Why did you switch to working security?

[3rd_shift]

I used to be a tropical plant care technician going to 5-10 office buildings a day caring for over 2500 indoor plants per week all over the DFW area of Tx.
At some buildings the guard in the lobby would be reading a magazine or a paper while I'm sweating it out trying to maintain over $100K of indoor plants and trees.
I finally got the hint when a friendly guard enlightened me that I was making the same $ as he was. :p
I then switched over to working security and never looked back since. :cool:

[Arff312]

I started security because i wanted to work in law enforcement agina in some small way. I also wanted a fun part time job. My buddy used to work for the same company i did and it seemed fun.

[Watchdog]

well, it wasn't for the money LOL :D

I prefer security jobs to other jobs because it allows me to be in control of what I do rather than a supervisor looking over my shoulder all day or a co-worker bugging me or complaining. It allows me to be the boss of the situation around me and lets me set the rules rather than an outsider saying that "the customer is always right" when they are not. The only people I have to listen to and obey is my boss and the client I'm doing security for.

Security is a very responsible job, but is is also not very stressful most of the time. You don't have to make quotas, deadlines, or anything like that. You just have to show responsibilty to get respect and appreciation from your employer and don't have to kiss any ass.

I never get stressed out doing security and never hate going to work like I have with other jobs where I know there's a lot of work ahead and I know it's going to be a bad day.

Since most security jobs are a 24 hr jobs, it is usually easier to find a shift that works best for you whether it is 1st, 2nd or 3rd. and if you want some overtime, I never worked any security that wasn't looking for people to work extra hours.

It is never hard to find a security job if you decide to relocate or change employers.

[mallpopo]

I wanna prove that I'm not a loser. I like telling people what to do.

[Bill Warnock]

A person who believes being a police officer is a snap and telling people what to do gives you a thrill is not living in a real world. Next to being a parent, being a police officer was the hardest job I ever had. It is no place for a bully, not that you have to worry about that. The psychological testing and screening will preclude your acceptance. Working in nuclear and chemical weapons security was demanding but at least at the end of the day you didn't have to worry about not going home to your family. Nothing is routine in that job, there is always the unexpected. Not mentally preparing yourself could mean injury or death for yourself, your fellow officers or the innocent you have sworn to protect. That oath means you must be willing to lay your life on the line for them! Three things to remember if you make a mistake as a police officer: What are you going to say at the hospital?, What are you going to say at the funeral? What are you going to that image in the mirror staring back a you? Maturity and common sense are required?
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[Mr. Security]

I chose security because I've always enjoyed anything and everything involving safety. We all know that the $$ isn't the best. However, protecting people and property from danger makes it worth it. When I train a new s/o, I remind them that it was an alert security guard who discovered the break-in at Watergate--not a police officer. Like most jobs, it's attitude that makes the difference. :)

[davido]

I have been in and out of the security field most of my adult life, I started in oil field security, then apartment security, now I am in Corporate Security and a company Employee. I have been here for almost 10 years and I plan on retiring, In fact I love it here, I work for a multi-Billion dollar Petroleum corp. I make better than normal pay and I do allmost nothing, except get a check every two weeks. some of us are lucky I guess :D

this is my first post I am a noob here.... If anyone needs advice, I'll try my best.

[S/O245]

A person who believes being a police officer is a snap and telling people what to do gives you a thrill is not living in a real world. Next to being a parent, being a police officer was the hardest job I ever had. It is no place for a bully, not that you have to worry about that. The psychological testing and screening will preclude your acceptance. Working in nuclear and chemical weapons security was demanding but at least at the end of the day you didn't have to worry about not going home to your family. Nothing is routine in that job, there is always the unexpected. Not mentally preparing yourself could mean injury or death for yourself, your fellow officers or the innocent you have sworn to protect. That oath means you must be willing to lay your life on the line for them! Three things to remember if you make a mistake as a police officer: What are you going to say at the hospital?, What are you going to say at the funeral? What are you going to that image in the mirror staring back a you? Maturity and common sense are required?
Enjoy the day,
Bill

As far as not knowing what could happen to you. I would say even S/O's and we all know have the chance of being injured and or killed on duty. You never know what can happen. My way of thinking is i hope im always ok and will go home but i also know that i may not. And if by being a S?O one thinks its all easy and nothing may be possible to happen to you, I have to say you are not being true to your self. Any thing can go down not only to Sworn LEOS or S/O's but anyone.

[N. A. Corbier]

As far as not knowing what could happen to you. I would say even S/O's and we all know have the chance of being injured and or killed on duty. You never know what can happen. My way of thinking is i hope im always ok and will go home but i also know that i may not. And if by being a S?O one thinks its all easy and nothing may be possible to happen to you, I have to say you are not being true to your self. Any thing can go down not only to Sworn LEOS or S/O's but anyone.

Get hit by a bus, get blown up in a terrorist attack, have a heart attack, choke on your hot dog...

Of course, we have a higher chance of being killed/injured by other persons committing violence against us.

[pfd1615]

Actually progressivly for the last 10 or 15 years the security industry has had more LODD's than Sworn Law Enforcement.

[SeanCO]

I got into section 8 security as an experience builder as I pursue a career as a LEO. I don't plan on making a career out of it, but I do really really enjoy working with the public and learning alot of things to look for in my future career.

[plankeye]

Well I worked in the beverage industry for some time and really hated it, worked for coca cola then for a 7up distrubuter, i just got tired of all the BS and how they took advantage of me. Like some guys would get off work early, because they did a real shoddy job and didnt care about anything, I was always the last one off usually alot later than everyone else in my department because the boss would call and ask hey where did so and so go?, I would say well he is always out of here by 1pm, my ex boss would go on and say yea well he did a real bad job here, I need you to come back and take care of it for me. And I would and they always did this to me, my ex boss would tell me that I did a great job and wished there was more of me in the department, well I just got fed up about why the guys who were being paid pretty good could not do a good job and I always ended up taking care of it, and they never got into any trouble for it or anything and I felt like I was being penalized because I was actully doing my job. I saw some armored truck guards around and that looked like attractive work to me. I now am a Full time armed airport security officer and a part time armored car guard which I enjoy both jobs very much and Iam not taken avantage of. Private protection services just really interest me. And since becoming a security officer I have not looked back at all and am extremely happy with the company Iam with and the people who I work with. Also I served some time in the Army national guard and I work with people who have/are serving and can relate. Always wanted to get a job/career with service and work with people proud to wear our uniform wether it be military or security.

[Blame_The_Guard]

I used to be a tropical plant care technician going to 5-10 office buildings a day caring for over 2500 indoor plants per week all over the DFW area of Tx.
At some buildings the guard in the lobby would be reading a magazine or a paper while I'm sweating it out trying to maintain over $100K of indoor plants and trees.
I finally got the hint when a friendly guard enlightened me that I was making the same $ as he was. :p
I then switched over to working security and never looked back since. :cool:

Uncle Dooly here... had to change my name cause I couldn't remember the email address I used to register (typical stupid guard, right?... haha)

I was a Night Club - Cruise Ship entertainer for 20 years (played most instruments, sang, show and dance groups, as well as an occasional single keyboard gig - did stand-up comedy, other things in the biz - still do an occasional local gig - http://www.johnmccoy.us ). About 10 years ago the club scene petered out (regular, nightly entertainment wise) and I could no longer make a steady living. When that happened I had to work ships, almost exclusively, which is a miserable life and after a few years I just couldn't stand it anymore. I had strong computer skills so I went into hardware/software support - worked for Allstate Tech Support for a while (phone support for Microsoft Office and Allstate Legacy applications for southern regional offices)... high pressure, high anxiety level. I was into Amature Radio (General Class - KC4YXO) and sometimes, late at night, I would talk to a Security Guard at a Mobile Home park near my house (Orlando). What he did sounded so calm and relaxing and, since my job was about to put me in a nuthouse, I decided to try it - and did. Like many people, I got sucked into it - easy job - minimal pressure - no irritating supervision - not to mention the fact that if somebody gave me any crap, I could quit and find another job in an hour or so as long as I maintained a little "up yours" money in the bank.... hehe.

The only problems I've had with the industry is, when you've spent your life dedicating 110% of your efforts to your chosen career, it's a little hard to deal with most provider's "warm body" approach and the "show up - shut up - collect the check - and go home" attitude of so many of my fellow "professionals(?)."

I, presently, work a large residential community in St. Pete, Fl. ... been there almost 5 years with a great group of officers.

That's my story and I'm stickin' with it.

Try some of my sites:
http://www.awfullyfunny.com
http://www.johnniemccoy.com
http://www.gulfcomp.com
http://www.webawebadoo.com (for small children)

[1stWatch]

I can't say I "switched" to security work. It has been the only thing I have really done. Got my first job as a high rise building security guard when I was 19. Didn't think I would ever keep doing work in this field for as long as I have. Have done a lot of different types of work. I like what I do now.

[DMS 525]

Hi; for those of you who may know me, yes, I am the same DMS 525 who posts a lot in Officer.com.

Why I switched to security? Try not to run on: I worked as a pt/reserve small town cop just before I went into the Army in the early 80's. When I was in the Army, I was stationed 8 hours from home for the first 2 years, so I still did reserve and fill in work when I could. I then went overseas for 2 years. That was when this stupid, stuffed-shirt state of mine decided to pass a law requiring a non-certified police officer to be academy certified within one year of hire. Fine and dandy, but in order to go to the academy in this state, you must be hired by an agency first! A lot of small cities, rather than pay you to be gone for 10 weeks, would much rather hire someone who is already academy certified. Biggest Catch-22 I have ever run into. Furthermore, in this state, there is a tendency towards it's not what you know, but who you know.
After I got out of the Army, I decided to give security a whirl, to hold me until I got a LE job somewhere. Ended up being in it for over 11 years. Most of what I did involved mobile patrols, alarm response, situation response, and standing duty at posts requiring an armed officer. Every company I worked for; I worked my way up to supervisor, and had my times, both good and bad, of dealing with all kinds of employees, and all kinds of higher-ups.

About 10 years ago, the one agency I worked for went out of business, which is about the time I decided to get into the only other thing I was any good at; driving a truck. Been offered security jobs since, but they didn't want to pay me for my experience and knowledge, so I told them to stuff it!

I may go into being a reserve police officer, but not at the expense of a lot of money, time lost for training, or running around with my nose up someone's backside! Not for a job that only pays a dollar a year.

[EMTGuard]

I wasn't really planning on going into security full time but I was looking to leave the Fire Department and was going to submit applications to a couple of EMS agencies. When I contacted a supervisor who I had worked Security with a couple of years back he said that one of the EMTs working nights had fallen asleep on duty needed to be replaced. I only need a job reference but he convinced me to come to work for him for more money than I'd make riding an ambulance.
Now I sit in the guard shack with the security officer and work security until someone gets hurt then I switch into EMT mode. What's hard to understand is that the security company we work for doesn't really have ranks. It uses job titles based on pay. So unarmed SOs are usually out ranked by armed SOs. EMTs out rank unarmed or unarmed SOs. The senior EMT at the jobsite is the supervisor of all the security company employees. He's the one who does our time sheets and adjusts the schedules so the client always has one SO and one EMT/SO on duty. When I work my shift with my SO partner I'm technically in charge even though the SO may have worked there much longer than me.

[IrishGuard]

It's what I did in the military and it seemed a natural progression to go from one uniform to another.

[N. A. Corbier]

I wasn't really planning on going into security full time but I was looking to leave the Fire Department and was going to submit applications to a couple of EMS agencies. When I contacted a supervisor who I had worked Security with a couple of years back he said that one of the EMTs working nights had fallen asleep on duty needed to be replaced. I only need a job reference but he convinced me to come to work for him for more money than I'd make riding an ambulance.
Now I sit in the guard shack with the security officer and work security until someone gets hurt then I switch into EMT mode. What's hard to understand is that the security company we work for doesn't really have ranks. It uses job titles based on pay. So unarmed SOs are usually out ranked by armed SOs. EMTs out rank unarmed or unarmed SOs. The senior EMT at the jobsite is the supervisor of all the security company employees. He's the one who does our time sheets and adjusts the schedules so the client always has one SO and one EMT/SO on duty. When I work my shift with my SO partner I'm technically in charge even though the SO may have worked there much longer than me.

I worked for a company, long ago, that gave every armed officer the rank of Private First Class, right off the bat. Corporals were required to be armed. This meant that an armed PFC had rank authority over an unarmed post supervisor. Since I was an unarmed post supervisor, I would constantly have to call a corporal to have the PFC who didn't want to do things according to company rules (BlameTheGuard knows what I'm talking about, they were from South St. Pete, I was a North St. Pete FTO and Site Super), and remind them that they're not on an armed post.

I somewhat like the concept of that, but I believe in a more sane chain of command. Every employee should be able to instantly identify any other employee on the chain of command, up to the owner of the company.

But, then again, I believe in using MPO/PFCs as "corporal helpers," with the corporals being assigned the beginning of NCO/Super duties. MPO/PFC would show that your exceptional at what your doing. Corporal would show that your a supervisor of men, and Sergeant would show that your a supervisor of men and an extension of company management.

[Taktiq]

Why?

I love standing around in all sorts of weather making sure doors are locked. It's a rush and I can't believe I get paid to do this. High speed, low drag! :p

[HotelSecurity]

I'm another one who did not switch. I've been doing it since the 70's.

I was in the Boy Scouts. I liked the emergency services types of things we did, the junior firefighter, forst aid etc. This got me involved in the local Civil Defense group where I became a auxilary frefighter & started taken EMT courses. As a Scout I had also worked at the Man & His World site in 1968 (the fair that continued on the site of Expo 67). Part of our dutes there were security related, keeping people from going to areas they were not supposed to go to.

I took a 3 year college course in Police Technology. Around that time Quebec's language law changed. To be a Police Officer you had to be fluent in French. I wasn't & unlike a lot of my Anglophone friends I did not want to move from Montreal to an "English" part of Canada. I also was just a little short for the height standards that existed in those days & wore glasses.

I looked around for some tyoe of work that was "similar" to police work & where I could also use my firefighting & EMT skills. Hotels were described as being cities within a city. They did not have height & glasses restrictions & most tourists were from outside of Quebec, mostly English speaking. So I started in hotel security in 1977 & have been doing it ever since!!

[FederalSecurity]

For me, it was because of traditional customer service positions. I was

no longer able to tolerate customers' constant browbeating and attempted

intimidation tactics. After a couple of incidents that involved me losing my

temper at irate customers, I realized that the time had come for me to make

a change.

[Chimpie]

I'm so completely :eek: by what I'm reading.

Summarizing: "I work in security because there is no boss watching over my shoulder, able to read the newspaper/magazine, like telling people what to do..."

I... I ... I just don't know what to say. All I want to do is rant and rave right now.

:throws up hands and walks out of the room:

[SecTrainer]

I'm so completely :eek: by what I'm reading.

Summarizing: "I work in security because there is no boss watching over my shoulder, able to read the newspaper/magazine, like telling people what to do..."

I... I ... I just don't know what to say. All I want to do is rant and rave right now.

:throws up hands and walks out of the room:

I think a couple of the responses, at least, were bogus.

[CorpSec]

I started at 19 years old. I had wanted to be a cop and I figured that it would be at least something related to the career field.

I was working a very physical job at the time with 10 hour shifts. I would come home sore and dirty. After my first few days working security I literally could not believe what they were paying me to do. They had no problem with me doing homework or reading magazines or listening to the radio as long as 3 rounds were done a shift. I would sit in a nice air conditioned office and shoot the breeze with the factory workers that went out to smoke.

[wjohnc]

Even as a kid I knew justice services of some type was my fate. In 1992 I began looking around. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (Canada's FBI / CIA / whatever) was considered useless by some (until 9/11, that is) and was not hiring, the Army - is there any other branch? :p - was in the midst of a big, big mess involving prisoner torture and they were'nt hiring. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police I wasn't interested in, and our provincial police the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary was in the middle of a decade long hiring freeze.

What was left? Security, of course.
People now tell me I do the same work as the police, why don't I join. I tell them the money would be much better, but there's a reason for that: media on one shoulder, whore lawyers on another, the un/misinformed public on your head, all conspiring to push you down into the crap.
I don't have to deal with that. I just do my job really damn well, get recognized for it, and nobody important is looking to get me.


I love security. I am a security guard.

JohnC

[jeff194307]

For me,it was another uniform after retiring from the USAF. My first security job was with a Sacramento Company named Vanguard Security. First assignment was at Sacramento Utility District Headquarters, then at Birdcage Walk Shopping Center. After 6+ years, I went to work as an Officer at Pelican Bay State Prison (a different uniform) Today, I work at the college in my home town in Illinois. been ther for one year and look forward to next fall. Great job!!

[alamedaad]

I started at 19 years old. I had wanted to be a cop and I figured that it would be at least something related to the career field.

I got into security while going to school for Admin. of Justice and then realized how much goes on in the mall. I decided to cool my heels where I am because if this much s**t happens in the mall, I really don't want to deal with the rest of the city. That theory may change at some point, but I figure don't fix it if it ain't broken . . .

[Here4th$]

My name pretty much says it all....

As a Security Officer, I make nearly three times what I made as a Police Officer and no one’s pointed a gun at me since I started here.

[BoyInBlue]

My Kung Fu teacher used to be a bouncer and hooked me up with a job. I did that on the weekends and soon after quite my day job as a cook. Now I do security for the place I used to cook at, and bounce on the weekends.

[Qarlo X64]

After doing a wide variety of jobs prior to my 22nd birthday, which included: Movie Theatre Usher, Lawn Care Worker, Martial Arts Studio Caretaker, Courier, Exotic Club Bouncer (2 different clubs on that note) and a few other **** details I'd rather forget... I went to work for Burns/Pinkerton in 2001 [now Securitas] and didn't do much really except for work in a high rise office building on Dog Watch/3rd Shift. I was non commissioned at that time and really didn't think much of it to be honest, but I had pride in the fact I've always been a super observant person, I wanted to do more but there was a lot of family issues that superceeded it.

Finally around 2005 I went to work for a small local PSC (Private Security Contractor) and found my niche. Taking that same super observant gift I've always had, I was thrown out to the dogs so to speak. I honestly thought the company was going to field me out to a business centre or more high rise offices... instead, they gave me a radio, and umm... A RADIO and out I went still non commissioned to conduct CRE (Contract Regulation Enforcement) in some truly rowdy/violent section 8 government housing complexes. Now I grew up in a pretty crappy enviorment and could walk the walk as well as talk the talk, but I didn't know "Security" of that kind existed, figured it was all O&R (Observe & Report). Over the course of 2 months I held down some seriously messed up posts that even the local police avoided if they didn't need to roll out on, and got my commission. It was then I realized I wanted to look into Law Enforcement work since I more or less was doing everything shy of actual arrests. But as fate would have it, my grandmother fell ill at age 90, and I left the work force for a year to take care of her with my parents until she passed on.

NOW I'm doing Mall Security while I go to school for my Peace Officer's certification, still commissioned but not allowed to carry, after working for (2) other PSCs of which did not have many CRE posts, I left them for the one I work for now. Sadly I can never work any post where you basically get paid to be a hot body and can read books or watch DVDs all night as long as an hourly patrol is done... Naaah, something in me changed while I was on those HUD complexes and later guarding a bank. I realized I have to be where I can not only FEEL but KNOW that I'm making a difference. Detering would be crime, and regulating on the stuff as it happens, then handing over the DBs (Dirtbags) to the responding LEOs. So I'm still in the "security" business because I believe in what the mission of *Security* ultimately is. It's just difficult having to work with other PSOs who don't give a damn about anything, and run the seriousness of the profession into the ground. Since transferring over from CRE construction sites [commissioned], the mall gig is a nice change, but only because the security unit I'm apart of are all top notch guys, mostly ex military and ex LEOs who also want to get the job done right. Sadly though, citizens still look down their noses at us, but they never hesistate to yell for us Rent-A-Cops when the chips are down either. It's a great profession for those who "love" what they do despite the lackluster $Money situation.

[N. A. Corbier]

I have to ask. Where did you learn the acronyms? CRE, PSC, PSO, etc. Your writing style is very unique, and I have never seen anyone write like this before.

[Qarlo X64]

I have to ask. Where did you learn the acronyms? CRE, PSC, PSO, etc. Your writing style is very unique, and I have never seen anyone write like this before.

Well I came up "Brown Shoe" (generic slang for the old guard military, roughly the era of the 1940s - about early 1961, due to a number of things, the 1st primarily being that the Army still issued out brown service shoes and combat boots were of dark brown leather not the black or tan we see these days. The other was figurative, as that era would be considered "anachronistic and rude" and if a shoe or boot was black it get brown by applying foot to ass) with a die-hard USAF TI for a father. The man inspected my room at 0600hrs like clockwork from ages 4 to 15 respectively, put me through 60s/70s era boot camp + MCT {Military Combat Training} by a few of his brothers that served in NAM off and on from age 10 till 18, and everything was in nomenclature of some form. An example of this was that a government issued ball point pen wasn't a pen... it was "an L-2". A typewriter wasn't a typewriter... it was an MC-88, etcetera, etcetera.

Thus in the year 2007 at age 29, my opinions and manner of looking at things is closer in age to the pious and "direct" old guard (the youngest being about 65yrs old) which is why I do believe I'm usually more on the ball in the Securities field than most of my coworkers. I was taught to know what to look for in both Urban and Rural enviorments, to be pre-resolved of all contingencies (that anything you can think of concerning security breeches, improvised devices, booby traps, etc, is to be in mind at all times, and if you can think it ---no matter how far fetched, so will someone else eventually) and know what to do without being told what to do. Thus I'm just naturally wired to crime prevention, security implementations and how to go about engaging in combat if neccessary both armed and unarmed. That said, I'm far from an expert at anything and would never claim to be, lest I would offend someone of a respective field of endeavor and/or position. I'm also a high context individual (business term here) versus a low context one, and most of America is low context... meaning explinations like this one are well elaborated on because the content is something that must be understood so that things aren't misconstrued, which can prove disasterous in our paranoid day and age.

Thus acronymns like PSC (Private Security Contractor), PSO (Private Security Officer), CRE (Contract Regulation Enforcement) are nomenclature I came up with personally, but I feel it describes the totality of both the profession and what exactly is being conducted without having to say the whole thing. Though in this case I'm spelling it out. In time I have actually seen ppl pick up my personal nomenclature because they themsleves see why I do it. Like for example ppl use the term S/O for "Security Officer", but that doesn't say exactly of what capacity. There are S/Os within the military and other places of service in the civilian sector. When you add the "P" to S/O for PSO it states clearly that the person is in fact in the employ of a Private Security Contractor (PSC) which is what a company is for all purposes, as a "Private" Security Officer. Thus no mistake can be made for Special Police, Security of a Bouncer like capacity, Security Police, etc. much less of the civil servant capacity of Law Enforcement. It's a bit on the side of semantics, but it works for me. CRE and O&R state exactly what the capacity of deployment is for the respective officer as well. Bascially I'm professional and ramrod straight in just about everything I do. Should've been a Marine, but sadly my Diabetes II, Hyper Tension and a sleeping pill kept me out the military in spite of my decade long familiarity of MCT. I let it depress me for a spell, but took that same tenacity, professionality and pride & confidence into the private sector to make as positive a difference as I could. For me being a PSO is the spring board to being a LEO, eventually (hopefully) of a TRU (Tactical Response Unit) and/or SWAT capacity, as maybe my MCT would come full circle in life saving in high risk situations.

[SecTrainer]

I was taught to know what to look for in both Urban and Rural enviorments, to be pre-resolved of all contingencies (that anything you can think of concerning security breeches, improvised devices, booby traps, etc, is to be in mind at all times, and if you can think it ---no matter how far fetched, so will someone else eventually) and know what to do without being told what to do. Thus I'm just naturally wired to crime prevention, security implementations and how to go about engaging in combat if neccessary both armed and unarmed

This quote deserves special comment because to me it characterizes the three traits that comprise the core difference between a professional security officer and someone who isn't - these three traits are:

1. Mental preparedness.
2. Mental alertness/situational awareness
3. Mental toughness/prior resolve.

Please note, everyone reading this, that this officer is describing the fact that he has already thought out potential situations that he might encounter...he has already thought out potential responses he might make...and he has already come to terms in his own mind with what might be required of him. Perhaps he has already "practiced" scenarios in his mind.

When I hear officers talk about their jobs being "boring", I know I'm listening to an officer who is totally clueless about the security environment, and the very real possibility of different contingencies that can occur ANYWHERE. He thinks his written job description defines his duties, when in fact situations can easily overtake job descriptions. He has no appreciation of the value of constant preparedness, or the life-saving value of not having to hesitate about "what action is appropriate" when ACTION, not equivocation, is called for. Prior resolve is wonderful and your chances of coming home after your shift each night are enhanced by 1000% if you already know "what I'll do IF <whatever>".

Ditto with respect to officers who talk about how wonderful it is that they get paid for "doing their homework", watching TV or otherwise goofing off on duty. That episode of CSI you're watching while on duty might be just your last episode. A security officer is always a prime target...and the bad guys don't know that you're just a do-nothing TV-watcher, do they?

If indeed this officer does indeed conduct himself and approach his job in the serious, thoughtful manner he describes here, he is not only to be commended...he is to be emulated, and I'd take a dozen just like him.

[3rd_shift]

I'm sure glad to see this read come back to life with some of the better posts I have read anywhere on the internet. :)

Confession:
I stopped working security 15 months ago in favor of becoming a contract driver.
I cover nearly 600 miles a day, 5 days a week driving all over Texas delivering auto parts.

However;
I have my security experience to thank for it. ;)
I treat my Sprinter Van is my rolling guard post, and that has made a difference with these long and often, boring runs.

I do plan on returning to working security when I get too old to drive.
Out of over a dozen job changes I have made in my lifetime, security is still king for me overall.
I look forward to working this line of work again when I retire.
Until then, I have a couple million miles to cover.
Over 150,000 were covered over the last 15 months.

Stephen :)

[Bill Warnock]

This quote deserves special comment because to me it characterizes the three traits that comprise the core difference between a professional security officer and someone who isn't - these three traits are:

1. Mental preparedness.
2. Mental alertness/situational awareness
3. Mental toughness/prior resolve.

Please note, everyone reading this, that this officer is describing the fact that he has already thought out potential situations that he might encounter...he has already thought out potential responses he might make...and he has already come to terms in his own mind with what might be required of him. Perhaps he has already "practiced" scenarios in his mind.

When I hear officers talk about their jobs being "boring", I know I'm listening to an officer who is totally clueless about the security environment, and the very real possibility of different contingencies that can occur ANYWHERE. He thinks his written job description defines his duties, when in fact situations can easily overtake job descriptions. He has no appreciation of the value of constant preparedness, or the life-saving value of not having to hesitate about "what action is appropriate" when ACTION, not equivocation, is called for. Prior resolve is wonderful and your chances of coming home after your shift each night are enhanced by 1000% if you already know "what I'll do IF <whatever>".

Ditto with respect to officers who talk about how wonderful it is that they get paid for "doing their homework", watching TV or otherwise goofing off on duty. That episode of CSI you're watching while on duty might be just your last episode. A security officer is always a prime target...and the bad guys don't know that you're just a do-nothing TV-watcher, do they?

If indeed this officer does indeed conduct himself and approach his job in the serious, thoughtful manner he describes here, he is not only to be commended...he is to be emulated, and I'd take a dozen just like him.
SecTrainer, excellent motif. I know from experience there are two types in this field and another field of your choosing, the doer and the slacker. In the security and police fields, if you are bored you are simply not doing your job, you're not looking and listening. Some folks are self starters and those who have to be pushed. Security requires people who have both an inquisitive and wary minds. Dont't wait to be told to do something, do it on your own. If your leadership doesn't like that, look for more verdant pastures.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[Qarlo X64]

If indeed this officer does indeed conduct himself and approach his job in the serious, thoughtful manner he describes here, he is not only to be commended...he is to be emulated, and I'd take a dozen just like him.

Yeah I do indeed conduct myself as described, and thanks for the compliments BTW. I honestly must say that it has more to do with the fact I was raised old school military and of a very law abiding family, with (2) uncles that are State Troopers. One deceased as of 1990 who was CHIP, and another still alive who runs all of the state of Ohio. I only wish there were more people in positions of authority (or clients even) that would have the same positive attitude towards me and others like me in the Private Security field and pay me at the rate of pay respectively, as well as trust me enough to have full range of "operations". But that usually isn't the case at all, I dunno... sometimes I think it's the state of Texas that might be the problem but I could be wrong. Hopefully all will go well with me getting into a Police department in the near future though, as that's what I'm pushing for. But a lot of the guys I'm friends with locally who are LEOs all state that a lot of deparments don't always know how to deal with a pro-active individual (which is not the same as a hot dog/glory boy) who's every fiber to the core is devoted to crime prevention, security implementations and truely serving and protecting the community at large.

Again thanks for the compliment, I'm far from an expert (and any good PSO, LEO or Soldier who understands what there is to understand, knows that they'll never be a master of anything, everyday you walk the thousand mile road indeed.) but I do strive for excellence.