Best post you ever worked.

[3rd_shift]

For me, It was a shopping center in southern Dallas on Labor day night.
I thought it was going to suck bigtime, as it was an armed post.
What I found there was police inside the grocery store (no worries there)
The shopping center was quite small and completely in view from the gas station at the Churches chicken place.
The gas station had working cameras that the local riffraff were avoiding like a bad plague.
As long as I stayed near the Churches Fried chicken place, I could have all the food I wanted.
I must have gained 5 pounds that shift alone. :D
I then wandered over to the Subway sandwitch shop for some cookies for desert. ;)
As I'm typing this, I'm finishing off a huge box of leftover chicken from the chicken place.
I would love to do that post again sometime. :)

[N. A. Corbier]

For me, It was a shopping center in southern Dallas on Labor day night.
I thought it was going to suck bigtime, as it was an armed post.
What I found there was police inside the grocery store (no worries there)
The shopping center was quite small and completely in view from the gas station at the Churches chicken place.
The gas station had working cameras that the local riffraff were avoiding like a bad plague.
As long as I stayed near the Churches Fried chicken place, I could have all the food I wanted.
I must have gained 5 pounds that shift alone. :D
I then wandered over to the Subway sandwitch shop for some cookies for desert. ;)
As I'm typing this, I'm finishing off a huge box of leftover chicken from the chicken place.
I would love to do that post again sometime. :)


It amuses me, because with every company I worked for, unless that was written into the contract, your supervisor would of:

Thrown your chicken away.
Spoke with the Churches Chicken employees about fraternization and bribery.
Had an Office Hours and counsel you about your taking gratuity from a non-client.
Recommended you be suspended without pay for three days.

The question is, that I've always had: Is it right for security officers, who are not sworn law enforcement officers OR public employees, to be held to the same bribery standard as public LEOs? Uniformed Security is classified as a "service wage job," not a "salaried profession."

As to my favorite post:

Three hotels, armed, patrol vehicle, gateway island to Tampa proper. We were responsible for half the island, as a patrol account. Light calls for service, were authorized to leave the patrol area to refuel as needed, the hotel van driver could leave at any time for any reason (Ie: Get us some steak and shake), and all of the hotels were linked on client radio. When I got out of the car, it was for either a life safety, investigation, or law enforcement call for service. No towels, no "I'm bored," nothing but calls for service.

The MDC in the cruiser, loaded with 3,000 MP3 files, combined with the AM/FM radio kept me not bored and patrolling.

There were some ups, and some downs. Took one van driver down because he tried to disarm me, joking around. He fled the scene and when police arrived, he appologized and didn't realize "just a security guard" could arrest for a weapon disarm. He was RORed.

Introduced a drunken man armed with a pistol waving it around because he was stupid to the Remington 870 shotgun, from a position of cover behind my patrol vehicle, while 4 Tampa police squads boxed him in. Seeing the shotgun, this guy dropping his gun, two other officers brought theirs out, as well.

It was a good arrest, and made the client feel safe.

[exguard]

When I worked at Bally's Casino / Hotel / Tower in Atlantic City, NJ -- That was the best Security Job I worked.

3rd Shift Action {Night Life in the Casinos is pretty intresting}
I worked the Security Dispatch / Monitor Center which is basically like the 9-1-1 center {Not the same as surviellance they were across the hall but we did opperate 171 cameras of the property / lots / hotel areas.

I made a decent living for a guy in his early twenties back in 1991, still lived home with Mom/Dad, Bought a New Car but rode the train to work. and had some of the greatest benifits ever including free dinner every shift. {Employees were treated very well} -- I left the Casinos in 1995 kicking my-self in the a** for not staying because today Who knows where I'd be in the business if I'd of stayed

[Watchdog]

It was a 3rd shift night patrol job. Using the company patrol car, I drove from one office building in one town and checked it, drove to another in another town and checked it, and so on.
It was nice because it didn't require people bothering me or supervisors looking over my shoulder. I didn't have a relief and didn't have to worry about the next person being late. I was allowed to adjust my schedule a couple hours so if I wanted to start earlier or work later, I could. I also could take a break at anytime.
I also didn't have a scheduled time to be at any certain place, just as long as I check the buildings I was supposed to in my 8 hour shift and was recorded on the Detex Pipe, everything was easy and relaxing.
Time goes by much faster when you drive around rather than just sit or stand around.

The only uncomfortable thing about it was staying awake at night and driving long distances between sites without falling asleep at the wheel because I was working a part-time day job also.

[N. A. Corbier]

It was a 3rd shift night patrol job. Using the company patrol car, I drove from one office building in one town and checked it, drove to another in another town and checked it, and so on.
It was nice because it didn't require people bothering me or supervisors looking over my shoulder. I didn't have a relief and didn't have to worry about the next person being late. I was allowed to adjust my schedule a couple hours so if I wanted to start earlier or work later, I could. I also could take a break at anytime.
I also didn't have a scheduled time to be at any certain place, just as long as I check the buildings I was supposed to in my 8 hour shift and was recorded on the Detex Pipe, everything was easy and relaxing.
Time goes by much faster when you drive around rather than just sit or stand around.

The only uncomfortable thing about it was staying awake at night and driving long distances between sites without falling asleep at the wheel because I was working a part-time day job also.


You had a Detex to hit. Was there pressure to hit the strips "on time," ie: If you had an incident, were you pressured to clear it quickly to get back on the road? This is one thing that I noticed with mobile patrol - that pressure to his the Detex "on time," especially with Government contractors. It better be hit at 9:23, 10:23, 11:23, etc.

Otherwise, that's a good method for mobile patrol.

[Watchdog]

You had a Detex to hit. Was there pressure to hit the strips "on time," ie: If you had an incident, were you pressured to clear it quickly to get back on the road? This is one thing that I noticed with mobile patrol - that pressure to his the Detex "on time," especially with Government contractors. It better be hit at 9:23, 10:23, 11:23, etc.

Otherwise, that's a good method for mobile patrol.

No exact Detex hit times were required. The only times I had to follow was that some buildings required to be checked before or after a certain time such as must be checked before 12am or must be checked after 4am.

I think the ability to be flexible in times is a better practice in security anways as you aren't being "routine" where someone can study you and know exactly when you will be checking the place or not.

[Echos13]

*Yawn*, excuse me. Late night call out. Mornings are getting harder to deal with when they have you called out late.

As for best post, here in Florida have not found one since dabbling in guard work. Personaly I don't think they exsist with all the dime-a-dozen cheap bidder outfits here in Florida. Even the bigger names.

Though I am now working for a contract firm (believe me I was hesitant at first when offerd the job. The last gurad job I did left a bad taste in my mouth as they say), we are a very humble small outfit of about a dozen. But we are a specialty outfit and don't do "post" details. Though we can offer such details to clients we don't get any such contracts because we mainly deal with mobile and moving escort assignments. We all are consisted of former military, law enforcement and higher end security people. But I guess for the most part it's the best "security" job I have ever had. For the exception of being on call 27/4 and having to drive a lot it's still better than being an "insurance" baby sitter.

Hope all out there are safe. Mother nature holds no favors to anyone these days.

Peace.

[N. A. Corbier]

No exact Detex hit times were required. The only times I had to follow was that some buildings required to be checked before or after a certain time such as must be checked before 12am or must be checked after 4am.

I think the ability to be flexible in times is a better practice in security anways as you aren't being "routine" where someone can study you and know exactly when you will be checking the place or not.

That's the only time I'd allow a detex unit to be put into one of my contracts. Otherwise, I'd decline to bid, and refer them to Weiser or Allied Barton or something else, because they're more suited for that kind of "security."

If you hit the clock at 15 after, I'm going to hit your parking lot from 20-59 after. And I'm going to steal every car in there, and your not going to notice, because your having to hit other keys at 20, 25, 27, etc after.

I have never understood this mentality, but clients want "value added services" such as mopping floors and other BS. While your guard is mopping the east wing, there's a fire in the west, and its STILL the company's fault because its contracted for fire watch.

[N. A. Corbier]

*Yawn*, excuse me. Late night call out. Mornings are getting harder to deal with when they have you called out late.

As for best post, here in Florida have not found one since dabbling in guard work. Personaly I don't think they exsist with all the dime-a-dozen cheap bidder outfits here in Florida. Even the bigger names.

Though I am now working for a contract firm (believe me I was hesitant at first when offerd the job. The last gurad job I did left a bad taste in my mouth as they say), we are a very humble small outfit of about a dozen. But we are a specialty outfit and don't do "post" details. Though we can offer such details to clients we don't get any such contracts because we mainly deal with mobile and moving escort assignments. We all are consisted of former military, law enforcement and higher end security people. But I guess for the most part it's the best "security" job I have ever had. For the exception of being on call 27/4 and having to drive a lot it's still better than being an "insurance" baby sitter.

Hope all out there are safe. Mother nature holds no favors to anyone these days.

Peace.

That's nationwide, man. Companies will bid 1 guard at minimum wage, no pay increase over 3 year contract, no equipment, provide own uniforms, etc. They'll win the account, too, then either hit them with hidden costs (Every time a supervisor stops by, that's 75 bucks), or provide JUST that. One guard, paid at minimum wage, no pay increase over the life of the contract, no equipment, the guard is issued old uniforms or has to buy his own, client is provided with a journal book for log entries, no coat, no rain gear...

And then they wonder why they have turnover, and why the company is providing guards that scare the client more than the criminals do.

This is one of the reason alot of companies, especially in Florida, actively fight any initiatives to provide better training. You'll be worth more, and they'll have to pay them more. When the "varying degrees of the D license," such as first aid provider, protect life, patrol residential communities, anti-terrorism operations, etc came up last year, alot of the industry flat said: This will increase our costs, and clients will not stand for it. If you do this, the clients will simply look for service providers who don't require these extra certifications on the D license.

Florida is the land of "value added guard services," such as guards delivering newspapers, mopping floors, and doing other maintenance type work, as most clients have the building maintenance instead of safety department contracting for guard services. So, you have the maintenance manager in charge of client security, and he expects his employees, even contractors, to do more than just "observe and report." Because he needs to see positives, not negatives - such as no crime or disorder.

[3rd_shift]

It amuses me, because with every company I worked for, unless that was written into the contract, your supervisor would of:


Thrown your chicken away.
The chicken was going in the trash unless I "got rid of it".

Spoke with the Churches Chicken employees about fraternization and bribery.
The chicken place was a client who's signature had to be on the report in order for the security company to get paid by the shopping center landlord.
The top of the hill where the chicken place was where my supervisor wanted me in the 1st place.

Recommended you be suspended without pay for three days.
Would never happen since I was called to work that place due to the security company being so short on help in the 1st place.
They didn't care. ;)

Security companies here in the DFW area are often quite lenient for some reason.

[N. A. Corbier]

The item written into the contract would of been "client may offer guards product without renumeration."

They may be, however, the public expects security guards to uphold the same standards as their local police /should/ uphold, ie: Not taking "bribes" of free chicken.

The fraternization would of been giving you chicken in the first place, and allowing you to be on the property for any period longer than required to get them to sign the report, or "for purposes of security."

The public has an extremely low image of security people. The fact that most aren't trained, etc, dosen't help. They, in general, get really pissed when they see "just a security guard" getting something they're not entitled to, because they are above the menial wage security guard.

These are the things that run through a company supervisor's head when they see such events take place. And, I have seen companies suspend or even terminate someone called to work because they were short staffed.

Different standards per company and per state. Florida actively teaches guards not to take bribes (which they classify as any gratuity, period) in its state security officer course, as those bribing you will demand compensation which creates an ethical situation, or the public will have a negative view of the bribery.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, teaches you nothing, and most companies will request you get extra for the supervisor who's doing the post inspection later on.

[3rd_shift]

It's amazing how things vary from state to state. ;)
If anyone ever comes to Texas to work security management, be ready for some adjustments in the way things are done here.

Otherwise, you will find yourself *gag*
having to constantly advertise in the newspaper want-ads for help.

[N. A. Corbier]

It's amazing how things vary from state to state. ;)
If anyone ever comes to Texas to work security management, be ready for some adjustments in the way things are done here.

Otherwise, you will find yourself *gag*
having to constantly advertise in the newspaper want-ads for help.

You guys also have some of the strangest laws, and it took me an entire day to figure out what a "Texas Commissioned Security Officer" was. Your state has some very useful models laws, such as statutory redefinition of battery on a commissioned security officer, misdomeanor and felony arrest powers, etc.

In that state, commissioned security officers almost have full arrest powers. Only thing your missing is a law making it illegal to deprive you of communications or weapon.

[3rd_shift]

I think that you would adjust ok to managing a security company in Texas imo N.A. Corbier. ;)
Once you get past the initial Pain in the rump learning curve. :D

Since we are "governed" by the Texas department of Public safety,

Effective 9-2003, it's a felony to assault a security guard in Texas.
And a capital offense to cap a guard in this state too. :eek:

[N. A. Corbier]

I think that you would adjust ok to managing a security company in Texas imo N.A. Corbier. ;)
Once you get past the initial Pain in the rump learning curve. :D

Since we are "governed" by the Texas department of Public safety,

Effective 9-2003, it's a felony to assault a security guard in Texas.
And a capital offense to cap a guard in this state too. :eek:

Especially since I grew up in Houston, and still have a Texan accent at times. "Are you from the South?" ... "No, I'm from Texas."

I have that pain in the ass mentality because I live in a state where the only requirement for a private security person is that they're not a felon. That's it. State licensing = background check, little card. No training, no nothing. They're considered PIs in uniform, and PIs aren't considered to do much up here, either, under the law.

[N. A. Corbier]

Best post I ever worked was plainclothes patrol un an unmarked vehicle of a college campus. A cop friend of mine had himself a little security company that I would pull a shift or two a week at. The college itself had uniformed guards, but this was great because there was no walk-up complaints because they didn't know you were security, no calls to take, etc. Just sit back and keep your eyes open.

I know many who would argue that is not security, but actually private investigation. I know that in the State of Florida, and in the State of Wisconsin, you would need a PI license to do that, as you are engaging covert surveillance of the property, without the knowledge of the general public, and making reports of your surveillance to a third party (the client).

I am unfamiliar with NY's private investigation laws, however, so it could be perfectly acceptable in your state to do such. I'm not quite sure what "visible deterrance" factor this would have, as you had stated before, the job of unarmed security is.

[N. A. Corbier]

My duties were perfectly acceptable in NY. I technically could have done that job without a security license, if the employer opted for that option. The visible deterrance was being performed by the uniformed security officers that were employed by the college.

Then why would a client pay for the vehicle on the property, the unarmed - non-uniformed guard? I'm missing something, obviously, but as a client, I see no up side to that. Its pure loss to me, I don't get anything out of it. I already have uniformed guards on my site. Why would I need you there to do their job?

[N. A. Corbier]

Because your uniformed guards were exactly that - uniformed and probably drove marked vehicles. Anyway, they were having a huge problem with larcenies from vehicles and they were sick of filing reports and wanted to catch the people doing it. If I were to see someone breaking into a vehicle, I was to notify a marked unit that would have apprehended the suspect while he was breaking into the vehicle.

I agree that it was a waste of money, but they paid me to to do it (and well, I might add) so I don't really care.

Ok, that, I can see. Be aware, though, that in most states, you would be considered a "private investigator," since you were in plain clothes and covertly watching, and investigating a criminal act against a client.

[mallpopo]

One time I was working a foot post at the mall I work at while they were doing inventory at victorias secret.. What a day!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wannabedafiveoh]

Yeah! Aren't those great days!

[Mr. Security]

The post that I'm at now. The facility is spic-and-span, CCTV system is state-of-the-art, and the facility manager takes security and safety seriously. Also, everyone in security gets along with each other. :)

[copelandamuffy]

Best Post or job:
Working overnight at a Toyota dealership
Every 3 hours make a complete tour of parking lot and showroom, and
service bays. Rest of the time sit in the customer's lounge and
watch a 54 inch television with cable. The client even encouraged
us to watch tv as it kept us awake. He did check the next morning
to see if you did your Detex tour

[Will57]

I spent six months guarding a redundant Mental institution. Several of us lived on site in what used to be medical staff housing. We worked a four on four off shift alternating days and nights, however the staff who lived on site usually worked day shifts as they provided emergency backup for the night shift. Only one duty guard per shift, and not much to do apart from patrol the area and answer the gate alarm if someone arrived. The houses we used were set up with TV, and other furnishings. We had a pool, a gym, and even horses to ride if we wanted.
During the week various contractors would be let in to do maintenence, so a bit of work involved letting them in and out but apart from that no regular dutys or clocing in.
We had a few vehicles to use, an ATV four wheeler. A light pickup truck with a water tank and pump which had been the Instituton fire truck which we used as the back up response vehicle, and the regular patrol car (pictured)
It had been fitted with lights and siren for use as their rapid response unit for the guys in white coats when the place was running. Since 99% of the time there was no one but us driving around they were a bit redundant except to play with on boring nights. Handy as a deterrant every now and then to race around the perimeter and deter tresspassers.
Biggest plus, a good crew and no supervisors, which we didn't really appreciate until those two advantages changed for the worse.

[Black Caesar]

It amuses me, because with every company I worked for, unless that was written into the contract, your supervisor would of:

Thrown your chicken away.

Spoke with the Churches Chicken employees about fraternization and bribery.
Had an Office Hours and counsel you about your taking gratuity from a non-client.
Recommended you be suspended without pay for three days.

Ouch. It don't work that way here in Texas. I've worked for (counts on fingers) 9 different security companies on and off, full and part time over the last 13 years (with much overlap with my LE career, worked security while I was in the academy, worked full time security while I was a reserve, worked a month for a company between cop jobs 4 years ago so forth and so on).

On every one of those jobs people (client and otherwise) gave us free stuff. No law against it.

Same in LE, as long as you're not activley giving people the benifit of your posistion (like fixing tickets or shielding them from prosectution), it's not illegal. Plenty of places offer police discounts, whether you're in uniform or not, whether you work in that city/county or not.

It seems that in the place(s) you are or have been it was very strict. It's just not how things work in Texas in my experiance..

[Black Caesar]

Best post I ever had. Broadcast.com back in 1998/9 in dallas when I worked for Wackenhut. Back when it was owned by Mark Cuban and his partner. Wackenhut got the contract after a guard with the previous company shot a whole through a door while playing with his firearm.......

Met lots of nice people, it was in Deep ellum (the groovy part of town) and Met mr Cuban. This was all before he sold Broadcast.com for a couple Billion to Yahoo and bouth the Dallas mavericks. Hated to leave it. But I left it to work on a Federal contract (I was a part time college police officer then too, couldn't do 3 jobs at a time).

The second best was indirectly related to the 1st. I worked a week at a construction site in North Dallas. The house was being built by a guy named Phillips who was a big wig at a First plus financial .

The house was a monster. Something like a 14 car garage on one side and a 5 car garage on the other. Both garages had FULL BATHROOMs.
A Guest house and a Servants house in Back that would get you 250k each by themselves.
A pool with an Ampitheater style dome over it. A walking trail around the house that was something like 1.5 kilometers. A basketball court. a wine seller. A couple million dollors worth of marble floors. A TV built in to a friggin wall. It was madness.

One day I'm working there and my orders are that NO ONE except people authroized by Mr Phillips gets to come on property after 6pm. no one did. But right at 6 a car pulls out, and out steps H. Ross Perot. He and another guy (I'm guessing bodyguard) take one look at the house, shake their heads in amazement, get back in the car and leave LOL. The House is located off of Inwood street and Delouche in North Dallas.

1st Plus financial Folded and mr. Phillips sold the house for something like 27 million dollars after it was completed.....To Mark Cuban...... he lives there still

[Mall Director]

Definately my current assignment to the mall I am at. THe one I came from was dead. We would only get customers during friday nd saturday night. The trouble people were kids just being obnoxious. The funds were super low and equipment was minimal.

Where as my current, I think I have run a deficit so big, and yet they continue to shell out the funds for the equipment I order, and do not give me alot of feedback in a negative nature. Sometimes they ask about it, I explain, then thats it.. Its nice to not have to explain why I need latant powder or more restraints.

The work is awesome, I dislike half the people I see daily, as they are violators, and the other half are merchants and the complying customers that are cool. I am always busy as ever, everyday has something new that happens, where someone does something insane. The gangs are persistant and continue to try to get in and muck things up, giving me and my people something to do all the time.

The local PD are big supporters, and almost all of their officers just rule! They never disclude us from anything going on, on our property. They call us for assistance on alot of occassions. The working relationship is just utopic!

My Corporate stays out of my business, unlike other malls they operate. They know that what is going on at my mall doesnt apply to other malls, so they just dont touch it as long as we continue doing what we have been doing.

The staff I have is just aces. These people are the ones I most proud of. I could spend forever on all the great things they do, how they operate, the standards of excellence, but I would tie up this post with too much, LOL!

The best part.. we are constantly evolving and advancing in alot of areas.. There is always something new to learn, to train, to do, and add to the list!

[HotelSecurity]

I think that hotel security is a lot like mall security, hospital & school. I've been doing it since 1977 & I still get to deal with new things all the time! :)

[Mr. Security]

Best post I ever had. Broadcast.com back in 1998/9 in dallas when I worked for Wackenhut. Back when it was owned by Mark Cuban and his partner. Wackenhut got the contract after a guard with the previous company shot a whole through a door while playing with his firearm.......

Umm, sorry about that. I forgot to put the bullet back in my shirt pocket.

Regards,

Fife