LP Training Center

[AISG]

We (my company) opened a Security Academy in NYC, which is a subsidiary of a security integration company. We started with security guard training, the mandatory NYS 8 hour and 16 hour OJT. Recently we started to get more involved with retail security installations and made contacts in the LP world.
I need some feedback from the guys/girls in the field - what you think about a 40 hour LP curriculum with in class LPM as a trainer and a hands-on CCTV training (type of systems, manufacturers of CCTV products, matrix switches, PTZ cameras and digital video recorders, including evidence creation).
We have a lot of experience in the installation and service of retail security systems. We did install for a couple of large companies, so we have a very good LP connection (job placement) network for our students.

Levy


www.aisg-online.com
www.vip-securityguards.com

[Nauticus]

I think it would be a good idea, as long as you have experienced, innovative, and skillful loss prevention officers as your instructors. Security guards can't teach loss prevention techniques without proper experience.

[N. A. Corbier]

As a former FTO, I have to agree. I can teach book stuff all day, if I first learn the book, but I'm not going to be teaching from experience.

I have some LP experience, simply as a function of being knowledgable when working at Wal-Mart and their old policy of "grab any useful idiot to help the AM." But, I realize that my LP experience is more tactical orientated. Stopping the offender, securing the evidence for prosecution, transporting the offender to the LP office, and filling out the police paperwork.

It was up to the AM to establish the steps, etc. While, under statute, they were the one "detaining" him, it was up to me to effect the physical stop and deal with the offender's resistance.

So, that'd be the limit of the experience I could teach in LP. Theory? Yeah, all day long. But you can hire any idiot to teach theory.

[Curtis Baillie]

We (my company) opened a Security Academy in NYC, which is a subsidiary of a security integration company. We started with security guard training, the mandatory NYS 8 hour and 16 hour OJT. Recently we started to get more involved with retail security installations and made contacts in the LP world.
I need some feedback from the guys/girls in the field - what you think about a 40 hour LP curriculum with in class LPM as a trainer and a hands-on CCTV training (type of systems, manufacturers of CCTV products, matrix switches, PTZ cameras and digital video recorders, including evidence creation).
We have a lot of experience in the installation and service of retail security systems. We did install for a couple of large companies, so we have a very good LP connection (job placement) network for our students.

Levy


www.aisg-online.com
www.vip-securityguards.comI'm all for a retailer providing quality, consistent, and continuous training to its loss prevention staff. What I'm very cautious about is a security company providing the training, for all the reasons N.A. Corbier stated and then some.

What is the background of the trainers and what training did they receive?
Do they have any record of 'bad stops' - negligent detentions, negligent training? Is 40 hours really long enough? Is 'AISG' providing any certification?

Here's what I foresee? The Loss Prevention Agent is on the witness stand (civil court) and being questioned by the plaintiff's attorney. Agent X, please describe what training you received to qualify you to detect and apprehend shoplifters? I'm a graduate of AISG Security's 40 hour retail security class.

Suddenly all eyes and fingers are pointed at AISG. Is your company prepared for this? My advice? Buy all of the liability insurance you can find.

Much more comes to mind, but I'll stop now.

[AISG]

Thanks for all the feedback! This is what I need before make decisions....
We are hiring an LPM who was the VP of LP for 15 years at a large retailer.
We also have a detective with 20 years law enforcement and a lawyer on staff to cover all the angles. 40 hours - we are trying to give the students the basic understanding of what is a LP officer, duties, laws, people skills, and so far. After the 40 hours of in house training, we will help them find a job as an LP. From that point is up to them to apply what they learned and learn more from the specific retailer.
As far as the certificate goes - as you guys mentioned before - it's just a paper unless recognized in the industry. I will dig into where and what would add value to that "piece of paper". Any suggestions are welcomed!

[N. A. Corbier]

Thought of another one...

This has nothing to do with the laws of the state of New York, have your corporate counsel figure out if this applies:

1. You're going to help the find a job, ensure that you're not a "staffing agency" or "employment agency" under NYS law. If you are, its a permit most likely, that's all. Nothing to be "ZOMG WE CAN'T DO THIS," you just have to recognize what industry you're school is getting into and plan accordingly.

2. I know in Florida that licensed guard schools can't say one employer over another, and guard firms can't recommend one school over the other. This may or may not apply in NYS.

[AISG]

Thanks, I'll do that. But basically we would pass the name and training scores to the LP head hunters we "work" with.

[Pat Murphy]

Just to add my two cents....

I testify as an expert witness in retail loss prevention cases. I work for the attorneys who are suing/defending the retailer. As much experience as these companies have (Fortune 10 retailers) in LP, training and supervision still become the focus of the cases.

While negligence cases rarely go to court, the cost to get to settlement is very high. The cost of the labor of producing documents, training materials, videos, and attorneys is staggering. Oh...don't forget the experts on both sides.

If there was one suggestion I would make, it would be to ensure you test at the end of any training and establish a passing grade from which you do not waiver. At the end of the day, however, the real question is whether your graduates have added value to a potential retailer. If your program turns out garden variety applicants, your training will not be considered credible. It's not about how many you can turn out (like guards) it about the quality of those you do.

Regards
Pat

[Bill Warnock]

Levy, I am somewhat disappointed you didn't get a chop from your legal counsel before you made your first post. Were I you, I'd read very carefully what Curtis and Nathan have written. To do otherwise, you will get your tender parts pinched.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[SecTrainer]

Theory? Yeah, all day long. But you can hire any idiot to teach theory.

Training needs to cover both the theoretical aspects and practical methods of LP. And, I would have to respectfully disagree that "you can get any idiot to teach theory", Nate. In fact, most of the "idiots" I've seen in LP (and other areas of security) have been the people who were once taught "the way to do something" but they don't have a clue why, which means they can't adapt when changing conditions (and conditions are always changing) make their old method obsolete.

[SecTrainer]

We (my company) opened a Security Academy in NYC, which is a subsidiary of a security integration company. We started with security guard training, the mandatory NYS 8 hour and 16 hour OJT. Recently we started to get more involved with retail security installations and made contacts in the LP world.
I need some feedback from the guys/girls in the field - what you think about a 40 hour LP curriculum with in class LPM as a trainer and a hands-on CCTV training (type of systems, manufacturers of CCTV products, matrix switches, PTZ cameras and digital video recorders, including evidence creation).

Levy

Perhaps you can take some guidance for your training model from the Loss Prevention Institute, which has a new certification program.

[AISG]

Where can I get info on the Loss Prevention Institute? I'm working with some RILA members on my curriculum.

[Curtis Baillie]

Where can I get info on the Loss Prevention Institute? I'm working with some RILA members on my curriculum.I'm not familiar with the 'Loss Prevention Institute' - but there is the "Loss Prevention Foundation" (http://www.losspreventionfoundation.org/) who sells their certification programs. The basic will cost you $500 and, from what what I'm told, contains only the very basic information/instruction; nothing you couldn't learn within the first 6 months of employment in a retailer's LP program.

I am not supporting the Loss Prevention Foundation, and I would be very careful - their material is copyrighted.

[SecTrainer]

Apologies for misquoting the name - Loss Prevention Foundation.

I was certainly not advocating copyright violation. As I suggested, you could look at their training model, however, and there's absolutely no violation of copyright involved in doing that as long as you don't swipe their material.

A training model involves:
1. Topics covered.
2. Order of presentation.
3. Delivery method(s) and media used (classroom, distance learning, text, multimedia, etc.).
4. Assessment criteria.
5. Assessment methods.

[Curtis Baillie]

Apologies for misquoting the name - Loss Prevention Foundation.

I was certainly not advocating copyright violation. As I suggested, you could look at their training model, however, and there's absolutely no violation of copyright involved in doing that as long as you don't swipe their material.

A training model involves:
1. Topics covered.
2. Order of presentation.
3. Delivery method(s) and media used (classroom, distance learning, text, multimedia, etc.).
4. Assessment criteria.
5. Assessment methods.I didn't think you were - but not everyone subscribes to our level of ethics.:)

[AISG]

I really appreciate all the feedback. I'm working on a training manual - with the help of a few LP professionals. When I'm completed, I'll post them on my website and ask for your opinion - maybe not the entire manual, but at least post the name of the modules and a brief description of the topics.