Ok, I'm going to try to hammer out something I just thought about, and see how others feel about this.
For some elements of society, the uniformed presence of a law enforcement officer creates a modification of behavior. They may slow down abruptly when speeding upon seeing the police vehicle. They may be quieter - not so boisterous or stop using profanity, when on the street. If they are mistreating, or have the perception they are, a person - they will stop and start acting friendly towards that person.
However, we add a uniformed security officer. Public perception is that the uniformed security officer has less power than the private citizen - usually the average private citizen does not know their own rights and powers - and therefore, a resentment comes up.
The speeder, having identified the cruiser as anything but a sworn officer, will usually race by it - angry that it dared make them slow down. I have seen speeders do this to park rangers and state wildlife officers (Who then proceed to pop them as state officers), and to other security companies.
The person is public is now resentful of this person's lack of appearant authority - they feel tricked by the uniform and resent having been made afraid by what appeared to be a "sworn officer". They will usually then harass or otherwise interefere with the security officer. Sometimes, this ends up with a confrontation and an arrest/detainment by the security officer for disorderly conduct, battery, or a trespass warning issued.
When you add firearms and other duty gear, the public may feel even more resentful. Why does this person get to carry a gun, but I can't? It usually ends up with an arrest/detainment, or trespass warning issued.
Alot of companies believe the answer to this is soft uniforms, or corporate enviornment uniforms. People no longer feel resentful of the "false authority" that the police-style uniform gives, and ignore the security officer. Those who would harass the officer usually will simply ignore them, and may not engage in behavior that warrants the officer taking enforcement action.
However, when a soft uniform or corporate uniform takes enforcement action, there's immediately initial resistance - your a security guard, you can't do anything to me, I know my rights. This has happened with a simple, "Could you stop yelling," or "Please leave." At that time, there is no fear factor on the part of the rule/law violator, and it is an uphill battle to restore order to the situation. Calling the police initially for every rule violation is not the answer, as then there is absolutely no purpose for the client to have uniformed security, as the police will quickly report to the client.
So, any suggestions on how to manage the fear of public authority, and the resentment that security officers in hard uniforms "fake" that public authority?
For some elements of society, the uniformed presence of a law enforcement officer creates a modification of behavior. They may slow down abruptly when speeding upon seeing the police vehicle. They may be quieter - not so boisterous or stop using profanity, when on the street. If they are mistreating, or have the perception they are, a person - they will stop and start acting friendly towards that person.
However, we add a uniformed security officer. Public perception is that the uniformed security officer has less power than the private citizen - usually the average private citizen does not know their own rights and powers - and therefore, a resentment comes up.
The speeder, having identified the cruiser as anything but a sworn officer, will usually race by it - angry that it dared make them slow down. I have seen speeders do this to park rangers and state wildlife officers (Who then proceed to pop them as state officers), and to other security companies.
The person is public is now resentful of this person's lack of appearant authority - they feel tricked by the uniform and resent having been made afraid by what appeared to be a "sworn officer". They will usually then harass or otherwise interefere with the security officer. Sometimes, this ends up with a confrontation and an arrest/detainment by the security officer for disorderly conduct, battery, or a trespass warning issued.
When you add firearms and other duty gear, the public may feel even more resentful. Why does this person get to carry a gun, but I can't? It usually ends up with an arrest/detainment, or trespass warning issued.
Alot of companies believe the answer to this is soft uniforms, or corporate enviornment uniforms. People no longer feel resentful of the "false authority" that the police-style uniform gives, and ignore the security officer. Those who would harass the officer usually will simply ignore them, and may not engage in behavior that warrants the officer taking enforcement action.
However, when a soft uniform or corporate uniform takes enforcement action, there's immediately initial resistance - your a security guard, you can't do anything to me, I know my rights. This has happened with a simple, "Could you stop yelling," or "Please leave." At that time, there is no fear factor on the part of the rule/law violator, and it is an uphill battle to restore order to the situation. Calling the police initially for every rule violation is not the answer, as then there is absolutely no purpose for the client to have uniformed security, as the police will quickly report to the client.
So, any suggestions on how to manage the fear of public authority, and the resentment that security officers in hard uniforms "fake" that public authority?
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