Between Patrols?

[Penthrox]

Best way to keep awake between patrols is to do more patrols

Sorry but I do not agree with the movies or net as you are paid to complete a service and you are not 100% completing that service.

I manage a small security team at a shopping center and I would not put my guys through anything I am not capable of doing myself. If I can manage a night shift of where patrols are every hour (they take about 15 minutes) and stay awake i'm sure they can. I will go and stand on the top level of the carpark and watch over into the center (it is an open shopping center no doors. Brand direct shopping).

I have had two guards in the last month that have been dismissed for sleeping on the job. I understand the boredom factor I really do but this is work. Take the good with the bad. It cant all be shoplifters and assaults now can it ??

[N. A. Corbier]

I've been considering getting a TV tuner for my computer but never seem to have the money when they are on sale. I really can't justify it since I already have a potrable TV which I keep in my car. Oh well.

25-30 dollars, you can buy a WinTV unit. They work fine with Windows XP.

[integrator97]

Wow. My patrolling was done in the Navy, so none of that. No snacks, no candy, no gum, no tobacco. You got a canteen, for water. Don't get caught with something else in it.

Definitely no radio or tv, or books. Did some of that happen, sure. I never smoked, but I know you can light a cigarette with a paperclip and your radio battery.

Now I've got a corporate client with in house security. They have a tv and dvd player, and the internet.

[Aussie-SO]

Let me explain my position, I work a shopping center and we have to hit a wand point every 15 minutes (not the same wand point & not in the same area).

We can do a full circuit of the center in about 30 minutes, that's 3 levels, basement carpark, the center itself and the roof.

This patrol must be done 5 times a shift on top of hitting a wand point every 15 minutes.

We do not stop for lunch breaks or smoko, it's a 10 hour shift and we eat on the run, 5 minutes here 5 minutes there.

It is during those 5 minutes that I hit a Sudoku

I do my job by the book.

Cheers

[Badge714]

When I first started in security, the company only allowed reading materials that were "job related" which left you with post orders, first aid books, etc. So I subscribed to a couple security magazines and bought security books and manuals. We were allowed radios - if we kept them at a low level - so I spent a lot of time listening to the old TalkNet shows. (I miss Tom Snyder, RIP)

These habits have followed me through the years and I still read security magazines and books on post between rounds, but don't limit my officers to job related reading. Now that we have the Internet, I check out security related web sites, like this one. I have XM radio now, but still find myself listening to talk shows, old time radio and Fox News.

I don't eat anything at the guard station either, nor do I allow my officers to do so. It looks bad, plus you get tired of people walking by who just have to comment on what you're eating. "Is that pickeled herring?? YUCK!"

[officerchick]

I was a bit flippant in my earlier post on this thread. Truthfully, I do spend a fair amount of time reading the newspaper or online. At lunch I take 30 minutes to eat and do a crossword puzzle, but I also know I'm still "on." My post requires me to spend most of my day at the security console. I am the only officer on during the day, and both management and tenants expect me to be here mostly. I walk the perimeter and parking lot several times a day, and the garage and building as necessary, but I really don't get a lot of patrols in. My job is a cross between access patrol and public relations, so I do check in on tenants when possible and escort contractors, etc. We have several secure floors, which receive numerous visitors and deliveries a day, so I have to be available for them as well.

I currently have a chess game on my computer, and I've been trying to learn to play that. I read this forum, and recently located and begun reading the city's ordinances on the city website. I've also started searching for other sources of training and security information. I have to have some sort of input to stave off boredom.

[tacscuba]

I think I paid about $60 US - just toss some change into a jar each day and you will have the money for it in a month. Surprising how much you can carry around in loose change in your pocket - we do have $1.00 and $2.00 coins which can soon add up. Most importantly, do you have a 12 volt charger or inverter to run your notebook from your car ?

Yeah, I have a 100w inverter.

[N. A. Corbier]

Honestly, my favorite tactic for dealing with posts where you couldn't do anything at the desk but write log entires was to write log entries like this. Once an hour:

2300 Cpl. N. A. Corbier #3270 physically relieved Cpl. M. Griffen #1234, accounted for one key ring, one guard shack, one chronological log book, one copy of Excelsior Defense Post Orders promulgated as ABC Emporium of Fun, one client issued parking citation book, and have assumed the security watch.
2301 Cpl. M. Griffen is ashore.
2302 Began patrol of interior and exterior of property.
2347 Returned from patrol of interior and exterior of property. Began writing log entry. During the patrol, I found a coke machine which was unlocked in the main employee lounge. Closed and secured coke machine, called United Vending using telephone number posted on machine and reported it. Found a coffee machine in the employee lounge which had been left on, turned coffee machine off. An extension cord was found in the machine shop area without being taped down. The exterior gate is locked in the closed position. There are 6 vehicles, all belonging to management, in the gated parking area. The cameras from the broken camera system are no longer on their mounts, their location is unknown at this time.
2358 Completed writing log entry, returned to patrol.

just killed 10 minutes.

[Guest]

Well...

I usually do my best to avoid taking long breaks from my patrols unless I have another guard present. I will take time for a quick bite of dinner and finish up some homework, but not too terribly long. When I used to smoke, I could kill infinite amounts of time doing that...Otherwise, I spend my shift doing my rounds. As stated earlier, that's what I get paid to do. About the only time I have intentionally messed around and done next to nothing on my shift was when I first started and got mad at a client. I felt it was unreasonable that the client wanted full logs for every hour of a 14-hr shift. I decided to sit in my truck nearly the entire night and make 1 or 2 patrols the entire time. The client essentially told our SGTs that we shouldn't be taking breaks because that isn't what they paid for.

[Alaska Security]

When I'm on duty, I am on duty...

monitor equipment
do checks on various equipment
monitor radio for any issues with other guards, and company pax
perform maintanance on weapons if needed
fill out logs
read security and safety bulletins put out by higher
contact individuals in my guarded area
report deficiencies of various equipment

vary my times of patrols and remain vigilant. I don't see watching movies or flogging the bishop on my post orders.

[Hank1]

When I'm on duty, I am on duty...

monitor equipment
do checks on various equipment
monitor radio for any issues with other guards, and company pax
perform maintanance on weapons if needed
fill out logs
read security and safety bulletins put out by higher
contact individuals in my guarded area
report deficiencies of various equipment

vary my times of patrols and remain vigilant. I don't see watching movies or flogging the bishop on my post orders.

Does "flogging the bishop" mean what I think it means?

[Alaska Security]

I think it's a universal moniker.

[Hank1]

I think it's a universal moniker.

LOL! Roger that!

[Minneapolis Security]

When I worked at a private community club house, it had a pool. In addition to doing security, I had to test the pool. So occasionally I would "test" it by taking a swim

At my other job I just brought my laptop and worked online off of somebody's wifi. I want to get one of those mobile broadband cards, but I don't think I could afford the $60 a month.

Sometimes I think its the best $60.00 a month I spend. I was also able to get rid of my home internet service and just use the card all the time. Sprint has the fastest network around Minneapolis.

[junkyarddog]

It is unusual for me to be stuck on a post, half of my job is to be out making sure other S/O's are not being inattentive at their posts.

When I am stuck on a post, I am usually too busy on the radio or phone (giving directions, spelling out procedure for someone, dealing with incidents etc) to do anything else.

When I am not patrolling, not on the phone or radio, I'll catch up on paperwork, read the news paper, update the driving directions for our mobile patrol, write out suggestions for my higher-ups etc. Mainly the radio is on. I am not very comfortable with shutting out one of my senses by blasting music, watching tv or playing video games on duty.