Security Professionals operating in fear (overcoming the lies of the industry)

[Tuff]

As a PPO, on any normal day I have direct contact with indivuals that would mean my client harm if situations unfolded in a manner to allow them to get close enough to a client. So on a daily basis I can go from touching people and issue verbal commands from nice polite ones all the way way up to a loud order with aggression behind it and weapon drawn.. When you work in executive protection getting into the "fray" is your duty ...its what we are contracted to do and negating violence is our job as well as securing our principal.



As for today its a easy day....

[TOII]

Yes there have been, but they are difficult to win.

All the more reason to take it upon your self to know the post orders, policies and procedures of your company as well as the law and case law as it applies to what you do. One must also know there own limits.

[txinvestigator]

Now this won't apply to everybody working in the security field but i would say it does apply to most of us. First, i have to recall the news story about a lifeguard who was fired from his job a few days ago for attempting to rescue a drowning patron. This lifeguard actually helped tend to the individual once he was out of the water but was fired for "leaving his designated area". Once this whole scenario hit the headlines, his employer offered him his job back and began the politically correct steps (possibly in order to avoid embarrassment, liability, and so forth). A few months ago i watched a story on the news about a couple of security officers who sat and watched a few teenage girls beat up another girl pretty bad. The officers did not make an effort to intervene at all or distract the offenders. They made a call on the radio and watched the event unfold which took place for several minutes. When these "officers" were asked why they just allowed this to go on, they stated that thier job was not to intervene, but to "observe and report".

Maybe i'm naive but i think that nearly anyone who would take time to participate in a forum such as this has a passion for public safety and law enforcement. I hope so. I don't expect everyone to agree with me on this either. There are going to be quite a few people who are not for pro-active security. Some will say "just be security and leave the law enforcing to police". I believe when you come to work as a public safety professional of any kind, you should be prepared to take action and simply just do the right thing. Don't hear what i'm not saying, but take this in balance. If this above described incident would have happened in front of me, it would not have mattered if i was in uniform or not, i couldn't just stand around..much more so if i was in uniform, knowing it's deterrant power to most criminaly minded people, but to not even make an effort out of fear is irresponsible. Security companies have rules for a reason but the mentality has to change that we must operate in fear because our only job supposedly is to "obseve and report".

Jumping into a fray isn't usually a good choice. When i left juvenile corrections a few years ago, i had to untrain myself. We were trained to jump into the fight and break it up and handcuff them. After 5 years of doing this i learned that if you do that in the streets with adults it can get you killed, especially with a uniform on. I think each situation warrants a different response. To go back to the swimming incident at the beginning of the post, this guy got fired for doing what he knew was right, and yes he did violate a company policy but he valued a human life more than that. I hope the security industry (as many of you have stressed over these posts) gets back to more training. Better training. Hiring competent people and raising the wages some for those who earn it and are qualified. When i worked armed security at a bank, they spent most of the time training us to basically hide in a corner (and threw alot of stats at us). They even told us to open the door for the robber as he leaves with the money. Now they didn't tell us we COULDN'T use our weapons, but in so many words that's the message they wanted to convey. I've rambled enough...i know liability is always an issue but security has to get out of fear.

You premise is wrong. Security Guards are not " public safety" anything. You are privately employed.

[TOII]

You premise is wrong. Security Guards are not " public safety" anything. You are privately employed.

Not all Security officers are privately employed. There are certainly privately employed Security personnel whose main job is to protect the public,as previously stated. Most jobs however are not.

[PlateStacker]

Might Interest for you to know, that is a question I ask in a Interview. I had a Hulk Hogan wanna-bee who would
have driven to the garage, and have gotten some answers. He did not get the job. 98 pound young girl who would
have locked the door and called the police, got the job

Two girls battler royal on the ground? How do i know one of them is not packing a firearm, knife? I am senie old fart.
I want to be around to enjoy my grand daughter. Call the police? Yes

Anderson, if I am working at Happy Smith's Toyota overnight. Bad guys drive up to the dealership and demand I give them the keys to a real nice car. or face phyiscal abuse My only question, "Will that be a Blue or Red Camry?

Deter, Dectect, Report. In the old Pinkerton orientation films they pound into your head
"You ain't a cop" Sometimes it wiser to retreat to a safer place.
The Toyota can be replaced. The rocks at my post can be replaced. You can't

Oh wow.. this is exactly why some companies get zero respect from anyone. This is not Security at all.. they are nothing more than regular staff that throw on a T shirt that says "security"! Post with retiree's and obese Officer working there are totally different than the high risk details that some are used to. You even admit that you've NEVER even worked armed?! Please keep your opinions about those who do work High Risk assignments to yourself then. Checking stickers on cars is a far cry from Armor transport, gang task force, fugitive apprehension teams, Executive Protection, Nuclear Protection. You can cower in a corner and call 911 all you want, Officers that are pro-active and take their job seriously (and are responsible about it) should not be insulted for it. Calling us "Hulk Hogen" wannabee's is very insulting. There is a huge difference between being Rambo and not letting the BGs win.

Is it ok with you that any BG that see's you, knows he can do ANYTHING he wants in your presence and get away with it? Thats sad, sir.

This is exactly how Security gets a bad rap and no respect.

[TOII]

Please keep your opinions about those who do work High Risk assignments to yourself then. Checking stickers on cars is a far cry from Armor transport, gang task force, fugitive apprehension teams, Executive Protection, Nuclear Protection.

This is exactly how Security gets a bad rap and no respect.

Have you ever been a "car sticker checker", do you have any idea how risky that job actually is? Apparently not.