Ugh!

[Taktiq]

When approaching a vehicle on your site, never do any of the following:

1. Have your hands in your pockets.
2. Approach from the front or side.
3. Never lean into the window (especially with hands in your pockets)...STAY OUT OF ARMS REACH!!!
4. Never, EVER be silouhetted!!!

Jesus, doesn't the Wackenhut Corp teach it's guards anything? No wonder I keep seeing new people nightly, they're all dying because they make these mistakes.

[gcmc security part 2]

What exactly do you have against Wackenhut? This is the second post you've made directed specifically towards them, yet could be any other company.

How many companies DO teach their officers the way to properly walk up to a vehicle? Seriously I challenge you to find that. Sure there are some but I think you will find the majority do not.


As far as the hands in pockets, I'd woulda slapped him in the head, I hate that period, looks bad, but then again I was a Marine and thats a no-no.

[Badge714]

When approaching a vehicle on your site, never do any of the following:

1. Have your hands in your pockets.
2. Approach from the front or side.
3. Never lean into the window (especially with hands in your pockets)...STAY OUT OF ARMS REACH!!!
4. Never, EVER be silouhetted!!!

I often approached suspicious persons and vehicles with my hand in my jacket pocket. The pocket I keep my S&W Model 40 in, that is.

[Maelstrom]

As far as the hands in pockets, I'd would'a slapped him in the head, I hate that period, looks bad, but then again I was a Marine and that's a no-no.

Because of the way my duty belt is arranged (with attached pouches) getting hands in & out of pockets can have varying degrees of difficulty... and FWIW I agree hands-in-pockets looks tardy!

[Taktiq]

What exactly do you have against Wackenhut? This is the second post you've made directed specifically towards them, yet could be any other company.

How many companies DO teach their officers the way to properly walk up to a vehicle? Seriously I challenge you to find that. Sure there are some but I think you will find the majority do not.


As far as the hands in pockets, I'd woulda slapped him in the head, I hate that period, looks bad, but then again I was a Marine and thats a no-no.

Yeah, I didn't mean this post as a rant against Wackenhut specifically. Those are just the officers that also happen to occupy the same site as myself at the moment and they're the one's doing this. They'll approach my vehicle to find out who I am (new guards nightly) and when they approach other vehicles to check employee ID's and do all the things I listed.

How many companies? Probably not many, I'll agree. I just happened to have the advantage that when I started security the very first time, the company I worked for was a small one owned by a former New Mexico State Trooper (and Marine) who taught us how to do various things like how to pat someone down or approach a vehicle. I just wish all guards/officers got this sort of training.

[Echos13]

Granted G4S/TWC only teaches the basics in regards to this. The 40 hour in-house class has no hands on training in regards to the field. Which I admit should be a requirement. However some of the posts here in Florida are government sites dealing with the public 24/7. My assigned area all CPOs are required to be former and or present LEOs or military LEOs to work on this site per the the clients request. I make about 75 to 100 contacts per shift and about a 3rd of them are in vehicles. So most of us are very aware of procedures when approaching a vehicle weather day or night. That may change once this contract litigation is over. We are losing our back-up CPO supervisor. In which most of our proactive duties will pretty much stop.

[Ron Jessee]

excellent but I would add never present your right (or firarm) side to a subject. Even if you have a level 3 holster.

[N. A. Corbier]

These things simply aren't addressed by most companies. After all, many say don't confront anyone, so teaching stops isn't needed.

If I wear a duty rig, then my hands can't really get to the pockets. After all, those Safariland holsters are huge, and my radio usually got in the way of the other pocket.

[Maelstrom]

Yeah, I didn't mean this post as a rant against Wackenhut specifically. Those are just the officers that also happen to occupy the same site as myself at the moment and they're the one's doing this. They'll approach my vehicle to find out who I am (new guards nightly) and when they approach other vehicles to check employee ID's and do all the things I listed.

Y'know you do have the option to make the odd operational suggestion (complete with a brief explanation)... then you may get to see that TWC employee again!

[JB diligence]

Never approach ANYONE with hands in pockets. As for cars at night, I like to throw on my high beams as well, and on my approach shine my flashlight in the driver side mirror. As I am speaking with a driver I face the driver, this way I can also monitor any occupants/contents of the vehicle, as well as any approaching traffic so I don't get clipped.

[NRM_Oz]

Be warned of someone who may be playing pocket billards on duty. This is a sign of poor performance and aptitude and I have seen far too many incidents of armed folded, legs crossed security staff who give off a negative vibe to the public as well as are unprepared for the unknown.

We were always trained in something called "Best Foot Forward" where you stand feet apart and 1 foot forward when approaching someone and this gives you the chance to step back or deflect any attack - but these days the trainers are too busy with english lessons rather than personal defence.

[integrator97]

It amazes me to see how many traffic stops are made, both by local and highway patrol, and they don't angle the vehicle and are often a few feet to the right of the vehicle they are stopping. They have no protection from either passing traffic, nor an armed felon in the vehicle they stopped. I thought this was basic training for law enforcement.

[Hank1]

It amazes me to see how many traffic stops are made, both by local and highway patrol, and they don't angle the vehicle and are often a few feet to the right of the vehicle they are stopping. They have no protection from either passing traffic, nor an armed felon in the vehicle they stopped. I thought this was basic training for law enforcement.

Heck! I have seen Training Officers for FHP and TPD standing right next to his trainee on the driver's side of the subject vehicle. You dont have to be a great shooter to hit both.

Be Safe,

Hank