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