Open Site Security

[mike booth]

Anybody working an open site? If so are you contract or in-house?

[Lawson]

An open site?

[HotelSecurity]

Me too, what's an open site?

[mike booth]

Open sites are typically attractions. Theme parks are a good example. Good open site security encourages people to "feel" free to go where they want and do as they please. Good open site security redirects people from restricted areas and behavior in non confrontational ways. Malls, museums, hotels, gated communities, golf courses, etc. are all open sites.

[Lawson]

I worked at a couple warehouses where employees were encouraged to come to work... does that count?

[mike booth]

No, that's a closed site, LOL, because you could fire them if they didn't behave.

[Mall Director]

You mean Public domain Sites.. Ahhhh, yes, but we are confrontational. LOL. Well, it has to be this way, or no rules would ever be followed. It is an intersting job, as you get the most socialization possible!

[HotelSecurity]

Well now that I know what an open site is I can answer the question. Yes I do work in an open site. Have done so since 1977 & I am in-house.

There is something I always say, in this job you always learn something new even after doing it for 30 years! ( I learned what open site meant )

[Mall Director]

Yeh, kina simple way of putting it, huh? LOL! Ohh, BTW, we are inhouse somewhat.. the corporation that are our clients, also hold the most shares in our corporation.. kind of a merger, so they really cant get rid of us.. LOL! Love it when people get greedy!

[mike booth]

Thanks for the patience and responses. I'm going somewhere with this because I've made some observations on open sites and contract vs. in house security. I'd like to see if other peoples experience backs me up.

Mall Director, one of those observations is mall security tends to be a little more confrontational than security at other open sites, among other things. And yes public domain sites are open sites, however, open sites are also include private residences and residential communities.

[Black Caesar]

Anybody working an open site? If so are you contract or in-house?

I do. I work for a Community College Police Department. Because it's a school (institution of higher learning), the College District has a great deal of power in regards to use of the Grounds.

If they wanted to, they could build a fence around it and say "no one but persons with legitimate business allow on campus". State Law gives near total control of school/campus grounds to the College District. But in practice we treat the campuses as public places, only removing people "with cause".

Sometimes we have people fishing on some of our campuses. Every morning older folks walk our halls like they do at malls, and people use our walking trails and some sports fields without even being students. We do sometimes have to kick people off the soccer fields because a group that actually has a contract to us the field shows up.

After Campus closes (11pm) then we go into lock down lol. Despite being a public college, simply being on campus after 11 gives us probable cause to stop someone (same as being in a city park or building after hours). I've had to explain dozens of times that even though it is a community college, the District has the right to restrict when people can come there, like any other school.

During "times of emergency or unrest" we tighten up the restrictions on non-staff/student persons who can be on campus. But normally, other than some random Student I.D. checking in the stundent center areas, people come and go as they please when the college is open.

[Mr. Security]

Thanks for the patience and responses. I'm going somewhere with this because I've made some observations on open sites and contract vs. in house security. I'd like to see if other peoples experience backs me up.

Mall Director, one of those observations is mall security tends to be a little more confrontational than security at other open sites, among other things. And yes public domain sites are open sites, however, open sites are also include private residences and residential communities.

No offense Mall Director, but there may be some substance to Mike's statement. However, as long as security isn't instigating or inflaming confrontations, I feel more comfortable when they take an assertive approach to enforcement. “Nip it in the bud!” as Fife would say.

[mike booth]

I'm not accussing mall security of being more aggresive, just noting it. It may well be neccessary for mall security to be more aggresive in their particular circumstances. I don't like to jump to conclusions, that's why I asked for input.

[Mr. Security]

I'm not accussing mall security of being more aggresive, just noting it. It may well be neccessary for mall security to be more aggresive in their particular circumstances. I don't like to jump to conclusions, that's why I asked for input.

I'm not either. My post said assertive, not aggresive.

[HotelSecurity]

We have to be pretty pro-active in dealing with certain guests. (Spring break & New Years Eve are wild).