Security Guard

[Drac]

Not too long ago someone said to me that cops hate security guards, and that is a lie as I use to be one..Cops rely on local security to be our eyes and ears and if impowered by the law to make arrests and hold some jerk until we arrive..What we HATE is a security guards that THINK they know our job and attempt to tell us how to do it..Yes, you have had training,but the max I think was 210 hrs versus our 400 and some hrs of academy training..

I use worked security for a large hotel that was less than a block from I-90,the locals were not too friendly..Well about 4 in the morning I see a local make a traffic stop on the main drag, vehicle was occupied x 4...I roll over and exit my vehicle so the cop and the suspects can see me..He issues a cite and the vehicle leaves I return to the from of the hotel and bump into the cop that just made the stop.."Why you roll up on me?, he asks.."One car, 4 subjects and one cop" was my response..

He said thanks and after that I noticed a change when I had to call the locals for help..I was later told that the dispatcher would ask " Which guard was requesting help?" and the hotel would say "Drac" they would always send at least 2 units..They figured when I called it was something serious...So if there are any security guards out there reading this I hope you understand that you are not hated, your assistance is needed, necessary and appreciated, by me at least...

 

[KenpoTex]

FWIW, I've dealt with cops that were great and I've dealt with some that obviously (as evidenced by their words and attitudes) looked down their nose at the "lowly security guard" who called them. However, to be fair to the latter bunch, I can see why they get this way as most of the security companies around here are staffed by LCD types.

 

[seasoned]

Not too long ago someone said to me that cops hate security guards, and that is a lie as I use to be one..Cops rely on local security to be our eyes and ears and if impowered by the law to make arrests and hold some jerk until we arrive..What we HATE is a security guards that THINK they know our job and attempt to tell us how to do it..Yes, you have had training,but the max I think was 210 hrs versus our 400 and some hrs of academy training..

I use worked security for a large hotel that was less than a block from I-90,the locals were not too friendly..Well about 4 in the morning I see a local make a traffic stop on the main drag, vehicle was occupied x 4...I roll over and exit my vehicle so the cop and the suspects can see me..He issues a cite and the vehicle leaves I return to the from of the hotel and bump into the cop that just made the stop.."Why you roll up on me?, he asks.."One car, 4 subjects and one cop" was my response..

He said thanks and after that I noticed a change when I had to call the locals for help..I was later told that the dispatcher would ask " Which guard was requesting help?" and the hotel would say "Drac" they would always send at least 2 units..They figured when I called it was something serious...So if there are any security guards out there reading this I hope you understand that you are not hated, your assistance is needed, necessary and appreciated, by me at least...

As a part time Constable, I work town court security, and some high school sports and dance events. On a whole any interaction I have had with local LE, has been positive. There are a few of the younger officers that seem to have an attitude for some unknown reason. I respect their, and your position very much, as being on the front lines, so to speck. But from my perspective, if I am carrying a firing arm that I qualify for yearly and have the powers of arrest while on duty, why do some look at it as being a wannabe. This is a point I have wanted to bring up in the past, but did not know how to approach it. In NY State a constable is a peace officer, with special powers, granted by any local town government.

 

[Drac]

There are a few of the younger officers that seem to have an attitude for some unknown reason.

That's called " rookie-itist"..They graduated the academy, did their time with an FTO and now they are on their own..In their opinion no one else is a cop except those they work with or that works other departments..

I respect their, and your position very much, as being on the front lines, so to speck. But from my perspective, if I am carrying a firing arm that I qualify for yearly and have the powers of arrest while on duty, why do some look at it as being a wannabe.

This is a point I have wanted to bring up in the past, but did not know how to approach it. In NY State a constable is a peace officer, with special powers, granted by any local town government.

In their minds if ya wanna carry a badge and wear a gun you have to be a cop..I have been accused of being a wannabe MANY TIMES...If you wana blame someone , blame the companies that will hire any warm body and dress them in a uniform..

 

[seasoned]

That's called " rookie-itist"..They graduated the academy, did their time with an FTO and now they are on their own..No one is a cop except those they work with or that works other departments..



In their minds if ya wanna carry a badge and wear a gun you have to be a cop..I have been accused of being a wannabe MANY TIMES...If you wana blame someone , blame the companies that will hire any warm body and dress them in a uniform..

Points well taken, thanks for the input. Funny thing is if something goes down the wannabes and the cops all look the same to the bad guys. Stay safe. :asian:

 

[MA-Caver]

I used to work as security at Dallas' Love Field Airport years ago... I mean years ago okay. Never once did I have the illusion that I was something special or even a bad ***. Hell, wasn't armed and basically I just made sure folks didn't walk off with the wrong bag at the baggage claim. Occasionally I worked the x-ray machine and caught a test weapon going by and was given a nice pat on the back (whoopie) but that was all.

Some security guards do over do it in their zealousness but most have a job to do and a good percentage do it well enough. I give them as much respect as I would an LEO, knowing, as Drac said, a large percentage have LEO academy training and are moonlighting LEO's... even if they're unarmed because it's company policy.

Security guard is a risk job... depending upon what you're securing. Give 'em respect anyway... chances are they'll respect you back.

 

[jks9199]

I worked as a retail loss prevention agent, a security guard (proprietary and contract), and in program security management prior to becoming a cop. I'd better not have anything against security folk as a class! Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that security professionals serve a lot of very important roles in protecting individuals, businesses, and even society, and are an essential component in the public safety continuum.

I've found that there are something like 3 or 4 categories of security guards. There is some overlap.

At the top of the scale is the true security professional. This is the person who's made security work their career. They know their job, they know where they fit in the scheme of things -- both with LE and with their clients. They're easy for cops to work with. They call cops when it's appropriate, are ready with the right information -- and they don't call when cops can't do anything. Most of these folks don't want to become cops; they may have been cops before, or they just don't want to be a cop for whatever reason.

Just below the pros are folks that are simply doing a job. They need a paycheck, the hours are right, or whatever. It's a job, and it meets their needs. They're going to do it to the best of their ability, and are sincere about it. (Like I said; there's overlap.) They may want to become a cop -- or not. At the bottom of this group, just before the screwballs start, are the overzealous types who run around kind of like Barney Fife... They mean well, but they're dialing 911 for a guy drinking in public or daring to sit in a parked car, on private property, without a driver's license...

Below these folks are when we start getting into the screwier and scarier folks. There are the "wanna be and might someday be" folks who just need some maturity or life experience before they'd be good cops (and maybe oughta enlist). And there are the "wanna-be/never-gonna-be" types who just plain have a screw or 12 loose. These are the losers who figure their mall security badge makes them "almost as good as a cop", and will flash that badge at the drop of a hat... Or the "mall ninjas" that are just plain scary!

 

[Jade Tigress]

"mall ninjas"

:lfao:

OMG! That was HILARIOUS!!!!

 

[Kreth]

I find the loss prevention guys annoying. They often target me because of my long hair and tattoos. Depending on my mood, I'll either flat out confront them ("Dude, you've followed me around to 6 different departments and all you did was change your jacket. Give it up.") or have some fun doing stuff like checking out lingerie...

 

[Guardian]

I find the loss prevention guys annoying. They often target me because of my long hair and tattoos. Depending on my mood, I'll either flat out confront them ("Dude, you've followed me around to 6 different departments and all you did was change your jacket. Give it up.") or have some fun doing stuff like checking out lingerie...

My brother use to have trouble like this and he did the same things LOL. He had long hair and tatoos and he was targetted all the time for it. His hair is shorter now, but the tatoos are the same.

 

[bigdano]

I'm a bouncer in Washington, DC, and I have had about 99% good experiences with local PD. We go out of our way to let the beat cops know that we are not a bunch of knuckleheads, and they are very quick to respond when we need them, and usually ignore an ejected former customer who complains that we roughed him up. Our policy here on escorting people out of the bar is that we only use as much force as the person requires us to. 99% of the time, that is no force at all.

 

[Nolerama]

I find the loss prevention guys annoying. They often target me because of my long hair and tattoos. Depending on my mood, I'll either flat out confront them ("Dude, you've followed me around to 6 different departments and all you did was change your jacket. Give it up.") or have some fun doing stuff like checking out lingerie...

That reminds me of a profiling experiment I did for a high school class.

Materials:
1 punk rock skater w/ baggy jeans and a chain wallet (Me, I'm also Asian, brown and kinda mouthy)

1 traditionally preppie Caucasian friend, that dressed like the rest of the herd (Ambercrombie Army, etc)

At least 3 department store security agents within sight.

1 Explanation of said experiment signed by parents and teachers.

Process:

We would both start off in the generally same area on a far end of the store. Then we would both jog to the other end of the store, intersecting at least once en route to the exit.

I hypothesized that since I fit a certain profile, I would be chased by more security guards. I was right. About 75% of all security guards chased/apprehended me as a result. Actually, I was the only one ever detained. My friend was let go every time after showing the waiver, and contacting parents.

We did this in 10 area malls over the course of a semester and got an A.

 

[Darksoul]

Drac,

-I want to say thankyou for this thread. I've been working contract security for 10 years now and its an abysmal field of employment. I've never once had a problem with LEOs when they became involved wherever I was working. I've been a patrol driver for half the time, and while most cops ignore me as I drive by, the occasional one does wave, and once in a while, one will strike up a conversation. No big deal to me. Generally when I'm at work, I like to be left alone.

-Security is one of the fastest growing fields, from having a lobby officer to IT Network Security. So many people out there have no idea, but many preconcieved notions about those working security. Too many movies, too many bad experiences and stereotypes. Typically, overweight white guy with his shirt untucked, unshaven, jelly donut stain, white powder around the mouth, no tie, yada yada.

-Most of the people I have worked with have been quite professional. I have also worked with people who should've never been hired in the first place. Some real wackjobs out there. I've seen some really stupid things from some coworkers. However, that is the way a lot of security is run. A warm body in a uniform is correct. For a nice low wage.

-Most security jobs pay very low wages, somewhere around $10 an hour. I believe that security is a field like many others, where the companies prefer to not re-invest in their employees, or standard of living raises. I make 12/hour working long night shifts. And yet, the price of living keeps going up. I certainly don't live beyond my means and its a struggle.

-I really don't like working security; on a personal note, I simply have not found a calling since I graduated college. And I suppose security is looked at as unskilled labor. In most cases, that is true. How much skilled labor is left in this country? I could go armed, but most security officers who are make little more than I do.

-There is a new movie coming out with Kevin James called Paul Blart Mall Cop. I know its a comedy but it still reinforces the stereotypes. People don't understand. Security officers are not there just because something is happening, but also in case something happens. Many are trained as first responders. In some ways no different than a knight guarding his king's castle.

-Rambling now...again, thanks.

Andrew

 

[Joab]

I worked as a security guard for over 14 years and almost never called the police. The main reason was they almost never came, even when guys were spotted shooting heroin. They wouldn't come when a $5,000 computer was stolen, just took the serial number over the phone, even though there were clearly good fingerprints on the window the thief jimmied and they were informed of that. They did get on the scene fast when a guy was breaking out windows and stealing everything in cars, that's about it. But would never come if the car had been broken into and the perpetrator was long gone, only when the crime was in progress. The police in that particular city seemed to enjoy donuts and coffee and had little time to enforce the law.

I wasn't a cop wannabee, I worked in security to get out of telemarketing, which I hated, likely the most thankless job on earth. I was just doing my job, that's all, knowing I was helping some, but not all that much, you can't be everywhere at once.

 

[Drac]

tSecurity is the necessary evil to most places, it is a sometimes thankless job but it beats flipping burgers at Mickey D's...I have seen companies that were as professional looking and acting as any police dept and I have seen the type that Hollywood shows...

Once the local boys learned that I wasn't an ******* wanna-be I was treated OK..My boss had an account with one of Leona Helmsley's hotels and she always backed us...Most of the flack I ever got came from the hotel's employees..There was a fight in progress as the front desk once and I ran to break it up, I later got a ration of crap from one of the waitresses because worried the diners by running..

 

[Joab]

Hi Drac, it was telemarketing I was referring to as a thankless job, not security. And yes, security work beats flipping burgers. My point was that the police in the city I worked in were not particularly interested in enforcing the law unless a crime was in progress, but they certainly liked eating their donuts and drinking their coffee.

I worked for a number of security companies, one was very professional, the others less than. Some would hire any warm body that could pass the background check, one only hired 20% of applicants and paid the best with the best benefits in the area. You get what you pay for...if your lucky!

 

[sgtmac_46]

I'm a bouncer in Washington, DC, and I have had about 99% good experiences with local PD. We go out of our way to let the beat cops know that we are not a bunch of knuckleheads, and they are very quick to respond when we need them, and usually ignore an ejected former customer who complains that we roughed him up. Our policy here on escorting people out of the bar is that we only use as much force as the person requires us to. 99% of the time, that is no force at all.

I don't mind bouncers.....it's a tough job, and posers and nutcases don't last long.

 

[Drac]

Hi Drac, it was telemarketing I was referring to as a thankless job, not security. And yes, security work beats flipping burgers. My point was that the police in the city I worked in were not particularly interested in enforcing the law unless a crime was in progress, but they certainly liked eating their donuts and drinking their coffee.

Sorry, I misunderstood...I hear stories about coppers in other cities not responding to calls for service and I wonder HOW they keep their jobs, we have to respond to EVERY call...

I worked for a number of security companies, one was very professional, the others less than. Some would hire any warm body that could pass the background check, one only hired 20% of applicants and paid the best with the best benefits in the area. You get what you pay for...if your lucky!

Yep, ya get what ya pay for...

 

[Drac]

I don't mind bouncers.....it's a tough job, and posers and nutcases don't last long.

I was a bouncer for a few years prior to becoming a cop..At the big dance club I worked at we had off duty coppers working the door and they were cool with us..The small rock and roll bar I worked at was the fighting-est club..Whenever I had to call the locals they would send 2 or 3 cars, somebody and usually their best friends got cuffed and stuffed...

It was 50 bucks night and all you could drink and the chance to get your teeth kicked down your throat if your fighting skills were lacking....

 

[sgtmac_46]

I was a bouncer for a few years prior to becoming a cop..At the big dance club I worked at we had off duty coppers working the door and they were cool with us..The small rock and roll bar I worked at was the fighting-est club..Whenever I had to call the locals they would send 2 or 3 cars, somebody and usually their best friends got cuffed and stuffed...

It was 50 bucks night and all you could drink and the chance to get your teeth kicked down your throat if your fighting skills were lacking....

Yeah, bouncing is not a profession that someone can be in very long if they're a blow-hard......walking softly and carrying a BIG stick is the only way to fly on that job, so you know anyone who's done it for a while is the real deal!