A security officer (or security guard) is a person who is paid to protect
property,
assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally
employed civilian personnel. Security officers are generally
uniformed
and act to protect property by maintaining a high visibility presence
to deter illegal and inappropriate actions, observing (either directly,
through patrols, or by watching
alarm systems or
video cameras) for signs of crime, fire or disorder; then taking action and reporting any incidents to their client and
emergency services as appropriate.
Many security firms and proprietary security departments practice the
"detect, deter, observe and report" methodology. Security officers are
not required to make arrests, but have the authority to make a
citizen's arrest, or otherwise act as an agent of law enforcement, for example, at the request of a
police officer or
sheriff.
A private security officer's primary duty is the prevention and
deterrence of crime. Security personnel enforce company rules and can
act to protect lives and property, and they often have a contractual
obligation to provide these actions. In addition to basic deterrence,
security officers are often trained to perform specialized tasks such as
arrest and control (including handcuffing and restraints), operate
emergency equipment, perform
first aid,
CPR, take accurate notes, write detailed reports, and perform other tasks as required by the client they are serving.
Security personnel may also perform
access control
at building entrances and vehicle gates; meaning, they ensure that
employees and visitors display proper passes or identification before
entering the facility. Security officers are often called upon to
respond to minor emergencies (lost persons, lockouts, dead vehicle
batteries, etc.) and to assist in serious emergencies by guiding
emergency responders to the scene of the incident, helping to redirect
foot traffic to safe locations, and by documenting what happened on an
incident report.
Types of security personnel and companies
A security guard protecting the entrance to an apartment building, and managing the parking of cars in
Haikou,
Hainan Province,
China.
Security personnel are classified as either of the following:
- "In-house" or "proprietary" (i.e. employed by the same company or organization they protect, such as a mall, theme park, or casino); formerly often called works police or security police in the United Kingdom.
- "Security supervisor", meets with clients and employees as necessary to ensure client and employee satisfaction.[5]
- "Scheduler", Security Officer assignment and strategic scheduling
resulting in client satisfaction, employee retention and cost maintained
within District financial plans.[6]
- "Human Resources Manager", effective delivery of human resources
services such as employment, employee/labor relations, compensation,
benefits administration, training and development, workers’
compensation, and audit compliance. Maintains and implements corporate
policies and programs related to employment.[7]
- "Client Service Manager", promotes financial growth for the District
by ensuring client retention, Security Officer retention, and support
for the development of new business.[8]
- "Client Service Supervisor", provides security services for
designated clients resulting in customer satisfaction, Security Officer
retention, and financial growth for the District. Provides service in a
large and complex area.[9]
- "Contract", working for a private security company which protects many locations.
- "Public Security", a person employed or appointed as an (usually armed) security officer by a government or government agency.
- "Private Police Officers", or "Special Police".
- "Private Patrol Officers", vehicle patrol officers that protect multiple client premises.
- "Parapolice", aggressive firms that routinely engage in criminal investigation and arrest.[10]
Industry terms for security personnel include: security guard, security officer, security agent,
safety patrol, private police,
company police, security enforcement officer, and
public safety. Terms for specialized jobs include
bouncer,
bodyguards, executive protection agent,
loss prevention,
alarm responder, hospital security officer, mall security officer,
crime prevention officer, patrolman, private patrol officer, and private
patrol operator.
State and local governments sometimes regulate the use of these terms
by law—for example, certain words and phrases that "give an impression
that he or she is connected in any way with the federal government, a
state government, or any political subdivision of a state government"
are forbidden for use by California security licensees by Business and
Professions Code Section 7582.26. So the terms "private
homicide police" or "special agent" would be unlawful for a security licensee to use in California. Similarly, in
Canada, various acts
[11][12] specifically prohibits private security personnel from using the terms
Probation Officer,
law enforcement,
police, or
police officer.
Alberta and Ontario prohibit the use of the term
Security Officer,
which has been in widespread use in the United States for many decades.
Recent changes to the act have also introduced restrictions on uniform
and vehicle colours and markings to make private security personnel
clearly distinctive from police personnel. Some sources feel that some
of these restrictions are put in place to satisfy the
Canadian Police Association.
[13]
There is a marked difference between persons performing the duties
historically associated with watchmen and persons who take a more active
role in protecting persons and property. The former, often called
"guards", are taught the mantra "observe and report", are minimally
trained, and not expected to deal with the public or confront criminals.
The latter are often highly trained, sometimes armed depending on
contracts agreed upon with clientele, and are more likely to interact
with the general public and to confront the criminal element. These
employees tend to take pride in the title "Security Officer" or "
Protection Officer" and disdain the label of "guard".
Security jobs vary in pay and duties. There is sometimes little
relationship between duties performed and compensation, for example some
mall "security officers" who are exposed to serious risks earn less per
hour than "industrial security guards" who have less training and
responsibility.
[14]
However, there are now more positions in the security role that
separate not just the titles, but the job itself. The roles have
progressed and so have the areas for which security people are needed.
The term "agent" can be confusing in the security industry because it
can describe a civil legal relationship between an employee and their
employer or contractor ("agent of the owner" in California PC 602), and
also can describe a person in government service ("
Special Agent Jones of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation".)
The title "agent" can be confused with bail enforcement agents, also
known as "bounty hunters", who are sometimes regulated by the same
agencies which regulate private security. The term "agent" is also used
in other industries, such as banking agents, loan agents and real estate
agents.
Security agents are often employed in loss prevention and personal or
executive protection (bodyguards) roles. They typically work in
plainclothes (without a uniform), and are usually highly trained to act
lawfully in direct defense of life or property.
Security personnel are essentially private citizens, and therefore
are bound by the same laws and regulations as the citizenry they are
contracted to serve, and therefore are not allowed to represent
themselves as law enforcement under penalty of law.
A security guard/officer is an individual employed by
a contract security company or a proprietary security
organization to
protect persons and/or property from criminal activities. If
an individual maintains an armed guard registration it is not necessary
to also be registered as an "unarmed" guard.