| A security guard or security officer is, | | | | Security officers are classified as either of |
| usually, a privately-employed person who is | | | | the following |
| employed to protect property and/or people. | | | | |
| Usually security guards are uniformed and act | | | | "In-house" or "proprietary" (i.e. employed by |
| to protect property by maintaining a high | | | | the same company or organization they |
| visibility presence and observing (either | | | | protect, such as a mall, theme park, or |
| directly, through patrols, or by watching | | | | casino) |
| alarm systems or video cameras) for signs of | | | | |
| crime, fire or disorder; then taking action | | | | "Contract," (working for a private security |
| and/or reporting any incidents to their | | | | company which protects many locations.) |
| client, employer and emergency services as | | | | |
| appropriate. | | | | "Public security" or security police |
| | | | |
| The security officer motto is to "detect, | | | | "Private Patrol Officers" , Patrol gated |
| deter, observe and report." Security officers | | | | communities. i.e. Bel-Air Patrol |
| are not normally required to make arrests | | | | |
| (but has the authority to make a citizens | | | | "Private Police Officers", also known as |
| arrest) or otherwise act as police officers | | | | Armed Security Officers |
| except in some United States jurisdictions in | | | | |
| which the security officer is invested with | | | | Industry terms for various security personnel |
| arrest powers like those of a county sheriff. | | | | include: Security , guards, agents, watchmen, |
| In contrast to the above mentioned motto, a | | | | officers, safety patrol , Armed Security , |
| Private Security Officer's actual primary | | | | Private Police ,Loss Prevention Officers , |
| duty is prevention of crime. Security | | | | Bodyguards , Executive Protection Officers . |
| personnel do enforce company rules and can | | | | Other job titles in the security industry |
| act to protect lives and property. In fact, | | | | include dispatcher, receptionist, driver, |
| they frequently have a contractual obligation | | | | supervisor, alarm responder, armed security |
| to provide these actions. Security Officers | | | | officer, and manager. |
| are often trained to perform arrests, operate | | | | |
| emergency equipment, perform first aid, CPR, | | | | Newer terms have been developing within the |
| take accurate notes and write effective | | | | American security industry that tend to |
| reports, and perform other tasks as required | | | | reclassify security personnel into three |
| by the property they are protecting. In case | | | | basic classes, as follows: |
| of Armed Security Officers who are also | | | | |
| called Private Police Officers , are required | | | | Security guards: These personnel, usually |
| to go through additional training mandated by | | | | uniformed, are primarily responsible for the |
| the state for carrying weapons such as baton | | | | protection of property only and do not have a |
| , firearms , handcuffing , arrest and control | | | | responsibility for anything other than basic |
| and pepper spray trainings . | | | | visibility and reporting. Examples of |
| | | | security guards include night watchmen on |
| One major economic justification for security | | | | construction sites, bank vault guards, and |
| guards is that insurance companies | | | | monetary transport guards of money and |
| (particularly fire insurance carriers) will | | | | valuables. |
| give substantial rate discounts to sites | | | | |
| which have a 24-hour presence; for a high | | | | Security officers: These personnel, also |
| risk or high value venue, the discount can | | | | usually uniformed, are employed in functions |
| often exceed the money being spent on its | | | | that involve the protection of lives, |
| security program. This is because having a | | | | property and the public peace on private |
| security guard on site increases the odds | | | | property. Examples of security officers |
| that any fire will be noticed and reported to | | | | include apartment complex security officers, |
| the local fire department before a total loss | | | | mall security officers, private patrol |
| occurs. Also, the presence of security guards | | | | officers, and any security personnel that |
| (particularly in combination with effective | | | | operate in an environment that includes a |
| security procedures) tends to diminish | | | | contractual obligation for the protection of |
| "shrinkage," theft, employee misconduct and | | | | lives and/or the public peace. |
| safety rule violations, property damage, or | | | | |
| even sabotage. Many casinos hire security | | | | Security agents: These personnel, usually |
| guards to protect the money when transferring | | | | without a uniform, are primarily contracted |
| it from the casino to the casino's bank. | | | | or employed with a focus on apprehension |
| | | | rather than prevention on private property. |
| Security officers also perform access control | | | | Examples of security agents include loss |
| at building entrances and vehicle gates by | | | | prevention agents and personal protection |
| ensuring that employees and visitors display | | | | agents (bodyguards). |
| proper passes or identification before | | | | |
| entering the facility. Security officers are | | | | Security personnel are not police officers |
| often called upon to respond to minor | | | | but are often confused with them due to |
| emergencies (lost persons, lockouts, dead | | | | similar uniforms and behaviors, especially on |
| vehicle batteries, etc.) and to assist in | | | | private property. Security personnel derive |
| serious emergencies by guiding emergency | | | | their powers not from the state, as public |
| responders to the scene of the incident and | | | | police officers do, but from a contractual |
| documenting what happened on an incident | | | | arrangement that give them 'Agent of the |
| report. In case of armed security officers, | | | | Owner' powers. This includes a nearly |
| often they are required to respond like | | | | unlimited power to question with the freedom |
| police officers until situation is under | | | | of an absence of probable cause requirements |
| control and / or proper authorities arrive on | | | | that frequently dog public law enforcement |
| the scene. | | | | officers. Additionally, as legal precedents |
| | | | have further restrained the traditional |
| Although security officers are a distinct | | | | police officers' power of "officer |
| type of personnel from either police officers | | | | discretion" regarding arrests in the field, |
| or the military, in the United States a very | | | | requiring a police officer to arrest minor |
| high proportion of security personnel, | | | | lawbreakers, private security personnel still |
| including most senior management personnel, | | | | enjoy such powers of discretion largely due |
| are either former or retired members of one | | | | to their private citizen status. Since the |
| or both services. Many security officers who | | | | laws regarding the limitations of powers |
| don't fit this profile (young people in | | | | generally have to do with public law |
| particular) use the job as a springboard into | | | | enforcement, private security is relatively |
| a police career. | | | | free to utilize non-traditional means to |
| | | | protect and serve their clients' interests. |
| Being a private security officer is by no | | | | This does not come without checks, however, |
| means a lucrative endeavor. Most first line | | | | as private security personnel do not enjoy |
| private security personal are paid a low wage | | | | the benefit of civil protection, as public |
| which often does not reflect the risks they | | | | law enforcement officers do, and can be sued |
| endure on the job. | | | | directly for false arrests and illegal |
| | | | actions if they commit such acts. |