Chapter 22 The Private Security Professional and Profession

1. Chapter 22The Private Security Professional and Profession

2. The Place of Private Security in the Organizational Structure • Private security should be a priority concern of top-level management of businesses, industries and institutions.

3. The Roles of the Security Director • Loss prevention specialist. • Administrator. • Investigator. • Manager.

4. Administrative Responsibilities • Security directors are responsible for: • Security goals. • Procedures and daily orders. • Financial controls and budgets. • Educational programs. • The image of security within the organization. • The ultimate goal of private security is loss prevention--resulting in maximum return on investment.

5. Administrative Responsibilities • Ensure that goals are met. • SMART objectives: • Specific. • Measurable. • Attainable. • Relevant. • Trackable. • Personnel can be educated about security/safety system through posters, signs, manuals, training sessions, drills and the suggestions and examples of security officers.

6. Investigative Responsibilities • The basic investigative skills are communication skills and surveillance capabilities. • Security directors are responsible for: • Investigating potential for loss (risk analysis). • Investigating actual occurrences of loss. • Conducting background checks and periodic audits.

7. Managerial Responsibilities • Security directors are responsible for: • Hiring. • Writing job descriptions. • Training. • Issuing equipment. • Scheduling. • Supervising. • Conducting inspections. • Taking corrective action. • Evaluating security personnel.

8. Minimum age of 18. High school diploma or GED. Written exam to determine ability to understand and perform duties assigned. No record of conviction (of a serious crime). Minimum physical standards: Armed personnel--vision correctable to 20/20 in each eye; capable of hearing ordinary conversation at distance of 10 feet with each ear without benefit of hearing aid. Others--no physical defects that would hinder job performance. Private Security Personnel Minimum Preemployment Standards

9. Adequate Preemployment Screening • Applicants for security positions should complete an application and should be carefully screened using such methods as an interview, a background check and other tests as appropriate to the job.

10. Effective Job Performance • To increase effective job performance, security directors should provide security personnel with: • A job description. • Basic training. • A security manual or handbook. • The necessary equipment.

11. Security Officer Training • Both basic preassignment training and ongoing training should be provided. • Preassignment training: • Access control. • Alarms. • Communications. • Package control. • Passes. • Emergency procedures. • Parking.

12. Taking Corrective Action • Progressive discipline goes from the least severe reprimand, a warning, to the most severe, termination. • Progressive discipline: • Warning. • Reprimand. • Suspension. • Demotion or termination.

13. Summary Questions • Where does private security fit into an establishment’s organizational structure? • What roles are filled by a security director? • What are the administrative, investigative, and managerial responsibilities of a security director? • What is the primary goal of a private security system?

14. Summary Questions • What is a SMART objective? • How can employees and management be educated about the security/safety system? • What are the basic investigative skills? • What areas are security directors responsible for investigating? • What are the managerial responsibilities of a security director?

15. Summary Questions • What preemployment qualifications should be met by private security personnel? • What constitutes adequate preemployment screening? • How can effective job performance of security officers be increased? • When should training of security officers occur? • What is progressive discipline?