private security

[mozzandherb]

Just curious and wondering if there are any private security workers here? i.e bodyguards, private policing? I have always been intrigued by this work and I was just curious to hear people's opinions about this kind of work. Thanks

[jks9199]

What sort of private security are you interested in? It's a very large field, ranging from security advisors who develop and design plans, buildings, and response systems, through program security management who do things like access control management and document security, all the way to bodyguards (as you mentioned), and line security officers who patrol private properties with varying amounts of police authority. In some cases, there are even real "private police" employed by corporations, or some communities.

[Bill Mattocks]

Just curious and wondering if there are any private security workers here? i.e bodyguards, private policing? I have always been intrigued by this work and I was just curious to hear people's opinions about this kind of work. Thanks

I've worked as a security guard at various times in my life. I worked for what used to be called "Martin-Marietta Denver Aerospace" in the late 80's in Denver. I was a member of the plant protection unit, had to join the United Plant Guard Worker's Union. I have also worked security for Marriott hotels, and Wells Fargo in Omaha for a short time.

I've never been a bodyguard or done any bouncing.

The security work at Martin I would call a 'career' type job if that's what a person wanted to do. The rest are minimum-wage jobs that you do until you find something better and move on. All boring. Well, I got to see Titan missiles at Martin, and I got to watch Chaka Kahn thrown what appeared to be a drunken hissy fit in the Lobby of the downtown Denver Marriott. I evicted a couple pee-smelling drunks I found hiding under stairwells from time to time. That's about it.

[mozzandherb]

I was wondering more about private policing, such as protecting dignitaries and others, front line work, not behind the scenes. I was curious as to how people get these opportunities and what type of requirements would be needed

[shesulsa]

I was wondering more about private policing, such as protecting dignitaries and others, front line work, not behind the scenes. I was curious as to how people get these opportunities and what type of requirements would be needed

That would be known as "executive protection."

[Bill Mattocks]

I was wondering more about private policing, such as protecting dignitaries and others, front line work, not behind the scenes. I was curious as to how people get these opportunities and what type of requirements would be needed

Law enforcement and certain types of military background, and know somebody who is already in the business. Bulletcatching really is not very fun work.

[Drac]

That would be known as "executive protection."

Yup, what she said...Real hard jobs to locate...


Just curious and wondering if there are any private security workers here? i.e bodyguards, private policing? I have always been intrigued by this work and I was just curious to hear people's opinions about this kind of work. Thanks

I have been both bouncer and security..They are both low paid thankless jobs..A lot of LEO's will look down their noses as the common security guard because most contract security companies will settle for a warm body in a uniform with minimal or no training...There are the exceptions as JKS9199 said of private police or a special. Check to see if your local department has Aux Police, they will with a commitment from you provide REAL training..

[Bill Mattocks]

Check to see if your local department has Aux Police, they will with a commitment from you provide REAL training..

What an excellent idea! Yes, many local law enforcement agencies have reserve or auxiliary police, I had totally forgotten about them. You may end up doing a lot of crowd control at parades, funeral escorts and that sort of thing, but some departments will either pay or help offset academy training costs, you become a sworn officer, and you make friends/contacts in the PD.

[shesulsa]

Keep in mind that guarding yourself is one thing ... guarding someone else is another and is often much more complicated than a good fighting skill set. Bill used the term "bulletcatching" and ... it's a good one. Depending on exactly whom you intend to work protecting, you may need some intelligence training as well.

Don't only ask here; talk to some private investigators in your area, process servers and some of the better-known personal security services in your area if they could grant you an informational interview regarding the topic of bodyguarding and executive protection.

[Drac]

Keep in mind that guarding yourself is one thing ... guarding someone else is another and is often much more complicated than a good fighting skill set. Bill used the term "bulletcatching" and ... it's a good one. Depending on exactly whom you intend to work protecting, you may need some intelligence training as well.

Well said..You simply cannot walk around with your head in the clouds, you have to be focused.You have to look for things that are potential hazards.The bad guys dont care that you are only a rent-a-cop, you are an obstruction between their objective and stand a good chance of being removed..Spend some money and buy a good ballistic vest, they are not cheap but worth it...Some departments will issue them to their officers, not sure about the Aux Police..


Don't only ask here; talk to some private investigators in your area, process servers and some of the better-known personal security services in your area if they could grant you an informational interview regarding the topic of bodyguarding and executive protection.

Another good point...The locals will know who to avoid as far as employment goes..If you get your Private Police training look into the armored truck services like Brinks or Wells Fargo..I did that and it was a lot of fun and the money wasn't bad....

[SFC JeffJ]

Just curious and wondering if there are any private security workers here? i.e bodyguards, private policing? I have always been intrigued by this work and I was just curious to hear people's opinions about this kind of work. Thanks
What kind, if any, military experience do you have?

[jks9199]

There are solid training programs for executive protection and PI work available... and there is a lot more crap. Research it carefully, and check established companies that do this for advice. We've got a few folks here who work in that field, and maybe they'll add to the discussion.

Auxiliary police gigs are kind of diverse. For example, I know some places that take advantage of skills retired folks looking to donate some time have to get things done (like computer skills or even background investigations). In other cases, APOs get full academy training and go out on patrol; they're volunteer cops kind of like vollie firefighters. More typically, they're somewhere in the middle. They help out at parades, during emergencies and special events, and do some odd jobs that could be done by a cop -- but don't have to be, like home security surveys and advice.

[Brian R. VanCise]

Having worked in Law Enforcement and Security as other people have said this is a pretty broad field. In the security field itself while going through school and after wards I have worked many angles of it from Security Alarm Monitoring, Loss Prevention, Private Investigation which also led to some Executive Protection work as well as being a Security Director at a major facility for quite a while. (this seems like it was all in another lifetime as it was quite a while ago http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif)

Now it looks like you are interested in Executive Protection and personally I found this a very, very hard field to break into. (though not impossible and I managed to work several details) When performing my duties as s Security Director I used to employ a lot of EPA (executive protection agents) part time while they were in between jobs. Some times this lasted for six months up to even a couple of years. In this field first and fore most you need skills relevant to it and you need to acquire them through training. There are many schools out there here is a couple I have goggled:

http://www.esi-lifeforce.com/

http://www.personalprotection.com/

http://www.frontsight.com/ExeProtection/executive-security-training.asp

http://www.executiveprotectiontraining.us/

I have experience personally with people who were trained by ESI and they all ended up being good employees.

There are more of course and if you have prior Military experience or Law Enforcement experience this would help quite a bit. As would having a Bachelors or Masters degree. All of the above are not needed but it helps in a truly, truly competitive field. http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/icons/icon6.gif

Understand one thing though in that this line of work is not glamorous!!!
(very boring as a matter of fact that is unless some thing were to happen)

[Brian R. VanCise]

Oh and jsk9199 made a good comment about training in that there is a lot of crap out there so check very carefully. Personally I would get a college/university degree and then get training on top of that.

[Bill Mattocks]

Understand one thing though in that this line of work is not glamorous!!!
(very boring as a matter of fact that is unless some thing were to happen)

Absolutely. And it's not 'self defense' either. If you have to engage someone, you are there to defend the client. Your life is already bought and paid for, the client's is more important than yours by contract. This is a bit of a change in the way most people think on a fundamental basis.

Not my cup of tea. No experience in it, but I've talked shop with enough guys who have - not for me.

[Bill Mattocks]

Oh and jsk9199 made a good comment about training in that there is a lot of crap out there so check very carefully. Personally I would get a college/university degree and then get training on top of that.

Honestly? I think US Marine Embassy duty or HQMC 8th & I barracks duty is about the best you can get with respect to getting a job in that field afterward. That and former Secret Service, plus former law enforcement who have worked in cities that offer 'celeb services' details. Those guys get the gigs, pretty much just by knowing someone else who is doing it. Everybody else is standing in line hoping to get noticed. Just my experience knowing some of the dudes who do that kind of work.

[Brian R. VanCise]

No doubt about that Military, Secret Service, LEO are definitely your in route. Not always but definitely for the majority. I would push for those degrees first and then entry into one of these fields to get experience. Just my 02.

[shesulsa]

Psychology might be a good minor ....

[Carol]

That is Dale Seago's line of work, he has an undergrad and a Masters in Political Science (in addition to an extensive military background).

[mozzandherb]

Thanks for all the great responses. I live in Ottawa, Canada and up here "executive policing" is called protective policing, it's a branch of policing that is run by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). As for me, I have no military background, but I know my education level would be able to permit me to maybe work for the RCMP and next year will be my last in University and fortunately I have field placement and one of my choices will be the RCMP.
So from what I've read, it sounds like a pretty hard field to get into, but thanks for the links I will take a good look at them.

[Carol]

Good luck with your studies, they will help you a lot.

The fellow I mentioned (Dale Seago) doesn't always post here on a regular basis but he may be reachable by PM. He posts under his real name.

He has some resume highlights on his school's web page. He is based in the U.S. but he has also been in the business for quite awhile, he may have additional insight for you.

http://www.bujinkansf.org/dale/

[Drac]

plus former law enforcement who have worked in cities that offer 'celeb services' details..

One of the hotels I worked at housed all the Celebs when they came to the Front Row Dinner Resturant here..I've met Smokey Robinson, Jimmy Steward and Mickey Rooney..I had warned Mr. Robinson entourage that they were being a little noisy twice, the third time as I was approaching their suite I saw I bumped into Mr. Robinson in the hallway who assured me there would be no more noise tonight..He proceeded to knock on the door and was answered with an angry " WHAT". from inside the room..I saw the door open and he stepped inside...True to his word is was quiet the rest of the night...

Jimmy Stewart was a true gentleman, quiet and soft spoken..Mickey Rooney was my favorite..We were told that he was arriving late and to accord him every courtesy..My late friend Bill decided to hang around.We waited for a limo that never came, he arrived in a regular full size auto driven by his business manager...He must have had 20 pieces of luggage with him, I got the cart and we wheeled them to his room..I refused a tip (as I was in uniform) and so did Bill. and asked if I could ask him something..He said "Go Ahead"..

I asked what does he think when he see all those movies he made with Judy Garland..His answer was " I cant believe I made 1/2 that sheet" and he laughed..

[Brian R. VanCise]

One of the hotels I worked at housed all the Celebs when they came to the Front Row Dinner Resturant here..I've met Smokey Robinson, Jimmy Steward and Mickey Rooney..I had warned Mr. Robinson entourage that they were being a little noisy twice, the third time as I was approaching their suite I saw I bumped into Mr. Robinson in the hallway who assured me there would be no more noise tonight..He proceeded to knock on the door and was answered with an angry " WHAT". from inside the room..I saw the door open and he stepped inside...True to his word is was quiet the rest of the night...

Jimmy Stewart was a true gentleman, quiet and soft spoken..Mickey Rooney was my favorite..We were told that he was arriving late and to accord him every courtesy..My late friend Bill decided to hang around.We waited for a limo that never came, he arrived in a regular full size auto driven by his business manager...He must have had 20 pieces of luggage with him, I got the cart and we wheeled them to his room..I refused a tip (as I was in uniform) and so did Bill. and asked if I could ask him something..He said "Go Ahead"..

I asked what does he think when he see all those movies he made with Judy Garland..His answer was " I cant believe I made 1/2 that sheet" and he laughed..

That is an awesome story Drac. http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Drac]

That is an awesome story Drac. http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif


Thanks....Here is the wrap up...Mr Rooney LOVES to play the ponies.. The man who owned the security company I worked for Son was a local copper..He arrived at 6AM and told me to run downtown and get all the racing forms I could lay my hands on and he would cover for me and to make it FAST as possible...I got them and when he Mr Rooney woke that morning he found them at his door with a note that said couresy of the security company and the local PD...

[Drac]

The Celebs managers or touring coordinators can me real pains...Kenny Rodgers was staying here once and wanted an officer outside his door..The local PD would do it for the standard off duty price,which is not cheap...My company was cheaper but not enough for the tour boss, he settled for another company...I found them asleep in their chairs more than once...

Glenn Fry of the Eagles was another cool dude..He had rented the entire exec floor of the hotel I was working...He came in and gave me a button with that he had passed out at his concert here..." Anybody with one of these is my guest", he advised..Well sure enough I get a call of 3 guys trying to crash his party..

There were some tense moments as one of these guys said " There are 3 of us and one of you". "No", I said.."There are 7 of me." and I placed my hand on my .357..They left...I entered the floor and the BIGGEST roadie got in my face asking " Who the f are you?"...Thankfully Glenn came out of one of the rooms and told King Kong to back off...He thanked me..I did not get the invite to stay and I would have cause there on one of the meeting tables was one of the sexiest ladies I had ever seen dancing naked...

[jks9199]

The thing about a security job, especially the real high profile executive stuff, is that you do get to GO to all the parties. You just don't get to party... Being at an event like that or a concert while working security is a different experience from simply going for the show.

[Brian R. VanCise]

Absolutely jsk9199. http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif