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.