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Criminal Justice Orientation
Judicial Process
Arrest, Search and Seizure
Rules of Evidence
State Criminal Codes
Legal Liabilities
Controlled Substances
Court Testimony
Victims Rights
Domestic Violence
Ethnic Intimidation & Hate Crimes
Problem Solving
Crime Prevention
Officer Survival
Pedestrian Contacts
Gangs
Vehicle Contacts
Vehicle Searches
Building Searches
Civil Disputes
Crowd Control
Hazardous Materials
Area Searches
Private Security’s Role in Terrorism
Incident Command System
Biohazards Awareness
State Traffic Code
Traffic Direction & Control
Traffic Accident Investigation
Preliminary Investigations
Crime Scenes
Crime Scene Documentation
Identification and Collection of Evidence
Interview and Interrogation Techniques
Identification of Suspects
Report Writing
Stress Management
Verbal Communication Techniques
Arrest Control
Use of Force
De-escalation of Force
Personal Weapons & Potential hazards
Alternatives to Using Deadly Force
Searching and Handcuffing
Control Techniques
Sudden Custody Death Syndrome
Weapons Retention
Defensive Tactics
Neck Restraints
Impact Instruments
Firearms Training Course (if armed)
These are areas that I throw out as an initial idea of the basic training requirements for security officers. I haven’t listed the amount of time that would be spent on each subject. Also, some may say that there are areas listed that really only pertain to law enforcement personnel. I would say you’re right, but that those areas would be beneficial for an officer to have knowledge and understanding of the material. At any time a security officer may be interacting with law enforcement personnel they have called upon. It would be incumbent of the security officer to be knowledgeable enough not to screw a case up for the police/DA by being ignorant of – for example – how that evidence was seized and handled prior to turning it over to law enforcement.
I have borrowed shamelessly from the Colorado Post Requirements (after all if it’s important for a leo to learn it may be similarly important for a security officer to learn). I found that the state sets a minimum of 546 hours for the Basic Academy (Academic-392 hours, Arrest Control-62 hours, Driving-40 hours, and Firearms-52 hours) and for reserve officer programs, 200-240 hours (Academic-86 hours, Arrest Control-62 hours, Firearms-52 hours, and optional Driving-40 hours).
Programs would of course be tailored to the security industry. For example, study of the criminal codes and traffics codes may be those areas which a security officer would reasonably expect to meet. Officers should know the elements for state statutes, how to determine if the elements have been met for arrest, etc. I wouldn’t worry about teaching the law on murder for example. The aspects for weapons retention, use of force etcetera could be contained in a packaged defensive tactics program, like PPCT. This will certify an officer in 40 hours. I know this program since we use it (of which I am certified as an instructor) and it is the course given to our PD.
The items outlined here are by no means all inclusive. In fact there could be argument over whether all of these topics would be needed even. But before we can even create a standards program for security personnel we have to have a starting point for discussion. The easiest way is to look to POST programs and work from there to develop a program for security professionals.
These are just my initial thoughts. I open the floor for discussion.
Judicial Process
Arrest, Search and Seizure
Rules of Evidence
State Criminal Codes
Legal Liabilities
Controlled Substances
Court Testimony
Victims Rights
Domestic Violence
Ethnic Intimidation & Hate Crimes
Problem Solving
Crime Prevention
Officer Survival
Pedestrian Contacts
Gangs
Vehicle Contacts
Vehicle Searches
Building Searches
Civil Disputes
Crowd Control
Hazardous Materials
Area Searches
Private Security’s Role in Terrorism
Incident Command System
Biohazards Awareness
State Traffic Code
Traffic Direction & Control
Traffic Accident Investigation
Preliminary Investigations
Crime Scenes
Crime Scene Documentation
Identification and Collection of Evidence
Interview and Interrogation Techniques
Identification of Suspects
Report Writing
Stress Management
Verbal Communication Techniques
Arrest Control
Use of Force
De-escalation of Force
Personal Weapons & Potential hazards
Alternatives to Using Deadly Force
Searching and Handcuffing
Control Techniques
Sudden Custody Death Syndrome
Weapons Retention
Defensive Tactics
Neck Restraints
Impact Instruments
Firearms Training Course (if armed)
These are areas that I throw out as an initial idea of the basic training requirements for security officers. I haven’t listed the amount of time that would be spent on each subject. Also, some may say that there are areas listed that really only pertain to law enforcement personnel. I would say you’re right, but that those areas would be beneficial for an officer to have knowledge and understanding of the material. At any time a security officer may be interacting with law enforcement personnel they have called upon. It would be incumbent of the security officer to be knowledgeable enough not to screw a case up for the police/DA by being ignorant of – for example – how that evidence was seized and handled prior to turning it over to law enforcement.
I have borrowed shamelessly from the Colorado Post Requirements (after all if it’s important for a leo to learn it may be similarly important for a security officer to learn). I found that the state sets a minimum of 546 hours for the Basic Academy (Academic-392 hours, Arrest Control-62 hours, Driving-40 hours, and Firearms-52 hours) and for reserve officer programs, 200-240 hours (Academic-86 hours, Arrest Control-62 hours, Firearms-52 hours, and optional Driving-40 hours).
Programs would of course be tailored to the security industry. For example, study of the criminal codes and traffics codes may be those areas which a security officer would reasonably expect to meet. Officers should know the elements for state statutes, how to determine if the elements have been met for arrest, etc. I wouldn’t worry about teaching the law on murder for example. The aspects for weapons retention, use of force etcetera could be contained in a packaged defensive tactics program, like PPCT. This will certify an officer in 40 hours. I know this program since we use it (of which I am certified as an instructor) and it is the course given to our PD.
The items outlined here are by no means all inclusive. In fact there could be argument over whether all of these topics would be needed even. But before we can even create a standards program for security personnel we have to have a starting point for discussion. The easiest way is to look to POST programs and work from there to develop a program for security professionals.
These are just my initial thoughts. I open the floor for discussion.
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