into a mutual release in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A".
Failure by Sosh to promptly execute such release shall result in forfeiture of
all compensation and benefits otherwise due Sosh under this Agreement Failure by
the Corporation to promptly execute such release shall result in the Corporation
owing Sosh, in addition to all other amounts owing Sosh under this Agreement,
liquidated damages for such failure in the amount of One Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($100,000.00).

4. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding on the Corporation
and its successors and assigns.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the unsigned parties hereby execute this Agreement
effective as of August 3, 2000.

                                    INTERNATIONAL TOTAL SERVICES, INC.


                                    By:  H. Jeffrey Schwartz
                                         Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors

                                    /s/ Michael F. Sosh
                                    MICHAEL F. SOSH



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                                  EXHIBIT 10.21
                                                                     EXHIBIT "A"

                                 MUTUAL RELEASE

         This Mutual Release is made by and between International Total
Services, Inc. (the "Corporation") and Michael F. Sosh ("Sosh"), effective upon
Sosh's termination of employment with the Corporation.

         Sosh hereby fully, finally, and unconditionally releases the
Corporation, its officers, directors, employees, agents and any of their
predecessors, successors and assigns ("Released Parties") from any and all
claims, suits, demands, charges, debts, grievances, costs, attorneys fees or
injuries of every kind or nature, whether known or unknown, absolute or
contingent, suspected or unsuspected, which Sosh had or now has against the
Released Parties based on any matter or thing occurring or arising on or prior
to the effective date of this Mutual Release, including but not limited to
claims arising out of or relating to Sosh's employment with the Corporation or
the termination of Sosh's employment, ANY CLAIM FOR UNPAID COMPENSATION, BONUS
COMPENSATION OR SEVERANCE PAY, PENSION OR ANY OTHER BENEFITS, BREACH OF EXPRESS
AND/OR IMPLIED CONTRACT, WRONGFUL DISCHARGE, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, VIOLATION OF
PUBLIC POLICY, AND/OR EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION IN VIOLATION OF THE AGE
DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT, 29 U.S.C. SS. 621, ET SEQ., TITLE VII OF THE
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, 42 U.S.C. SS. 2000, ET SEQ., THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT, 42 U.S.C. SS. 12101, ET SEQ., OHIO REVISED CODE SS. 4112, ET
SEQ., AND/OR ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE OR MUNICIPAL FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE OR
DISCRIMINATION LAW, STATUTE, OR ORDINANCE. Excluded from this release, however,
are (i) rights under his written Retention and Severance Agreement with the
Corporation (dated effective as of August 3, 2000) and claims or administrative
charges which cannot be waived by law; (ii) rights to plan benefits under any
plan covered by the Sosh Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA"); (iii) rights under any other type of benefit plan not covered by
ERISA; and (iv) rights to indemnification and liability coverage associated with
Sosh's position with the Corporation.

         The Corporation hereby fully, finally, and unconditionally releases
Sosh from any and all claims, suits, demands, charges, debts, grievances, costs,
attorneys fees or injuries of every kind or nature, whether known or unknown,
absolute or contingent, suspected or unsuspected, which the Corporation had or
now has against Sosh based on any matter or thing occurring or arising on or
prior to the effective date of this Mutual Release, including but not limited to
claims arising out of or relating to Sosh's employment with the Corporation or
the termination of Sosh's employment. Excluded from this release, however, are
any of the Corporation's rights or claims against Sosh for the commission of a
felony resulting in material injury to the Corporation.

         Sosh and the Corporation hereby further acknowledge:

                  (a)      That Sosh has had the opportunity to review and
                           consider the terms of this Agreement for a period of
                           twenty-one (21) days;

                  (b)      To the extent that Sosh has taken less than
                           twenty-one (21) days to consider this Agreement, Sosh
                           acknowledges that Sosh has had sufficient time to



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                                  EXHIBIT 10.21

                           consider this Agreement and to consult with counsel,
                           and that Sosh does not desire additional time;

                  (c)      That the benefits offered by the Corporation and
                           accepted by Sosh as provided herein are in excess of
                           the benefits that Sosh would otherwise be entitled to
                           receive;

                  (d)      That each understands and had the opportunity to
                           receive counsel regarding their respective rights,
                           obligations and liabilities;

                  (e)      That nothing in this Agreement is or shall be
                           construed as an admission by the Corporation of any
                           breach of any agreement or any intentional or
                           unintentional wrongdoing of any nature;

                  (f)      That neither Sosh nor the Corporation has made any
                           representations concerning the terms or effects of
                           this Agreement other than those contained in this
                           Agreement, it being clearly understood that this
                           Agreement (together with the Employment Agreement) is
                           the sole agreement between the parties and may not be
                           modified or terminated orally; and

                  (g)      That the terms of this Agreement are not effective or
                           enforceable until seven (7) days after its execution,
                           during which period Sosh may revoke this Agreement by
                           written notice to the Corporation at 1200 Crown
                           Centre, 5005 Rockside Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44131.

         The parties hereto understand and agree this release forever bars each
of them from suing, arbitrating or otherwise asserting a claim against the other
on any released claim.

                                         INTERNATIONAL TOTAL SERVICES, INC.

                                         By:   ________________________________

                                         Date: ________________________________

                                         ______________________________________
                                         MICHAEL F. SOSH

                                         Date: ________________________________



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