Whatcom Security (Washington)?

[SecTrainer]

Wondered if anyone knows anything about this company (a division of Parker Corporate Services in Bellingham, WA)?...I believe the company also runs a janitorial service - hopefully not using the same people!

[N. A. Corbier]

Its common for some "services companies" to run combine security and janitorial services. After all, the guard isn't actually "doing anything" while patrolling, so he can perform janitorial duties as well.

One of the two local security companies also has a janitorial service. Considering their security personnel are completely unarmed (and have no communication), I'd say they're probably the janitorial staff, too.

[TheRegulator]

I am the Director of Quality Control / Operations for Whatcom Security Agency. We are a division of Parker Corporate Services, which owns several other companies. My Officers DO NOT perform janitorial duties, that is what Action Cleaning Services and our other cleaning agencies are responsible for doing.

My Security Officers are responsible for safeguarding life and property, observing, detecting, deterring and reporting. A check of Washington State's web site will show that we actually have several armed Security Officers, in addition to my training and equipping our Officers with a comprehensive defensive tactics program, a solid use of force policy, OC, batons, handcuffs and Tasers (I'm a certified instructor and ILEETA member), and we utilize top notch trainers from other organizations to round out our training and certification programs..

On the last note, my Officers are all equipped with top of the line, tri-network / redundant walkie-talkies and cellular telephones with GPS. Our patrolmen have GPS enabled lap tops with two ways in the car and on their persons... We leave nothing to chance, and don't play games with our Officers lives, or our clients properties.

Just figured I'd throw this out there, since you were completely off base and incorrect about the professional security organization that I proudly manage. Take care, and best wishes in your future endeavors. TRM


Its common for some "services companies" to run combine security and janitorial services. After all, the guard isn't actually "doing anything" while patrolling, so he can perform janitorial duties as well.

One of the two local security companies also has a janitorial service. Considering their security personnel are completely unarmed (and have no communication), I'd say they're probably the janitorial staff, too.

[Mr. Security]

Stick around and become a contributing member to our forum. Welcome. :)

[TheRegulator]

I've been on the site for a while now and I'm really liking what I'm seeing. This is a great group of pro's here, and I'd love to do just that... Thanks for the invite! TRM


Stick around and become a contributing member to our forum. Welcome. :)

[N. A. Corbier]

Just figured I'd throw this out there, since you were completely off base and incorrect about the professional security organization that I proudly manage. Take care, and best wishes in your future endeavors. TRM

Actually, I'm not "off base and incorrect" with my statement. When I name the company you manage, then you would know this because I will preface my statement with "Whatcom" or "that company you were referring to, SecTrainer."

There are many "services companies" that combine security and janitorial services. There are some here in Wisconsin, there are many in Florida, and I'm sure there are some in your state, as well.

[Chucky]

An International company that I worked for had us reading and logging the water meters every shift. I guess they wanted to know how many times we flushed the hoppers at night.
And the thing I hated the most was they had us reporting any slacking by their own in house cleaners. I'm sure that they could afford to have one of their own people do that job as IMO it has nothing to do with security or safety issues.

[TheRegulator]

[QUOTE=N. A. Corbier] Originally Posted by N. A. Corbier
Considering their security personnel are completely unarmed (and have no communication), I'd say they're probably the janitorial staff, too.QUOTE]

I was simply correcting your assumptions and out lining the truth about my organization. I'll direct the rest of my response to your private message in box. Take care, be safe, and have a great rest of the week folks... TRM

[Investigation]

If you want a good Security job, I would look at some in-house agencies here in Washington State. Chances are that you'll be compensated, and treated, better.

[Professional Rent-a-Cop]

Its common for some "services companies" to run combine security and janitorial services. After all, the guard isn't actually "doing anything" while patrolling, so he can perform janitorial duties as well.

One of the two local security companies also has a janitorial service. Considering their security personnel are completely unarmed (and have no communication), I'd say they're probably the janitorial staff, too.


Don't let my inhouse managers hear this. At my inhouse job, we do mostly mopping and cleaning and less of monitoring cameras and observe/report, occassional enforce. The mop is the most used tool ("weapon of choice"?) at my inhouse property, chosen more often than OC, baton, firearm, or cuffs. Heh.

[Chucky]

IMO I would have to renegotiate the contract as in my state janitorial pays more than unarmed security. This is part of the reason people belittle security when they see them cleaning the floors.

[Eric]

I have seen job ad's up here as well for security involving cleaning, mostly at fitness clubs, where you take care of reception overnight as well.

I guess this gets around the license issue :confused: :(

[SecTrainer]

Of course, there are situations where I'd expect an officer to grab a mob, a broom or a hose, and that's if there's a safety issue that has to be addressed promptly and the officer is in the best position to do so.

On the other hand, if the spill in question were to involve any sort of potentially hazardous material and the officer isn't specifically trained to deal with it, I'd expect him to be doing other things such as notifying the right people, clearing the area, preventing others from entering the area, etc, assuming the situation is not so hazardous that he himself is required to evacuate based on the scene safety size-up. (Victims don't make good rescuers!)

[FDG06]

Sorry, but be it a guard, officer, agent.. whatever, if I am in a designated security function as my #1 job discription, I am NOT cleaning, mopping, taking dictation, servicing candy or soda vending machines, washing the bosses car or any other duty which might compromise my primary job function or distract me from doing my primary job function, unless it is minor end of shift house keeping / cleaning, expected where ever one is employed.

This would be especially true if this 2nd "maid / janitor servicde" job function was not made known to me apon or previous to my hire for job function #1.
I probably would NOT work for a company who ask that of me either...in MHO they are buttering thier bread on both sides and have little concern for doing either job function to the best of thier ability or to the betterment of the client..if they need a meter reader, maid, janitor, then hire a real meter reader, maid or janitor to do that task..if you need a security guard, watch man, etc, then hire that & ask them to do just that..anything else is less then professional, actually its chicken $#!%...and people wonder why there is a need for unions!
Yoda

[TheRegulator]

That's dead on... I wouldn't, and don't ask my Officers to do anything that's not directly related to the care, welfare, safety and security of the facility and persons they are responsible for. Like SecTrainer said, there's a time and place, but as a general rule, a S/O's primary function is just that... Security Officer. TRM


Sorry, but be it a guard, officer, agent.. whatever, if I am in a designated security function as my #1 job discription, I am NOT cleaning, mopping, taking dictation, servicing candy or soda vending machines, washing the bosses car or any other duty which might compromise my primary job function or distract me from doing my primary job function, unless it is minor end of shift house keeping / cleaning, expected where ever one is employed.

This would be especially true if this 2nd "maid / janitor servicde" job function was not made known to me apon or previous to my hire for job function #1.
I probably would NOT work for a company who ask that of me either...in MHO they are buttering thier bread on both sides and have little concern for doing either job function to the best of thier ability or to the betterment of the client..if they need a meter reader, maid, janitor, then hire a real meter reader, maid or janitor to do that task..if you need a security guard, watch man, etc, then hire that & ask them to do just that..anything else is less then professional, actually its chicken $#!%...and people wonder why there is a need for unions!
Yoda

[TheRegulator]

I've worked in house for two companies, Nintendo of America and Harris Ford (Bill Pierre owned). In both cases, I performed more non-security related duties than I did my purported basic job function. Yes there are security departments "in house" where the focus is more security centric, but you must choose those jobs carefully... Security as a whole is perceived as an expense and a drag on overhead by most organizations, which is why clients try to throw other duties on the Officers. In some cases this doesn't detract from the overall job function, but usually it's a matter of sacrificing security to get the other duties done, and having the title of "security" more for insurance purposes than otherwise... TRM


If you want a good Security job, I would look at some in-house agencies here in Washington State. Chances are that you'll be compensated, and treated, better.

[SecTrainer]

That's dead on... I wouldn't, and don't ask my Officers to do anything that's not directly related to the care, welfare, safety and security of the facility and persons they are responsible for. Like SecTrainer said, there's a time and place, but as a general rule, a S/O's primary function is just that... Security Officer. TRM

The "time and place" that I suggested is a situation in which there is a protective/safety issue involved, and I probably should have said that I meant ONLY such situations.

I also should have said that the security officer must be alert to the possibility that someone might deliberately create a "hazard" situation in order to distract or divert the officer from his security duties. Officers assigned to access control posts, for instance, should probably never leave those posts unattended, or be expected to do anything that would permit someone to slip past them or otherwise defeat the access control system.

[N. A. Corbier]

That's a good point. If you're there to guard a door, you do not need to leave the door to go mop a floor in the next hallway. The client must understand, "no one is guarding that door while my employee is mopping your floor." And, if they go, "That's ok," ask yourself "why do they want that door guarded in the first place, if its ok to stop at random times?"

Base your continued contractual relationship on the sanity of the reply you get. Do not let your client take your entire operation down.

[cmndr]

That's dead on... I wouldn't, and don't ask my Officers to do anything that's not directly related to the care, welfare, safety and security of the facility and persons they are responsible for.

Sounds like you are a CPI Instructor too.

[TheRegulator]

The phrase stuck with me, what can I say? TRM

[TheRegulator]

Since this IS a jobs thread after all, we are hiring! See below for info:

Come grow with the best in Security - Patrol, On Site & Managers!

Whatcom Security Agency is recruiting Security Officers, Patrol Officers and Managers for a variety of positions:

Assigned to a fixed site, vehicle patrol, Quality Control or a Regional Rapid Response Team for expedited deployment.

Here are the details:

$9 to 11 dollars to start, or 11-$13 per hour MINIMUM for our Patrol & RRRT members - $18 per hour and up if you have an armed license and are assigned to an armed site! Work part time, full time, however much YOU want!

Quality Control management positions are currently open also! Pay DOE / DOQ.

For Regional Rapid Response Team members:

One "no" per pay period allowed
Respond to last minute calls for service, critical incidents or emergency situations
Must have reliable transportation available 24 hours per day (at a moments notice), a valid drivers license, a working home phone and/or a cell phone
These openings will require you to be available for short notice, on call work and be prepared to travel to the required job sites.
You will need to be available 24 hours a day, for ALL shifts, this includes graveyard shifts at short notice.

We provide free or low cost training in:
Crisis Management
ASP Baton
OC (pepper spray)
Handcuffing
Taser
Firearm
Report writing
Patrol Techniques
Legal aspects of the use of force
Physical Security
Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security

Experienced officers are needed IMMEDIATELY!

We have multiple openings for new and existing contracts in Snohomish and King County: Stanwood, Arlington, Marysville, Everett, Snohomish, Woodinville, Lynnwood, Seattle, Burien, Renton and more.

We are an industry leader in providing quality, cost effective short and long term contract security personnel, private investigators, armed guards, ATM and alarm response and executive protection agents for ANY client need.

We have immediate FULL OR PART TIME WORK available NOW!

WSA provides the finest in pro-active, community oriented and custom tailored physical security and patrol services in Western Washington.

Our Officers are highly trained, with a comprehensive, documented Basic Security Officer, Field Training Officer, Basics of Management, and other innovative programs. We also offer many low cost defensive tactics courses (OC spray, batons, crisis intervention, tactical handcuffing and Taser) by a certified instructor.

You will work with an excellent management staff that cares about doing the job right and respecting its employees. Our Quality Control team consists of over 110 years of combined security, law enforcement and military experience.

We've worked for the rest, now we run the best! Tired of being treated like a number by our big national competitors? Tired of local companies that don't treat their clients or employees with respect? If you're a man or woman who wants to grow professionally in the security field, then please apply at WSA today.

Here's what you need to know:

*We're looking for a resume that shows steady work history, mature ability to work with people, have a keen eye for details and wants steady employment.

*You must be physically fit, able to stand and walk throughout your shift.

*You must have a clean criminal history record, and have the ability to work nights, weekends and holidays and the ability to become a licensed Washington State Security Officer.

*We're looking for people who pay attention to detail, can write short reports and can communicate and relate well with diverse groups of client contacts and customers of our client.

*You must have reliable transportation and a working phone so we can contact you.

* All full time positions include medical benefits eligibility after 90 days, direct deposit, vacation pay (after one year of service, credit union membership, and company matched 401(k)).

*Wages (higher rates for on call status) depend on experience and shift. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Please apply at our:

South Seattle Office (Inside the Executive Support Center)
14900 Interurban Ave South, Suite 291
Tukwila, WA 98168

or our Everett Regional Office

Whatcom Security Agency
1902 120th Pl SE Suite 203
Everett, WA 98208

Call us Toll Free for directions of more information:
1-866-918-9300 and ask for Lieutenant David Langham

For more information about WSA, or to apply on line, please visit http://www.whatcomsecurity.com/

Reply to: dlangham@whatcomsecurity.com
Date: 2008-03-23, 11:05AM PDT

Location: Snohomish & King County
Compensation: $9 to 18 per hour DOE / DOQ
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.

[Lawson]

Ive seen that ad a few times... what exactly is RRRT? And what do they mean one "no" per pay period? :confused:

[Charger]

TBH that 18+ per hour for the armed work sounds awfully good compared to wages in my area... (Not to mention my own wage.. :( ) But there's no way in the-other-word-for-heck that I'd be willing to relocate to the Seattle area... Been there enough times to know that I couldn't stand living there. No offense of course. :D

[Longbow11]

Ive seen that ad a few times... what exactly is RRRT? And what do they mean one "no" per pay period? :confused:

BHR Lawson, RRRT means Regional Rapid Response Team. As for the one "no" per pay period, I have not a clue. Could be a miss print, or a code like the da vinci code.

[darkenna]

BHR Lawson, RRRT means Regional Rapid Response Team. As for the one "no" per pay period, I have not a clue. Could be a miss print, or a code like the da vinci code.

I'd hazard a guess that, since it's an "on-call" position, once very pay period (be it one week, 2 weeks, 1/2 month, whatever), they can call you to roll out and you have the option of saying "no, I can't make it" for any reason, or no reason, and that this is acceptable by Company standards.


I also imagine that there are legitimate emergency reasons to say no that would be acceptable as well, such as, "I can't... I just got to the hospital where my 4-yr old is being stitched up," "Sorry, boss, but I just got in a car accident and just finished giving my statement to the PO, he's interviewing the other guy now," or "No can do... know that blonde receptionist from Site 41? Yeah, the one with the piercings? Well, they do go all the way down... yup, see you tomorrow. Thanks boss!" :eek:

[TheRegulator]

RRRT stands for Regional Rapid Response Team. As for the 'one "no" per pay period', that means that if you are a member of the RRRT, you are allowed to tell the Scheduler "no" when you are called for service one time during each pay period for exigent circumstances or other pre-determined reasons that are considered acceptable under policy. Otherwise, the positions pay 1-3 dollars more than entry level in order to insure that the Officer is truly 'on call 24 / 7 / 365, but compensates for the real life variables that we all have in our availability. There is no shortage of work right now, so we are still hiring for these RRRT positions throughout my region (Snohomish, King and Pierce County), to include those with armed licenses. Thanks, and I apologize for the delay in answering your question directly. TRM


Ive seen that ad a few times... what exactly is RRRT? And what do they mean one "no" per pay period? :confused:

[antiwhatcomsecurity]

I am the Director of Quality Control / Operations for Whatcom Security Agency. We are a division of Parker Corporate Services, which owns several other companies. My Officers DO NOT perform janitorial duties, that is what Action Cleaning Services and our other cleaning agencies are responsible for doing.

My Security Officers are responsible for safeguarding life and property, observing, detecting, deterring and reporting. A check of Washington State's web site will show that we actually have several armed Security Officers, in addition to my training and equipping our Officers with a comprehensive defensive tactics program, a solid use of force policy, OC, batons, handcuffs and Tasers (I'm a certified instructor and ILEETA member), and we utilize top notch trainers from other organizations to round out our training and certification programs..

On the last note, my Officers are all equipped with top of the line, tri-network / redundant walkie-talkies and cellular telephones with GPS. Our patrolmen have GPS enabled lap tops with two ways in the car and on their persons... We leave nothing to chance, and don't play games with our Officers lives, or our clients properties.

Just figured I'd throw this out there, since you were completely off base and incorrect about the professional security organization that I proudly manage. Take care, and best wishes in your future endeavors. TRM

HAHAHAHA, that is such a huge lie, i worked for whatcom security and trust me, we were not issued any of this stuff. I was given 1 shirt, 1 pair of pants, a badge and collar devices and we had to use personal cell phone if anything happended. The only thing worse than how ill equipped we were was how ill trained we were, we had 8 hours of training(of which an hour and a half was used for lunch) were we watched a video and signed some paperwork. It is a joke of a security company and I would not recommend it to anybody

[N. A. Corbier]

HAHAHAHA, that is such a huge lie, i worked for whatcom security and trust me, we were not issued any of this stuff. I was given 1 shirt, 1 pair of pants, a badge and collar devices and we had to use personal cell phone if anything happended. The only thing worse than how ill equipped we were was how ill trained we were, we had 8 hours of training(of which an hour and a half was used for lunch) were we watched a video and signed some paperwork. It is a joke of a security company and I would not recommend it to anybody

Considering your IP comes back to Oklahoma... What Whatcom did you work for? One branch can be run totally different than another.

[TheRegulator]

Thanks Corbier. To an extent, what you said is absolutely correct, in that the three branches that we maintain, Bellingham, Wenatchee and Everett do run some what differently. I am not sure who this person is, considering our company has about 500 regular service employees, and there is coming and going from time to time, but needless to say, it's usually the people who we have fired for misconduct who end up posting messages such as this, or any of a number of other insidious activities. As the now Regional Director and Branch Manager for the southern division of my company, I stand by my original post as the complete truth. Anyone who knows the command staff of our local police agencies, or any of a number of various civic, municipal or business leaders will testify to this as well. It is unfortunate that this person appears to have a bad experience. TRM


Considering your IP comes back to Oklahoma... What Whatcom did you work for? One branch can be run totally different than another.

[officerchick]

TRM, is your company specificaly in the North? Any branches in Texas? You've probably already said and I just missed it.

[Lawson]

TRM, is your company specificaly in the North? Any branches in Texas? You've probably already said and I just missed it.

Whatcom is the name of a County in Washington State, I doubt they have officers in other states.

[TheRegulator]

Exactly. The company HQ is in Whatcom County (Bellingham), and we have regional offices in Everett, WA (Snohomish County), Seattle (King County) and Wenatchee (Douglas County). We cover ONLY the State of Washington at this time. :)


Whatcom is the name of a County in Washington State, I doubt they have officers in other states.

[Charlie Fox]

HAHAHAHA, that is such a huge lie, i worked for whatcom security and trust me, we were not issued any of this stuff. I was given 1 shirt, 1 pair of pants, a badge and collar devices and we had to use personal cell phone if anything happended. The only thing worse than how ill equipped we were was how ill trained we were, we had 8 hours of training(of which an hour and a half was used for lunch) were we watched a video and signed some paperwork. It is a joke of a security company and I would not recommend it to anybody

As Tony's former Patrol Manager I can attest to what he says as the truth. There is a definite difference between the North and South Divisions. Normally the company does not issue the equipment but will let you carry it after the training. Tony does provide training for OC, baton and DT, but so far that has been isolated to the south end (and isn't being supported by upper management any longer from what I understand). There is a core of very dedicated and reliable people that work in the south end, but there is a LOT of turn over. Hopefully the new Ops Manager can stop the bleeding:)

[officerchick]

Whatcom is the name of a County in Washington State, I doubt they have officers in other states.

Ah, well then, there you go. I thought it was some sort of play on dotcom. Shows what I know, huh?:o

[SecTrainer]

Ah, well then, there you go. I thought it was some sort of play on dotcom. Shows what I know, huh?:o

Yeah, OC - what the heck's wrong with you anyway, not knowing the names of all the counties in the country?! Get with it! :D