<PAGE>   1
                                  EXHIBIT 10.19

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made as of the 3rd day of August, 2000, by
and between INTERNATIONAL TOTAL SERVICES, INC., an Ohio corporation (the
"Corporation"), and MARK D. THOMPSON, an Ohio resident ("Thompson").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to employ Thompson and Thompson
desires to enter into the employ of the Corporation, all on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, Thompson has requested, and the Corporation has agreed, that
Thompson be indemnified for all liabilities arising out of or relating to his
services to the Corporation whether as a consultant, employee or officer of the
Corporation or otherwise;

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, Employee'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 Thompson and require special dedication and
efforts by Thompson, while at the same time, presenting Thompson with the
distraction and insecurity associated with the potential loss of employment.

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

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals and of the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Corporation and Thompson hereby agree as follows:

         1. Employment, Contract Period. During the period specified in this
Section 1, the Corporation shall employ Thompson, and Thompson shall serve the
Corporation, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. The
term of Thompson's employment hereunder shall commence as of the date hereof
(the "Effective Date"), and, subject to prior termination as provided in Section
8 hereof, shall continue indefinitely on a month-to-month basis. The term of
Thompson's employment hereunder shall be automatically renewed on the first of
each following month for an additional term of one month, unless the Corporation
shall have given at least ninety (90) days advance notice of its intention not
to renew the term of Thompson's employment hereunder. The



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                                  EXHIBIT 10.19

term of Thompson's employment hereunder is sometimes hereinafter referred to as
the "Contract Period".

         2.       Position; Duties; Responsibilities.

                  (a) At all times during the Contract Period, Thompson shall
         have the titles of "President" and "Chief Executive Officer" and shall
         have and perform duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the
         Board of Directors of the Corporation, which duties and
         responsibilities will be those customarily performed by a chief
         executive officer of a publicly-held company of comparable size in the
         same or related industries.

                  (b) Thompson shall devote such professional time, energy and
         talent to the business of and to the furtherance of the purposes and
         objectives of the Corporation as he deems appropriate to carry out his
         duties hereunder.

                  (c) Thompson shall report directly to the Board of Directors
         of the Corporation.
         3. Compensation. The Corporation shall pay to Thompson a base salary at
the rate specified in Paragraph (a), below, and a bonus, if any, as provided in
Paragraph (b), below.

                  (a) The rate of Thompson's base salary shall be $300,000 per
         year, payable in accordance with the Corporation's usual pay practices
         (and in any event no less frequently than monthly), as the same may be
         increased (but not decreased) from time to time (based upon the
         performance of the Corporation and Thompson) as determined by the Board
         of Directors of the Corporation in its sole discretion.

                  (b) For each calendar year or portion thereof that Thompson is
         employed under this Agreement, the Corporation may pay to Thompson a
         bonus, which will be based upon the performance of the Corporation and
         Thompson, at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors
         of the Corporation, in its sole discretion, may determine.

         4. Reimbursement for Expenses. The Corporation shall reimburse Thompson
for all reasonable, ordinary and necessary expenses incurred by him in the
performance of his duties hereunder, provided that Thompson accounts to the
Corporation therefor in a manner sufficient to substantiate deductions with
respect to those expenses by the Corporation for federal income tax purposes.

         5. Vacations. During the Contract Period, Thompson shall be entitled to
up to four (4) weeks (twenty (20) days) of vacation each year to be taken at
such time or times as Thompson may determine in such a manner as to avoid undue
disruption to the business of the Corporation.

         6. Benefits. During the Contract Period, Thompson and his family shall
be entitled to participate in such pension, retirement, medical reimbursement,
insurance and similar plans, if any, enjoyed by executive officers of the
Corporation generally. Thompson shall also be entitled to participate in any
option or other Thompson benefit compensation plan that is enjoyed by executive
officers of the Corporation generally. Thompson's participation in and benefits
under any such plan shall be on the terms and subject to the conditions
specified in the governing document of that plan.



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                                  EXHIBIT 10.19

         7. Effect of Disability While in Employ of the Corporation. If while
Thompson is employed by the Corporation, he becomes disabled, by reason of
physical or mental impairment, to such an extent that he is unable to
substantially perform his duties under this Agreement:

                  (a) the Corporation may relieve Thompson of his duties under
         this Agreement for as long as Thompson is so disabled.

                  (b) the Corporation shall pay to Thompson, net of the offset
         referred to in the last sentence of this Paragraph (b), all base salary
         to which he would have been entitled under this Agreement had he
         continued to be actively employed by the Corporation to the earliest of
         (i) the first date on which he is no longer so disabled, (ii) the date
         on which he has been so disabled for an aggregate of 120 business days
         (whether or not consecutive) during any period of twelve consecutive
         calendar months, (iii) the date of his death, or (iv) the 90th day of
         his disability. Any payment referred to in this Paragraph (b) shall be
         made at the same time as that payment would have been made if Thompson
         were not disabled. Payments under this Paragraph (b) for any period
         shall be offset, dollar for dollar, by any disability benefits (other
         than benefits payable pursuant to any disability income policy all of
         the premiums for which were paid by Thompson) for that period that are
         received by Thompson.

                  (c) Except as provided in this Section 7, the Corporation
         shall have no further obligations to Thompson for base salary for any
         period during which Thompson is so disabled to such an extent that he
         is unable to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement.

         8.       Termination.

                  (a) AT EXPIRATION OF A TERM. If the Corporation gives Thompson
         90 days' advance notice of its intention not to renew the term of
         Thompson's employment hereunder (as permitted by Section 1), Thompson's
         employment hereunder shall terminate at the close of business on the
         last day of the month next preceding the first day of the month as to
         which such 90 days' advance notice was given.

                  (b) DEATH OR DISABILITY. Thompson's employment hereunder will
         terminate immediately upon Thompson's death. The Corporation may
         terminate Thompson's employment hereunder immediately upon giving
         notice of termination if Thompson is disabled, by reason of physical or
         mental impairment, to such an extent that he has been unable to
         substantially perform his duties under this Agreement for an aggregate
         of 120 business days (whether or not consecutive) during any period of
         twelve consecutive calendar months.

                  (c) FOR CAUSE. The Board of Directors of the Corporation, by
         action of three-quarters of all of its duly elected members, may
         terminate Thompson's employment under this Agreement if it determines
         in good faith that Thompson has, by action or failure to act, given the
         Corporation Cause for that termination and delivers written notice of
         that



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                                  EXHIBIT 10.19

         termination, describing the facts constituting Cause, to Thompson. For
         purposes hereof, the term "Cause" shall mean Thompson's fraud or
         commission of a felony which results in material injury to the business
         or reputation of the Corporation, or Thompson's willful breach of this
         Agreement, which breach has not been cured within thirty (30) days
         after the Corporation gives notice thereof to Thompson.

                  (d) Without Cause. The Board of Directors of the Corporation
         may terminate Thompson's employment hereunder at any time without Cause
         upon notice to Thompson.

                  (e) By Thompson for Good Reason. Thompson may terminate his
         employment hereunder for "Good Reason" at any time. Thompson shall be
         deemed to have "Good Reason" to terminate his employment under this
         Agreement if, at any time during the Contract Period, (i) the
         Corporation, without his consent, materially increases Thompson's
         duties and responsibilities in a manner that materially impairs his
         ability to perform his existing duties or assigns to Thompson any
         additional responsibilities or duties that are both material and below
         the level of his existing duties and responsibilities; (ii) Thompson'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; (iii) there occurs a
         material breach by the Corporation of any of its obligations under this
         Agreement (other than those specified in this Section 8(e)); or (iv)
         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 co-position



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                                  EXHIBIT 10.19

         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.

                  Thompson may exercise his right to terminate under the first
         sentence of this Section 8(e), other than clause (iv) thereof, only if
         Thompson gives the Corporation written notice thereof within thirty
         (30) days after he first knew of the existence of the events
         constituting "Good Reason" and, with respect to the events specified in
         clauses (i) and (iii) of the definition of "Good Reason" above, the
         Corporation fails to eliminate or cure the events constituting "Good
         Reason" within ten (10) days after receiving that notice.

                  (f) BY THOMPSON WITHOUT GOOD REASON. Thompson may terminate
         his employment hereunder at any time upon notice from Thompson to the
         Board of Directors of the Corporation.

         The exercise by the Corporation of its rights of termination under this
Section 8 shall be the Corporation's sole remedy in the event of the occurrence
of the event as a result of which such right to terminate arises. Upon any
termination of this Agreement, Thompson shall be deemed to have resigned from
all offices and directorships held by Thompson in the Corporation.

         In the event of a termination claimed by the Corporation to be for
"Cause" pursuant to Section 8(c) or by Thompson to be for "Good Reason" pursuant
to Section 8(e), Thompson or the Corporation shall have the right to have the
justification for said termination determined by arbitration in Cleveland, Ohio.
In order to exercise such right, Thompson or the Corporation shall serve on the
other party hereto, within thirty (30) days after termination, a written request
for arbitration. The Corporation immediately shall request the appointment of an
arbitrator by the American Arbitration Association and thereafter the question
of "Cause" or "Good Reason," as the case may be, shall be determined under the
rules of the American Arbitration Association, and the decision of the
arbitrator shall be final and binding on both parties. The parties shall use all
reasonable efforts to facilitate and expedite the arbitration and shall act to
Cause the arbitration to be completed as promptly as possible. During the
pendency of the arbitration, Thompson shall continue to receive all compensation
and benefits to which he is entitled hereunder, and if at any time during the
pendency of such arbitration the Corporation fails to pay and provide all
compensation and benefits to Thompson in a timely manner, the Corporation shall
be deemed to have automatically waived whatever rights it then may have had to
terminate Thompson's employment for Cause. Expenses of the arbitration shall be
borne by the parties in the proportion determined by the arbitrator based upon
the reasonableness of the positions of the parties.

         9. Payments Upon Termination. Upon any termination of Thompson's
employment, the Corporation shall pay to Thompson all accrued, unpaid base
salary and other benefits accrued through the date of termination. In addition,
upon any termination pursuant to Sections 8(a), 8(d) or 8(e), the Corporation
shall: (a) pay to Thompson in a lump sum cash payment within ten (10) business
days following such termination an amount equal to two and three-quarters (2
3/4) times Thompson's annual base salary described in Section 3(a) of this
Agreement; and (b) provide



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                                  EXHIBIT 10.19

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

         In addition to the foregoing compensation and benefits, in the event
that Thompson's employment with the Corporation terminates, or is terminated for
any reason upon or after a Change in Control: (a) Thompson will be required to
make himself available for executive consulting to the Corporation for up to ten
(10) hours per week (at such times and places as are mutually agreed upon and
reasonably acceptable to Thompson; it being agreed and understood that
Thompson's consulting obligations shall be to assist in the orderly transition
of management in a cooperative and professional manner) during the four (4)
month period following such termination; provided, however, that the Corporation
shall (i) reimburse Thompson for all expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with such consulting duties; and (ii) within five (5) business days after
Thompson's termination, pay to Thompson's legal representative a lump sum
payment of Thompson's four (4) month consulting fee equal to Seventy-five
Thousand Dollars, to be held in escrow with one-fourth of such amount released
to Thompson at the end of each of the four months in the consulting period,
except that the unpaid portion of such payment obligation shall be suspended
upon receipt by Thompson's legal representative of an affidavit indisputably
establishing that Thompson has materially breached his consulting obligations
under this clause (a) Corporation shall, at its cost, provide Thompson with: (i)
the services of a qualified outplacement professional (as selected by Thompson,
subject to the Corporation's approval which will not be unreasonably withheld)
to assist Thompson in seeking and obtaining new employment; and (ii) the
services of an executive secretary and office space (comparable to that
currently being provided to Thompson) for a period of four (4) months after such
termination. In addition, the Corporation shall provide Thompson with the
opportunity to purchase his office furniture and/or computer equipment at a
price not exceeding the liquidation value of such items.

         10. Section 280G Limitation. If the aggregate present value of all
payments made or payable to Thompson, whether pursuant to this Agreement or
otherwise, required to be taken into account under Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(i) and
(ii) of the Code equals or exceeds three times Thompson's "base amount", as
defined in Section 280G of the Code, then the amount payable under Section 9
shall be reduced, but not below zero, so that the aggregate present value of all
such payments computed in accordance with Section 280G of the Code made or
payable to Thompson, whether pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, is equal
to (A) three times Thompson's "base amount" as defined in Section 280G of the
Code minus (B) one dollar.

         11.      Indemnification.

                  (a) INDEMNIFICATION IN NON-DERIVATIVE ACTIONS. The Corporation
         shall indemnify Thompson 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) 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



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                                  EXHIBIT 10.19

         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,
         Thompson 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 Thompson 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 Thompson 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) 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,
         Thompson 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 Thompson 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, Thompson is fairly and reasonably entitled
         to indemnity for such expenses as such court shall deem proper.

                  (c) COUNSEL. Thompson 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
         11 apply.

                  (d) ADVANCE PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. Expenses, excluding
         attorneys' fees, incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding
         referred to in this Section 11, 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 Thompson to repay
         such amount, unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is
         entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as provided



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                                  EXHIBIT 10.19

         herein. Such fees and expenses shall be paid from time to time as
         incurred upon request by Thompson.

                  (e) NONEXCLUSIVITY. The parties agree that nothing in this
         Agreement shall be construed to limit or negate any rights of Thompson
         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 law, or otherwise, which
         provides Thompson with broader protection than that provided herein.

                  (f) SURVIVAL. The provisions of this Section 11, Section 12
         and Section 13 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

         12. Liability Insurance. The Corporation will maintain officer's acts
and omissions liability insurance for Thompson 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
Thompson 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.

         13. Mutual Release. In the event Thompson's employment with the
Corporation terminates pursuant to Section 8(a), 8(d) or 8(e), the Corporation
and Thompson shall promptly enter into a mutual release in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit "A". Failure by Thompson to promptly execute such release
shall result in forfeiture of all compensation and benefits otherwise due
Thompson under Section 9. Failure by the Corporation to promptly execute such
release shall result in the Corporation owing Thompson, in addition to all other
amounts owing Thompson under this Agreement, liquidated damages for such failure
in the amount of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00).

         14. Assignment and Binding Effect. The obligations of the parties
hereto may not be assigned or transferred, except upon the merger, consolidation
or sale of the Corporation, or the sale of all or substantially all the assets
of the Corporation, with or to another person or entity. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of Thompson and the Corporation; provided,
however, that this Agreement shall also inure to the benefit of Thompson's
heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators. This Agreement
shall be binding upon the Corporation's successors and assigns.

         15. Notices. All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed effective when delivered in person, or three days after deposit
thereof in the official U.S. mail, postage prepaid, for delivery as registered
or certified mail, or its delivery by a courier service, such as, for example,
FedEx or UPS, addressed:




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                                  EXHIBIT 10.19

if to Thompson, to

                  Mark D. Thompson
                  6543 Cross Creek Trail
                  Brecksville, Ohio 44141

and if to the Corporation, to

                  International Total Services, Inc.
                  1200 Crown Centre
                  5005 Rockside Road
                  Cleveland, Ohio 44131
                  Attention, Chairman, Board of Directors
                  Telephone:  (216) 642-4522
                  Telecopier:  (216) 642-4539

In lieu of personal notice or notice by deposit in the official U.S. mail, or
delivery by courier service, a party may give notice by confirmed telegram,
telex or facsimile. Either party may change the address to which notice to that
party may be mailed by notifying the other party of the change in the manner
contemplated in this Section.

         16. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or
unenforceable shall be ineffective to the extent, but only to the extent, of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining portions
hereof and such remaining portions of this Agreement shall continue to be in
full force and effect.

         17. Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio applicable to
contracts made in and to be performed within the State of Ohio.

         18. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding between the parties hereto and, except as provided herein,
supersedes all prior understandings, whether written or oral, with respect to
the employment of Thompson by the Corporation. This Agreement is the successor
to the Agreement adopted by the Compensation Committee of the Corporation's
Board of Directors on January 13, 2000 and is effective as of August 3, 2000.

         19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.




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                                  EXHIBIT 10.19

                                    INTERNATIONAL TOTAL SERVICES, INC.
                                    By: /s/ H. Jeffrey Schwartz

                                    Title: Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors


                                    /s/ Mark D. Thompson
                                    ---------------------------------
                                    MARK D. THOMPSON