Movie/TV portrayal of private security

[wvd1979]

I just wanted to blow off some steam about a trend that irks me a lot. Does it bother anybody else that on television and in the movies, security guards are basically portrayed as clowns and morons? I cannot think of any movie or show where a security guard was portrayed in a positive light.

There are three categories of security guards in the entertainment world. There is the feeble old man who sleeps while the building gets robbed. There is the young squirrel who is so obsessed with his power that he is comical. And there is the big fat slob with a flashlight in one hand and a cheeseburger in the other.

I think that no other profession has been this degraded by the entertainment industry. Even though it is fiction, it still seems insulting at times. Any thoughts?

[N. A. Corbier]

Take a look at how cops were protrayed in the 1920s to 1940s. Before police unions started demanding the training levels you see today.

[wvd1979]

Yeah, the Keystone Cops theme. The cops were always hilarious on The Three Stooges. :D

[1stWatch]

What's scarier is if you look around at the folks from warm body security companies, you see the insulting stereotypes come to life.

[Tennsix]

Take a look at how cops were protrayed in the 1920s to 1940s. Before police unions started demanding the training levels you see today.
I think TV and movies generally show uniform personnel (police and security) as ignorant buffoons. In TV/movies, uniforms ALWAYS answer to a plain-clothes officer. The plainclothes officer ALWAYS knows more about everything. The question I have is? ?If all uniforms are idiots how were they appointed/promoted to an investigative position? ?

[Mr. Security]

This thread made me think of a sitcom that I saw recently called "Yes Dear." It was based on a father who wanted to take his son to work for a "shadow program," but was embarrassed because he is a s/o. One scene shows an employee driving up to the gate at work. The s/o says: "Good Morning." The employee said: "Open the gate you moron!" The s/o opens the gate and tries to say: "You have a good one" as the employee floors it.

I felt like quitting after I saw that because that's the way we get treated so many times. :(

[Mr. Security]

I think TV and movies generally show uniform personnel (police and security) as ignorant buffoons. In TV/movies, uniforms ALWAYS answer to a plain-clothes officer. The plainclothes officer ALWAYS knows more about everything. The question I have is? ?If all uniforms are idiots how were they appointed/promoted to an investigative position? ?

You're right. I see that on Law and Order. The detectives just bark orders at the uniform officers. In real life, I'd rather deal with some uniform officers because they can be tenacious about investigating crimes that the investigators don't want to be bothered with.

[The_Mayor]

I do not find it to be insulting. Some movies actually portray security as elite such as Oceans Eleven and some others too. Some movies make fun of cops. To me its just water off a duck's back.

The scary thing is that some of those movies don't seem like comedies, but documentaries as they mirror real life. I have seen the old man who sleeps and the bumbling wannabe. My advice to other SOs is to stay clear of these companies and the people they hire.

Employers who: Set criteria for employments(college ed, or currently in college), First Aid/CPR cerification, background/psych, who prefer previous martial arts experience, and pay far above the minimum wage...tend to be the better outfits.

Warm Body: Companies who hire dont care, usually pay minimum wage or just above. Stay away.

[Lawson]

Watch National Security with Martin Lawerence... I think that most accurately portrays security. :D

[Charger]

Can't remember off the top of my head what the name of the movie was, but I remember seeing one recently where 3 young guys went into a really ritzy neighborhood (private gated community) and stole an SUV out of a garage... within a couple minutes there were multiple SECURITY patrol vehicles chasing them with lights/sirens & the whole bit... I was actually amazed that they portrayed them as being such a high-quality outfit..... Anyone else see that one who can remind me of the name? :)

[wisconsinite]

If I had a quarter for everytime Iv'e been called a Rent-a-Cop, wannabe, etc, etc, I'd be a rich man. I let it go in one ear and out the other. I don't get too pissed off about it. But, let's see at sometime in the future if those very same people get their wallet stolen or their car broken into....what will my response time be....what comes around goes around. LOL

[ACP01]

This thread made me think of a sitcom that I saw recently called "Yes Dear." It was based on a father who wanted to take his son to work for a "shadow program," but was embarrassed because he is a s/o. One scene shows an employee driving up to the gate at work. The s/o says: "Good Morning." The employee said: "Open the gate you moron!" The s/o opens the gate and tries to say: "You have a good one" as the employee floors it.

I felt like quitting after I saw that because that's the way we get treated so many times. :(


If someone did that to me I would double check about policy then if applicable the next time "Speedy" got to the gate his car would get a VERY thorough search both entering and leaving. ;)
Can't be too careful in todays terrorist and corparate espionage climate.

[OccamsRazor]

Can't remember off the top of my head what the name of the movie was, but I remember seeing one recently where 3 young guys went into a really ritzy neighborhood (private gated community) and stole an SUV out of a garage... within a couple minutes there were multiple SECURITY patrol vehicles chasing them with lights/sirens & the whole bit... I was actually amazed that they portrayed them as being such a high-quality outfit..... Anyone else see that one who can remind me of the name? :)


That was in Gone in 60 Seconds....And they topped it off by firing shots with their revolvers at a speeding vehicle that wasn't being aimed at them...Deadly force to protect property doesn't equal high quality to me. But then again, it WAS a Nicholas Cage movie, so you take what you get.

BTW, I think it was supposed to portray something like the Bel-Air Patrol?

[OccamsRazor]

If someone did that to me I would double check about policy then if applicable the next time "Speedy" got to the gate his car would get a VERY thorough search both entering and leaving. ;)
Can't be too careful in todays terrorist and corparate espionage climate.

I saw that episode too. I just wouldn't have opened the gate. No ID, no pass, no entry.

[Tennsix]

You're right. I see that on Law and Order. The detectives just bark orders at the uniform officers. In real life, I'd rather deal with some uniform officers because they can be tenacious about investigating crimes that the investigators don't want to be bothered with.
...and a lot of uniform officers used to be investigators. They went back to uniform for any number or reasons (promotion, burn out, reassignment, etc) SOme of the best investigators I know are not detectives. One high profile example is the Beltway sniper and Chief Charles Moose. IN that case, the media could not understand why the local PD did not yeild to the Feds (another TV/movie misconception). The Feds even said he was the best.

[ACP01]

[QUOTE=Tennsix]...and a lot of uniform officers used to be investigators. They went back to uniform for any number or reasons (promotion, burn out, reassignment, etc) QUOTE]

The PD Chief in city where I work started a program of rotating ALL LEOs every 2 or 3 years. Said it brings experiance to the other units.

[Lawson]

They do the same at my PD, they rotate Detectives, Narcotics, K-9, Traffic, and I think they have constant Retests for SWAT. It seems to work well to me.

[Tennsix]

[QUOTE=Tennsix]...and a lot of uniform officers used to be investigators. They went back to uniform for any number or reasons (promotion, burn out, reassignment, etc) QUOTE]

The PD Chief in city where I work started a program of rotating ALL LEOs every 2 or 3 years. Said it brings experiance to the other units.
I like that concept. I was on a death investigation today where a uniform officer did most of the forsenic work.

[Bill Warnock]

In either field, security or law enforcement, we cross-train or we are just sit there clogging up a manning document. It helps us not to make mistakes and foul up an investigation.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[ACP01]

In either field, security or law enforcement, we cross-train or we are just sit there clogging up a manning document. It helps us not to make mistakes and foul up an investigation.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

I believe that is the case in any line of work.
As FD Capt. I am also quald as HAZMAT OPS, SwiftWater OPS, High angle OPS,.... trying to remember what all else....Ihave been CO on rescue (regular and heavy), Engine and ladder...anyway you get the picture. The more and varied experience you have the better you can do your duties.
H3ll, if I had just did what my job rating was in the military I wouldn't be having the fun I am now! :D
Oh yeah, forgot toadd that Iam an EMT also.

[Tennsix]

I believe that is the case in any line of work.
As FD Capt. I am also quald as HAZMAT OPS, SwiftWater OPS, High angle OPS,.... trying to remember what all else....Ihave been CO on rescue (regular and heavy), Engine and ladder...anyway you get the picture. The more and varied experience you have the better you can do your duties.
H3ll, if I had just did what my job rating was in the military I wouldn't be having the fun I am now! :D
Oh yeah, forgot toadd that Iam an EMT also.
Dang, where were you when Three Mile Island damn near went up?

[ACP01]

Dang, where were you when Three Mile Island damn near went up?

HAZMAT Ops level teaches you to know when to get a head start on the mad dash outta the way. :D

[Mr. Security]

...and a lot of uniform officers used to be investigators. They went back to uniform for any number or reasons (promotion, burn out, reassignment, etc) SOme of the best investigators I know are not detectives. One high profile example is the Beltway sniper and Chief Charles Moose. IN that case, the media could not understand why the local PD did not yeild to the Feds (another TV/movie misconception). The Feds even said he was the best.

He was great. He also wasn't afraid to show that as a LEO, he had human feelings and emotions. The media portrayed it as a negative, but I was impressed with his demeanor.

[hemi444]

One scene shows an employee driving up to the gate at work. The s/o says: "Good Morning." The employee said: "Open the gate you moron!" The s/o opens the gate and tries to say: "You have a good one" as the employee floors it.:(

We had this problem before, until the plant operations manager got involved. Anyone speaking to an s/o in an unprofessional matter had there parking permit taken away and was supsended for one week without pay. I also remered that if someone did not stop and breached the gate, It was automatic termination and if it was a vendor, contractor they would not be allowed back on the property and pay a restitution for breaching a gate.

[wisconsinite]

Hemi...that's MY kind of Ops. Manager!!!! *Applause* Most companies and businesses view security as the "necessary evil"..there for merely insurance purposes, and their employees follow suit with disrespect and disregard. But contrary to their stereotypes, we DO have a job to do.

[hemi444]

One evening I stood post and we had a vendor come in and gotsmart and wasmaking violent threats to the s/o and myself. He got out of the car and entered the gate hous. once he said I am going to f- you up a pulled his pepper spray out, he was looking at the end of a ruger 45. I believed he got one year in jail and probation. I thought the plant manager was going to to blow up but he was fully supportive.

[N. A. Corbier]

Back in the day, I had a USAF Captain run the perimeter gate (manned by an idiot) at the USCG Air Station Clearwater. Blew it right off its hinge in her sports car. When I returned from patrol, he was sitting there, going, "She broke the gate." I interview him, find out who, then call the Officer of the Day and advise him that there's an intruder on post.

So, I met the OOD (On the last 8 of a 24 hour cycle, so he's in t-shirt, OOD ID badge, and shorts), we drive out to the Aviation Survivalman's Locker, retrieve two M9s ("Your on USCG property, you do things USCG way.") and go out to the survival training tank (The base pool), where we find her swimming in a bikini. She tried to pull rank with the Chief, who was like... "Ma'am, no." I was finally to the point, "Right. Get out of the water, or we fish you out. You are being detained, charges will be perferred to your superior." She decided to come out when she realized that "omg, we're serious." The Chief called MacDill, who sent out a wagon with SFs, and the Chief filled out a charge sheet for the SFs. Idiot woman didn't want to go swimming on her own facility. USCGAS Clearwater was restricted to USCG personnel only. She blew the gate on a 100% ID CHECK night.

I never found out what her CO did with the charge sheet, though. :) But it was amusing having to handcuff a bikini wearing USAF Captain, throw her towel around her, and handle the Chief's prisoner across the entire base.

That was what I found amusing on the base. The moment we left Florida property, our role changed dramatically, if we bothered to find out how and why it did. They put a stop to any "extra duties," though, when a new Security/Safety Officer was assigned. The Airport Police was getting miffed that they weren't being called for infractions on USCG property.

They're replaced by deputy sheriffs now, btw. :)

[Bill Warnock]

N.A., if she was on active duty, reserve officer commission, she'll be removed from active status and revert to USAF Reserve. She could have a letter put in her file that will doom her. Summary Courtmartial, charged with conduct unbecoming a gentlewoman, dismissed from service.
If she was active duty, regular commission, a word or two on her Officer Efficiency Report (OER) by her rater, will for all intense and and purpose, stop her career. If she is smart, she'll just resign.
Rank has its privileges to a point. USAF SFF (formerly Security Police) have the authority to apprehend anyone who is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) under Article 7b, if they determine she has committed an offense.
She forgot a very important thing, never, but never mess with a Navy Chief, Marine Gunny or Senior grade USAF sergeant.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[ozsecuritychic]

sorry its a little late only just noticed this thread.there is a newzealand based security company that films its guards patroling the streets it was on here for a while but they took it off.i think it was called city beat.the security company is first security.

[Arff312]

I watched employeed of teh month last night and loved the guard in that SEMI reminds me of some people i meet from other companies. I now work for a company that issues all its officers a digital video camera when we hit the streets at night .Also have car mounted units in some of our special assignment cars. We are in process of getting in akk the cars. This is great as it allows us to video tape evidence for ourselfs and clients.

[james2go30]

This thread made me think of a sitcom that I saw recently called "Yes Dear." It was based on a father who wanted to take his son to work for a "shadow program," but was embarrassed because he is a s/o. One scene shows an employee driving up to the gate at work. The s/o says: "Good Morning." The employee said: "Open the gate you moron!" The s/o opens the gate and tries to say: "You have a good one" as the employee floors it.

I felt like quitting after I saw that because that's the way we get treated so many times. :(
I feel ya. Most of the folks at the condos where I work...you can say good morning or some other pleasantry and they look at you like you are lower then dirt or...worse yet...ignore you like you are below them. I don't let it bother me and just go on my way...but I am always friendly...they can't say I didn't make an effort to be nice.

[james2go30]

Hemi...that's MY kind of Ops. Manager!!!! *Applause* Most companies and businesses view security as the "necessary evil"..there for merely insurance purposes, and their employees follow suit with disrespect and disregard. But contrary to their stereotypes, we DO have a job to do.
couldn't have said it bettere myself

[Crimkeeper1]

Also in most T.V. shows or movies the S/O is usually the target of a blunt object to the back of the head or a bullet. :mad:

[N. A. Corbier]

I feel ya. Most of the folks at the condos where I work...you can say good morning or some other pleasantry and they look at you like you are lower then dirt or...worse yet...ignore you like you are below them. I don't let it bother me and just go on my way...but I am always friendly...they can't say I didn't make an effort to be nice.

Keep doing it, all it takes is one person calling your office saying, "The guard is rude. Replace him," and you're gone.

[HospitalSO]

Also in most T.V. shows or movies the S/O is usually the target of a blunt object to the back of the head or a bullet. :mad:

Or on the original Star Treck......the security guys are always the first to get killed...

[james2go30]

Or on the original Star Treck......the security guys are always the first to get killed...
Lol...yea would suck doing security in starfleet..lol...but hey they couldn't kill off kirk, spock, or the other lager names on the show...lol so they had to pick someone...sucks it was the security guy though.

[N. A. Corbier]

It got better in TNG, once a main character was Chief of Security. :)

[ValleyOne]

LMAO, Speking of Star Trek, my friends and I have a running joke; if they had the power to transport a group of people to a planet hundreds of miles away why were the Security Teams ALWAYS RUNING throughout the ship?

[N. A. Corbier]

LMAO, Speking of Star Trek, my friends and I have a running joke; if they had the power to transport a group of people to a planet hundreds of miles away why were the Security Teams ALWAYS RUNING throughout the ship?
Please, don't make me answer that. I know the answer. :(

[HospitalSO]

I wonder if starfleet security were contract or in-house? :)

[Lawson]

I wonder if starfleet security were contract or in-house? :)
They were In-house.

[Black Caesar]

I'm having a harder time thinking of any good instances of seeing private security people at all in moveis or TV. But hey look on the bright side, atleast you private guys are getting some airplay, when was the last time you saw some Campus police in a TV show? :)


But for real, the worst instance I saw recently was on Law and Order SVU. All in one show.

This drug addict kid kidnaps his little (half) sister and trys to pick up the ransom behind an abandoned building. Before the SVU detectives can spring the trap on him and free the kid, a Security Guard steps out of the building with his flash light and yells "this is private property, you have to leave!!". The kidnapper gets spooked and leaves with the little girl, almost running over the Doctor (the Medical Examiner played by Tammy Tunie, she was acting as bait).

Later in the same episode, the drug addict teen holds up the bank where his dad is the manager (Stabler, the male SVU detective was there at the time talking to the dad, so was the doctor from the ME's office). The bank robber doesn't see the detective, and the detective finds an opening to take him out.

As Stabler trys to make his move on the teen, a bank secuirty guard pops up and fire 6 rounds from his revolver (and I mean revolver, the guy had a wheel gun lol) missing with every shot, causing the dad (bank manager) to be shot and Stabler and the Doctor to be taken hostage. Eventually the doctor shoots the kid with Stabler's back up weapon.

When I saw that show, I thought "Damn, some security guy somehwere REALLY pissed off that show's writters that day" lol.

Security gets no love.

[Lawson]

when was the last time you saw some Campus police in a TV show? :)
Dukes of Hazzard the Movie and Road Trip.

[Black Caesar]

Dukes of Hazzard the Movie and Road Trip.

Never saw either one. Kinda glad I haven't :) .

[SecTrainer]

Cops get dissed too . How many private detective stories and movies have there been - starting with Sherlock Holmes - where the brain-dead coppers are running around totally clueless while the private sleuth is the only one who can unravel the fiendishly clever plot of the criminal mastermind. Also, there are lots of stories where cops are on the take, psycho, or go bad in some other way. PI's like Phillip Marlowe and Mike Hammer always seem to have two "enemies" - the bad guy and the idiot Chief of Detectives who doesn't like the PI and is always trying to get his ticket yanked. We typically wind up with the PI trailing the bad guy and the cops trailing the PI - and usually bumbling in some stupid way while the PI gives them the slip.

Perceptions trail behind reality. On the public side, it took improved selection standards, training and educational levels of the police (which began to be federally funded in the late 1960s and 1970s with the passage of the Omnibus Crime Act) before the image of the police began to change (and this took time) for the better. The federal money funded not only POST training academies, but also the establishment of many new college/university programs.

We can hope that we are seeing this trend in higher standards and training requirements beginning to take hold on the private side, although our side suffers from the fact that we'll never see federal money (except certain critical infrastructure) and the profit motive limits training dollars in many companies to just what the licensing laws require. As we all know, most state laws (thanks to security company lobbying) do not require adequate training. We should all be vocal advocates for laws that require higher selection, training and educational standards. Security professionals need both lots more hours of "academy" type training for skills AND more college degree programs in security - at least at the Associate's level - for knowledge.

I'm also a big believer in a good visual impression made by the officer as one of the most basic gut-level (no pun intended) sources of respect - and a bad visual impression as one of the quickest ways to lose respect. Hopefully, our companies understand the value of professional-quality uniforms (and enough of them to keep them looking sharp), and we ourselves see the value of being visually sharp and fit physically, etc. Obviously, there are also many other positive reasons for the "fitness" aspect of our appearance as well.

Because there are companies that obviously do not train, do not provide sharp/sufficient uniforms, equipment, etc., my hat goes off to the many members of this forum who have made their own investments in additional uniforms, higher training, better equipment, etc. That doesn't change the fact that it's pathetic that officers should have to do this totally out of their own pockets just so that they have what they need to do their jobs professionally.

[N. A. Corbier]

They were In-house.
<geek>

Starfleet Security, in the fictional Star Trek universe, is the agency responsible for physical security and law enforcement on Starfleet vessels and property. They are also responsible for enforcing Federation law in interstellar space, where member worlds have no claim.

Contrary to some fictional or expanded universe ideas, Starfleet Security is not responsible for enforcing local laws on member worlds. On Earth, you still have regional or continental police forces like the United States of North America Police or the European Union Police.

For contrast, Starfleet Security forces are the only ones authorized to possess a hand phaser on-board ships, and their weapons are not subject to the computer lockout that most hand phasers are. In other words, while you pick up any phaser, it won't fire past light stun, a SF Security rating picks one up, he can set it to any setting and fire it. In a fictional utopia, that's some power right there.

Yes, I know way too much about quite a few things.

</geek>

[Lawson]

Never saw either one. Kinda glad I haven't :) .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d5FmH3JpVo

[Echos13]

<geek>

Starfleet Security, in the fictional Star Trek universe, is the agency responsible for physical security and law enforcement on Starfleet vessels and property. They are also responsible for enforcing Federation law in interstellar space, where member worlds have no claim.

Contrary to some fictional or expanded universe ideas, Starfleet Security is not responsible for enforcing local laws on member worlds. On Earth, you still have regional or continental police forces like the United States of North America Police or the European Union Police.

For contrast, Starfleet Security forces are the only ones authorized to possess a hand phaser on-board ships, and their weapons are not subject to the computer lockout that most hand phasers are. In other words, while you pick up any phaser, it won't fire past light stun, a SF Security rating picks one up, he can set it to any setting and fire it. In a fictional utopia, that's some power right there.

Yes, I know way too much about quite a few things.

</geek>

Make it so!

[Black Caesar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d5FmH3JpVo

Now I'm really glad I haven't seen it :) .

[james2go30]

Cops get dissed too . How many private detective stories and movies have there been - starting with Sherlock Holmes - where the brain-dead coppers are running around totally clueless while the private sleuth is the only one who can unravel the fiendishly clever plot of the criminal mastermind. Also, there are lots of stories where cops are on the take, psycho, or go bad in some other way. PI's like Phillip Marlowe and Mike Hammer always seem to have two "enemies" - the bad guy and the idiot Chief of Detectives who doesn't like the PI and is always trying to get his ticket yanked. We typically wind up with the PI trailing the bad guy and the cops trailing the PI - and usually bumbling in some stupid way while the PI gives them the slip.

Perceptions trail behind reality. On the public side, it took improved selection standards, training and educational levels of the police (which began to be federally funded in the late 1960s and 1970s with the passage of the Omnibus Crime Act) before the image of the police began to change (and this took time) for the better. The federal money funded not only POST training academies, but also the establishment of many new college/university programs.

We can hope that we are seeing this trend in higher standards and training requirements beginning to take hold on the private side, although our side suffers from the fact that we'll never see federal money (except certain critical infrastructure) and the profit motive limits training dollars in many companies to just what the licensing laws require. As we all know, most state laws (thanks to security company lobbying) do not require adequate training. We should all be vocal advocates for laws that require higher selection, training and educational standards. Security professionals need both lots more hours of "academy" type training for skills AND more college degree programs in security - at least at the Associate's level - for knowledge.

I'm also a big believer in a good visual impression made by the officer as one of the most basic gut-level (no pun intended) sources of respect - and a bad visual impression as one of the quickest ways to lose respect. Hopefully, our companies understand the value of professional-quality uniforms (and enough of them to keep them looking sharp), and we ourselves see the value of being visually sharp and fit physically, etc. Obviously, there are also many other positive reasons for the "fitness" aspect of our appearance as well.

Because there are companies that obviously do not train, do not provide sharp/sufficient uniforms, equipment, etc., my hat goes off to the many members of this forum who have made their own investments in additional uniforms, higher training, better equipment, etc. That doesn't change the fact that it's pathetic that officers should have to do this totally out of their own pockets just so that they have what they need to do their jobs professionally.

Here's a name for ya....BUFORD T. JUSTICE. smokey and the bandit movies lol.

[SecTrainer]

Here's a name for ya....BUFORD T. JUSTICE. smokey and the bandit movies lol.

Bingo - and here's another: BARNEY FIFE.

There's another one on BBC TV called "The Thin Blue Line" about a British cop shop that's run by the guy who played Mr. Bean, Black Adder, etc - Rowan Atkinson. As you can imagine, he's nuts and the cops who work for him are all goofs and screwups.

[james2go30]

Bingo - and here's another: BARNEY FIFE.

There's another one on BBC TV called "The Thin Blue Line" about a British cop shop that's run by the guy who played Mr. Bean, Black Adder, etc - Rowan Atkinson. As you can imagine, he's nuts and the cops who work for him are all goofs and screwups.
got to check that out...that dude that played mr. bean is funny as hell

[ValleyOne]

I love Johnny English that movie is just too funny. Of course the GF can't stand it.

"You are entering the most secure location in all of England Sir..."

B A N G

LMAO

[junkyarddog]

Old thread I know, but the possibly best ever portrayal of a security guard in a movie was C.J. the armed mall security supervisor in the 2004 version of dawn of the dead. In the movie he was at first a kind of jerk (just wanting to survive) but he proved to be the most bad @ss and heroic character in the movie by the end.

[Minneapolis Security]

How about the mall security officer in Commando, chatting with the girls. He gets the call regarding Arnold Schwarzenegger, and says to the girls "wanna see me kick some ass"....

That was funny.

[HotelSecurity]

I think TV and movies generally show uniform personnel (police and security) as ignorant buffoons. In TV/movies, uniforms ALWAYS answer to a plain-clothes officer. The plainclothes officer ALWAYS knows more about everything. The question I have is? ?If all uniforms are idiots how were they appointed/promoted to an investigative position? ?

I've experienced this first hand. At one time we experimented with a police type uniform. I was wearing it. The rookie I was training was wearing a blazer & pants with a name tag saying Sécurité. An incident happened. The people involved practically ignored me, preferring to deal with the rookie in plainclothes! I never wore the uniform again!

[EMTGuard]

The first episode of the new season of Criminal Minds had a spree murderer on a Arizona College campus. The prime suspect was a Campus Security Guard. The guy had failed his phych test in the police acadamy, had a footlocker full of weapons in his appartment, carried a knife in his boot on duty and had snapped after his wife got custody of his kid and he lost visitation privilages. Add to that the campus guards were not armed but carried contact stun guns, refered to as Tasers in the episode. As bad as our reputation was smeared by this episode the guys at Taser can't be too happy that their brand name was used numerous times to indicate a device which they don't even make being used in a crime. I wonder if there is a Taser forum where there are a bunch of upset posters on teh board typing in all caps "IT'S NOT A TASER". :D

[Ron Jessee]

Hollywood doesn't like cops. thats the only reason you need, so people that make half as much and have next to no training? get no better treatment. On the upside, corporate and lawyer types similiarly.

[Badge714]

There are three categories of security guards in the entertainment world. There is the feeble old man who sleeps while the building gets robbed. There is the young squirrel who is so obsessed with his power that he is comical. And there is the big fat slob with a flashlight in one hand and a cheeseburger in the other.

I've known alot of guards just like this over the years. That is why we're portrayed like this. We just have to have a sense of humor and shrug it off. If the TV and movie industries and comedians tried to avoid making fun of every group or profession who might be offended, where would they get their material?


The first episode of the new season of Criminal Minds had a spree murderer on a Arizona College campus. The prime suspect was a Campus Security Guard. The guy had failed his phych test in the police acadamy, had a footlocker full of weapons in his appartment, carried a knife in his boot on duty and had snapped after his wife got custody of his kid and he lost visitation privilages.

And we've all known this guy, too. The guard who carries a bag with enough gear to outfit a small SWAT team in his trunk to guard an empty warehouse. We had a patrol officer once who came in to work a shift wearing bdu pants and a freaking thigh rig for his .40! I wrote him up for unauthorized equipment and fired him the next day for not wearing his tie. Nuts like this scare me, and I get rid of them ASAP.

[Maelstrom]

Hollywood doesn't like cops. thats the only reason you need, so people that make half as much and have next to no training? get no better treatment.

That's not true, IMHO it's fairly balanced as Police/LEOs get to play the heros in movies too not just the buffoons, for example...

* Mad Max
* Die Hard series (Bruce Willis)
* Copland
* Cobra
* Bad Boys I & II
* Striking distance
* 16 blocks
* Point Break
* Beverly Hills Cop series
* Assault on Precinct 13
* Death Wish series (Charles Bronson)
* Dirty Harry Series (Clint Eastwood)
* Nico series (Steven Segal)
* Blue Thunder
* Speed I & II
* The Untouchables
* Tango & Cash
* The Last Boy Scout
* Lethal Weapon series
* Walker Texas Ranger
* Hot Fuzz
* Robocop series
* Face off
* Rush Hour series
* The Punisher
* A man apart
* Walking tall

[Andy Taylor]

That's not true, IMHO it's fairly balanced as Police/LEOs get to play the heros in movies too not just the buffoons, for example...

* Mad Max
* Die Hard series (Bruce Willis)
* Copland
* Cobra
* Bad Boys I & II
* Striking distance
* 16 blocks
* Point Break
* Beverly Hills Cop series
* Assault on Precinct 13
* Death Wish series (Charles Bronson)
* Dirty Harry Series (Clint Eastwood)
* Nico series (Steven Segal)
* Blue Thunder
* Speed I & II
* The Untouchables
* Tango & Cash
* The Last Boy Scout
* Lethal Weapon series
* Walker Texas Ranger
* Hot Fuzz
* Robocop series
* Face off
* Rush Hour series
* The Punisher
* A man apart
* Walking tall

In The Last Boy Scout Bruce Willis played a PI, not a cop. In Hot Fuzz, the cops are the heros but are also buffoons.

I liked Bruce Willis' portrayal of a Security Officer in Unbreakable.

[tattedupboy]

Watch National Security with Martin Lawerence... I think that most accurately portrays security. :D

Yes, particularly the part where he and the lovely Lola do some sexy role playing in the office. All security officers get so lucky in real life:D .

[Lawson]

Yes, particularly the part where he and the lovely Lola do some sexy role playing in the office. All security officers get so lucky in real life:D .

Yeah... I remember that part, sign me up for that post! :D

[Maelstrom]

In The Last Boy Scout Bruce Willis played a PI, not a cop. In Hot Fuzz, the cops are the heros but are also buffoons.

I liked Bruce Willis' portrayal of a Security Officer in Unbreakable.

The main character in Hot Fuzz was merely 'super efficient' (hence his transfer), he was however surrounded by a world of buffoons! I don't remember Unbreakable's storyline too well... but I like Bruce Willis action flicks so I may go watch/hire it again, IIRC wasn't Campus security the hero in Urban Legend too?

Originally I was going to break the list down into Police, Security, [H]ardcore action & Dark comedy... but hey that was way too much work! LMAO :D

I liked the fair approach used to depict John Cena's first day as a Building SO in "The Marine", hopefully after watching the movie people may now appreciate how much verbal diarrhoea, abuse & disrespect we can and do encounter on a daily basis! FWIW that butthead 's name was all over that window ROTFLMAO :D

[alamedaad]

What about Dawn of the Dead? You can't have a movie list about s/o's and not include that! I guess that goes under the hero and buffoon category.

[Maelstrom]

What about Dawn of the Dead? You can't have a movie list about s/o's and not include that! I guess that goes under the hero and buffoon category.

The list wasn't inclusive of that movie as it was already mentioned earlier in this thread (along with a handful of others) :cool:

[EMTGuard]

On last nights episode of LIFE the detectives were investigating a murder. Walking through the house they tell a uniformed officer who is interviewing the private security officer who responded to the initial alarm to "check his weapon". The guard, while removing the gun from his hoster replies "It's not real. The company doesn't want me shooting anyone, not that I'd ever get the chance". The officer inspects the toy gun anyway.

[davis002]

This won't help the image of private security...

This movie releases next month.

http://www.p2themovie.com/ (http://http://www.p2themovie.com/)

[EMTGuard]

This won't help the image of private security...

This movie releases next month.

http://www.p2themovie.com/ (http://http://www.p2themovie.com/) :)
That just reminds me why I can't be a homicidal stalker nutcase. It's too much work. All that trouble kidnaping and chaining up and chasing a pretty office worker. Man, I'm too lazy for that.

[kingsman]

You get pretty office workers? DAmn. Some guys have all the luck.

[bigdog]

I think comments like this do as much damage to the image of a security officers as much as the movies do.

TPD Sgt. Eric Diaz said the line between police and security guards often blurs. Guards are first responders; police detain and arrest.
"Who usually blurs the line," he said, "is that security person - they want to go that one step further, but the laws don't allow them."

[Black Caesar]

I think comments like this do as much damage to the image of a security officers as much as the movies do.

TPD Sgt. Eric Diaz said the line between police and security guards often blurs. Guards are first responders; police detain and arrest.
"Who usually blurs the line," he said, "is that security person - they want to go that one step further, but the laws don't allow them."

The thing is, sometimes it's true. I had a buddy (I'll call him "T" here) I worked with at the same time I worked with "cigar" (the guy I talked about in the thread about whacked out co-workers).

T was a GREAT GUY, smart, well meaning. He'd been in the police academy for a few weeks when his background came back with a hit on it (he plead guilty to "theft under $20" a week after his 18th birthday, a crime of moral turpitude that got him punted from the academy, but didn't prevent him from getting a Guard Card).

A few times he crossed the line, like one time he chased a guy off property. The guy was only wanted for questioning by Dallas PD in regards to a domestic dispute (turns out the guy was the victim,which in T's defense the female Dallas Officer wasn't very clear on, later the guy said he ran because he had warrants for tickets). No Felony, no breach of the peace that would have allowed us as S/Os to arrest the guy, and T had no business chasing him at all. He got our butts in trouble a couple times pulling stuff like that.

After several incidents , I asked him why in hell he kept doing stuff like that, even though he had to know he had no authority to do so. His (priceless) reply was "I just hate crime so much". I told him that I hate it too, so much so that Im not going to COMMIT any crimes (like false imprisonment) trying to fight it.

He told me that I didn't understand because "you have a badge in your pocket" (talking about my College PD badge, I was part time at the college back then). So I told him that yea, I got one, and I'm trying to keep it.

T (god bless him), like many S/Os I've worked with before and since mean very very well and are otherwise wonderful S/Os, but they cross lines that they shouldn't trying to feed a need they shouldn't be feeding, and they do it KNOWING they don't have any kind of authority, or worse, Immunity. And when they do every other private security worker takes a reputation hit because of it.