Security guards – Security guard Services

A security guard or security officer is usually a privately and formally employed person who is paid to protect property, assets, and/or people. Often, security officers are uniformed and act to protect property by maintaining a high visibility presence to deter illegal and/or inappropriate actions, observing (either directly, through patrols, or by watching alarm systems or video cameras) for signs of crime, fire or disorder; then taking action and/or reporting any incidents to their client, employer and emergency services as appropriate. Since at least the Middle Ages in Europe, the term watchman was more commonly applied to this function.

Functions and Duties
Many security firms and proprietary security departments practice the “detect, deter, observe and report” methodology. Security officers are not required to make arrests but have the authority to make a citizen’s arrest) or otherwise act as an agent of law enforcement at the request of a police officer, sheriff, etcetera.

In addition to the methodology mentioned above, a private security officer’s primary duty is the prevention and deterrence of crime. Security personnel enforce company rules and can act to protect lives and property. In fact, they frequently have a contractual obligation to provide these actions. Security officers are often trained to perform arrest and control procedures (including handcuffing and restraints), operate emergency equipment, perform first aid, CPR, take accurate notes, write detailed reports, and perform other tasks as required by the contractee they are serving. Many security officers are required to go through additional training mandated by the state for the carrying of weapons such as batons, firearms, and pepper spray (e.g. the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services in California has requirements that a license for each item listed must be carried while on duty). [1] Some officers are required to complete police certification for special duties. Positions are also set to grow in the U.S., with 350,000 new security jobs expected over the next decade.[2] In recent years, due to elevated threats of terrorism, most security officers are required to have bomb-threat training and/or emergency crisis training, especially those located in soft target areas such as shopping malls, schools, and any other area where the general public congregate.

One major economic justification for security personnel is that insurance companies (particularly fire insurance carriers) will give substantial rate discounts to sites which have a 24-hour presence; for a high risk or high value venue, the discount can often exceed the money being spent on its security program. This is because having security on site increases the odds that any fire will be noticed and reported to the local fire department before a total loss occurs. Also, the presence of security personnel (particularly in combination with effective security procedures) tends to diminish “shrinkage,” theft, employee misconduct and safety rule violations, property damage, or even sabotage. Many casinos hire security guards to protect money when transferring it from the casino to the casino’s bank.

Security personnel may also perform access control at building entrances and vehicle gates; meaning, they ensure that employees and visitors display proper passes or identification before entering the facility. Security officers are often called upon to respond to minor emergencies (lost persons, lockouts, dead vehicle batteries, etc.) and to assist in serious emergencies by guiding emergency responders to the scene of the incident, helping to redirect foot traffic to safe locations, and by documenting what happened on an incident report. Armed security officers are frequently contracted to respond as law enforcement until a given situation at a client location is under control and/or public authorities arrive on the scene (in California, this is referred to as 832 P.C. training, usually offered at academies and/or college campuses). [3]

Patrolling is usually a large part of a security officer’s duties. Often these patrols are logged by use of a guard tour patrol system, which require regular patrols. The most commonly used form used to be mechanical clock systems that required a key for manual punching of a number to a strip of paper inside with the time pre-printed on it. Recently, electronic systems have risen in popularity due to their light weight, ease of use, and downloadable logging capabilities [4]. Regular patrols are, however, becoming less accepted as an industry standard, as it provides predictability for the would-be criminal, as well as monotony for the security officer on duty. Random patrols are easily programmed into these systems, allowing greater freedom of movement and unpredictability. Global positioning systems are also easing their way into the market as a more effective means of tracking officer movement and patrol behavior.

Although security officers differ greatly from police officers, military personnel, federal agents/officers, and the like, the United States has a growing proportion of security personnel that have former police or military experience, including senior management personnel. On the other hand, some security officers, young people in particular, use the job as practical experience to use in applying to law enforcement agencies.
Types of security personnel and companies
Security personnel are classified as either of the following

“in-house” or “proprietary” (i.e. employed by the same company or organization they protect, such as a mall, theme park, or casino); formerly often called works police or security police in the United Kingdom
“contract,” working for a private security company which protects many locations.
“Public Security,” “Private Police Officers,” or security police
“Private Patrol Officers”, vehicle patrol officers that protect multiple client premises.
Industry terms for various security personnel include: Security guards, security agents, watchmen, security officers, safety patrol, Armed Security, Private Police, Company police, Loss Prevention, Bodyguards, Executive Protection Agents, or Access Managers. Other job titles in the security industry include dispatcher, receptionist, driver, supervisor, alarm responder, mall security officer, private patrol officer, Private Patrol Operator, and manager.

State and local governments sometimes regulate the use of these terms by law — for example, certain words and phrases that “give an impression that he or she is connected in any way with the federal government, a state government, or any political subdivision of a state government” are forbidden for use by California security licensees by Business and Professions Code Section 7582.26. So the terms “private homicide police” or “special agent” would be unlawful for a security licensee to use in California. Similarly, in Ontario, Canada, the Private Security and Investigative Services Act specifically prohibits private security personnel from using the terms detective, private detective, law enforcement, police, or officer. Recent changes to the act have also introduced restrictions on uniform and vehicle colours and markings to make private security personnel clearly distinctive from police personnel.
An American security officer posing.There is a marked difference between persons performing the duties historically associated with watchmen and persons who take a more active role in protecting persons and property. The former, often called “guards,” are taught the mantra “observe and report,” are minimally trained, and not expected to deal with the public or confront criminals. The latter are often highly trained, sometimes armed depending on contracts agreed upon with clientele, and are more likely to interact with the general public and to confront the criminal element. These employees tend to take pride in the title “Security Officer” or “Protection Officer” and disdain the label of “guard.” Ironically enough, there may be no relationship between duties performed and compensation — many mall “security officers” who are exposed to serious risks make less per hour than “industrial security guards” with less training and responsibility.[citation needed] However, there are now more positions in the security role that separate not just the titles, but the job itself. The roles have progressed and so have the areas for which security people are needed. All security jobs vary in pay and duties at present.

The term “agent” is particularly problematic in the security industry because it can describe not only a civil legal relationship between an employee and their employer or contractor (“agent of the owner” in California PC 602), but also describes a person in government service (“Special Agent Jones of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”) However we should then also consider the fact that this title is also made available to banking agents, loan agents and real estate agents. Security “agents” found in loss prevention and personal or executive protection (bodyguards) typically work in plainclothes, without a uniform, and are usually highly trained to act lawfully in direct defense of life and/or property. There is also confusion with bail enforcement agents, or as they are popularly known “bounty hunters,” who are sometimes regulated by the same agencies which regulate private security.

Security personnel are essentailly private citizens, and therefore are bound by the same laws and regulations as the citizenry they are contracted to serve, and therefore are not allowed to represent themselves as law enforcement under penalty of law. [5][6]
Licensing
Most states require a license to work as a security officer. [7] This license may include a criminal background check and/or mandated training requirements. Most security officers do not carry weapons and have the same powers of arrest as a private citizen, called a “private person” arrest, “any person” arrest, or “citizen’s arrest.” If weapons are carried, additional permits and training are usually required. Armed security personnel are generally used to protect sensitive sites such as government and military installations, armored money transports, banks (or other financial institutions), nuclear power plants, etc. However, armed security is quickly becoming a standard for vehicle patrol officers and on many other non-government sites. Armed private security is much rarer in Europe and some other countries (and unrealized in some, such as the United Kingdom). In developing countries (with host country permission), armed security composed mostly of ex-military personnel is often used to protect corporate assets, particularly in war-torn regions. In Canada, contract security guards are not armed. They are not permitted to carry a firearm, or any type of defensive weapon.[1] Nor are they allowed to carry handcuffs or other restraint devices without the proper training, which is in contrast to their “In-House Security” counterparts that have no restrictions or mandatory training in regards to handcuffs or restraint devices[citation needed].

As a requirement of the Private Security Industry Act 2001, the UK now requires all contract security guards to have a valid SIA (Security Industry Authority) license. Licenses are valid for three years and require the holders to undergo formal training, and are also to pass mandatory Criminal Records Bureau checks.

In Canada, private security falls under the jurisdiction of Canada’s ten provinces. The laws in all provinces require that contract security companies and their employees be licensed. [8] The requirements for licensing vary but many provinces require that security guards either successfully complete a training program before being issued a license or have previous experience as a peace officer (i.e. a police officer). In British Columbia contract Security Businesses, and Employees must be licensed, while “In-House” Security Organizations and Employees are currently exempt from Provincial Legislation. New Legislation is currently going through the legislative process to better regulate the Security Industry in BC. [citation needed]

In August 2007, Malaysia banned hiring of foreign security guards following a rape and murder of a student by a Pakistani security guard. [9]
Security officers and the police
Security personnel are not police officers, unless they are security police, but are often identified as such due to similar uniforms and behaviors, especially on private property. Security personnel in the U.S. derive their powers not from the state, as public police officers do, but from a contractual arrangement that give them ‘Agent of the Owner’ powers. This includes a nearly unlimited power to question with the absence of probable cause requirements that frequently dog public law enforcement officers, provided that the secuirity officer does not tread on the rights and liberties of others as guaranteed by the United Stated Constitution. This does not come without checks, however, as private security personnel do not enjoy the benefit of civil protection, as public law enforcement officers do, and can be sued directly for false arrests and illegal actions if they commit such acts.

Some jurisdictions do commission or deputize security officers and give them limited additional powers, particularly when employed in protecting public property such as mass transit stations. This is a special case that is often unique to a particular jurisdiction or locale. Additionally, security officers may also be called upon to act as an agent of law enforcement if a police officer, sheriff’s deputy, etc. is in immediate need of help and has no available backup.

Some security guard officers do reserve police powers and are typically employed directly by governmental agencies. Typically, these are sworn law enforcement personnel whose duties primarily involve the security of a government installation, and are also a special case. Other local and state governments occasionally enter into special contracts with security agencies to provide patrol services in public areas. These personnel are sometimes referred to as “private police officers.”

Sometimes police officers work as security personnel while not on duty. This is usually done for extra income, and work is particularly done in hazardous jobs such as bodyguard work and bouncers outside nightclubs. In some countries, including the United Kingdom, it is illegal for police officers to take private security work.

Except in these special cases, security personnel who misrepresent themselves as police officers are committing a crime. However, security personnel by their very nature often work in cooperation with police officials. Police are called in when a situation warrants a higher degree of authority to act upon reported observations that could not be directly acted upon safely by the security personnel.

In British Columbia, Canada contract Security Guards are NOT permitted to carry firearms (guns), batons, pepper spray, or handcuffs. [citation needed]The fine for doing so is $575,[citation needed] and the possibility of losing their Security License. Provincial Inspectors, designated as Special Provincial Constables conduct inspections to ensure compliance with Provincial Regulations. “In-House” Security organizations, and their employees are currently exempt from Provincial Regulations. This means “In-House” Security Officers could, if permitted by their employer, carry and use handcuffs, and/or a baton. The Province of BC is currently re-drafting the provincial legislation to cover all security, and certain restrictions, as the current legislation is 26 years old. [citation needed]
Criticisms
One of many myths of private contract security is that since it is often a low-paying job,[10] adequate background checks are not performed (there are certain states that require it before standing post, such as California and Oregon). [11][12] People often have the misconception that security officers are thugs or ex-cons that are not screened properly, though this is not the case. For example, Oregon has a list of disqualifiers that invalidate an ex-con’s eligibility for the job for either seven years, ten years or life. [13]
Trends
Economist Robert B. Reich, in his 1991 book The Work of Nations, stated that in the United States, the number of private security guards and officers was comparable to the number of publicly-paid police officers. He used this phenomenon as an example of the general withdrawal of the affluent from existing communities whose governments provide public services; instead, the wealthy provide their own premium services, through voluntary, exclusive associations. As taxpayer resistance has limited government budgets, and as the demand for secure homes in gated communities has grown, these trends have continued in the 1990s and 2000s.
History
The vigiles were soldiers assigned to guard the city of Rome, often credited as the origin of both security personnel and police, although their principal duty was as a fire brigade. There have been night watchmen since at least the Middle Ages in Europe; walled cities of ancient times also had watchmen. A special chair appeared in Europe sometime in the late Middle Ages, called the watchman’s chair; this unupolstered wooden chair had a forward slanting seat to prevent the watchman from dozing off during his watch.
Notable security guards
The security guard Frank Wills detected the Watergate burglars, ultimately leading to the resignation of Richard M. Nixon as President of the United States.
Christoph Meili, night guard at a Swiss bank, became a whistle blower in 1997, bringing out that the bank destroyed records of holocaust victims whose money the bank was supposed to return their heirs.
In 2001, Gary Coleman, former child actor, was employed as a shopping mall security guard in the Los Angeles area. Whilst shopping for a bullet-proof vest for his job, Coleman assaulted a female autograph collector. Coleman said he felt “threatened by her insistence” and punched her in the head.[2] He was later charged for the assault and ordered to pay her $1,665 for hospital bills.
Derrick Brun, an unarmed security guard employed by the Red Lake School District in Minnesota, was praised by President Bush for his heroic role in the 2005 Red Lake High School Massacre: “Derrick’s bravery cost him his life, and some Americans honor him… …Although he was unarmed, Derrick ignored the pleas of a colleague to run for his life… …by engaging the assailant; he bought vital time for a fellow security guard to rush a group of students to safety.”
In 1980, musician John Lennon was fatally shot in front of his own apartment house, The Dakota, by a former security guard, Mark David Chapman.
Security Guards are parodied on The 12th Man where their role is grossly overexaggerated. Examples include wanting to shoot Max Walker to stop him from entering the commentary box, shooting Bill Lawry and Tony Greig in an attempt to have them leave the broadcasting area, and the actual shooting down of the commentary box to remove Max Walker, conducted by a SWAT Team.

Unionization
In June, 1947, the United States Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act placing many restrictions on labor unions. Section 9 (B) (3) of the act prevents the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from certifying for collective bargaining any unit which mixes security employees with non-security employees. That restriction makes it illegal for security employees to join any union that also represents other types of employees. They may only be part of an independent, “security-only” union, not affiliated with any coalition of other types of labor unions such as the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

Two of the largest security unions are the Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) and the United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA).

In 1948 with the Taft-Hartley restrictions well into effect, the Detroit, Michigan area security guards of United Auto Workers (UAW) Amalgamated Local 114 were forced to break away and start a separate “Plant Guards Organizing Committee”. The NLRB ruled that as an affiliate of the CIO, the committee was indirectly affiliated with production unions and therefore ineligible for certification under the new restrictions. The committee was then forced to completely withdraw from the CIO and start the independent United Plant Guard Workers of America. By the 1990s, this union had evolved to include many other types of security officers and changed its name to the SPFPA.

In 1992, the USGOA was formed. It specializes in organizing federal, state, and local government security officers, but since May, 2000 has been open to representing other types of security personnel as well.

There is controversy surrounding recent efforts by certain unions to become involved in the security industry, such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) because it primarily represents janitors, trash collectors, and other building service employees.

Depending on individual locations & companies, Security Officers in Canada are part of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Local 333) or the United Steelworkers Union (the Canadian wing of the United Steelworkers Union of America (USWA)). In contrast to the union restrictions in the United States, Canadian security officers may be in a Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)-affiliated union or in the same union with other classifications of employees.
See also
Access control
Bodyguard
Bouncer (doorman)
Bounty hunter
Certified Protection Officer
Commissionaire
Loss prevention
Physical Security
Police
Private investigator
shift work
Security
Security police
Store detective
Transportation security officer
Watchmen (law enforcers)
by answers.com

Miami Security guards – miami Security guard company 305.264.7878

Private Security Guards ( posted in Miami Florida)

Miami Private security guards, also known as security officers, have become increasingly important in Miami and our society, and the security guard industry is one of the fastest growing in Miami Florida and the country. Miami Security guards protect their employer’s investment, enforce rules and laws on the property, and deter criminal activity or other problems.  

There are three things to consider when hiring Miami security guards or security guard services: 1) what needs to be protected, 2) what level of protection is desired, and 3) who is going to do the protecting.

1) The first step is to determine what needs to be protected and what the security guard’s responsibilities will include. Security guards can be posted at stationary locations for security guard services, to control entrances and check people entering and leaving the property, control crowds, give directions, accept packages, and discourage misbehavior. Guards also patrol and inspect property to protect against fire, theft, vandalism, and illegal activity.

2) Security guards can be armed or unarmed, in uniform or plain clothes, posted on the property or thousands of miles away viewing video cameras that are part of an interactive system. What is the level of security needed and what is the budget required to achieve that level of security ?

3) When it comes to hiring Miami security guards, it doesn’t matter whether the security guards are employed by a security guard agency or hired directly by the end user; interviewing is essential in order to find the right security guard person for the position. The advantage of using a security guard service is that the security guard company is bonded, background checks have already been made, a certain amount of training has been completed, and the guard can be terminated easily since he works for the agency. The advantage to directly hiring the security guard is greater control over hours, appearance, behavior and in many cases, lower overall costs.

Miami Protection .com – a Security company in miami providing Miami Security Guards, Miami Security Services, Miami body Guards , Miami Florida Security and Executive Protection in miami

Security guards

Security guards are of paramount importance to the physical security of your employees, events and facilities. Security guards need to be included in the overall protective blanket of the organization. Even when security guards are outsourced, they need to be an integral component of your security plan and not considered separate function.Once you have decided your organizational needs for short or long term security guard(s), the complexity of your security requirements that the security guards will fulfill will need to be defined. Are the security guards required for a special event or an addition to your ongoing physical security plans? The target of this guide is to provide knowledge to help you decide about what needs to be considered when hiring security guards.

 If your security requirements are very complex then an assessment by onsite security professional is recommended. You may want to consider hiring an external security consultant to help you write and review the request for proposal (RFP) you will send to security guard contractors. When hiring an outside security consultant to help with the proposal make sure they do not have ties to any security guard staffing agencies so you can get unbiased third party assistance.Will you only need security guards for short term work or special events?

The first decision to make is – do you require security guards for the short term or long term? Long term guards need to be deeply integrated into your security plan and be part of the security team. Short term guards are needed for special events and times of heightened security. Hiring short term guards usually means they are required for a particular function and that function needs to be defined and communicated perfectly to your short terms guards and the security guard agency.

For more about “Short Term Outsourced Security Guards”, click here.

Interactions with Outsourced Security Guards

It is important to remember that the guard has two major functions: first is to be present to deter and detect unusual or suspicious activity and second to safeguard property and people. How a security guard interacts with your organization is an indicator how that security guard will follow policy and how members of your organization will respect the function of the security guards.For more about “Interacting with Outsourced Security Guards”, click here.

Criteria for Security Contractor Selection

As soon as the need for a security firm has been determined on an immediate or long term basis, a security contractor needs to be selected. Make sure you select a company that has valid license. You should be certain that a company is reliable and in good standing.All of the following criteria should be reviewed:

• Adequate Insurance
• Reputation
• Verifiable References
• Experience and Management
• Training and Qualifications
• Staffing
• Documentation
• Equipment Issues
• Clear Proposal
• Costs
• Contract

Deciding What Kind of Security Guard Should Be Hired

Hiring security guards is serious business and should not to be taken lightly. Various types of security guards are appropriate for different situations. One important issue is whether you would like security at your site to be provided by a uniformed or plainclothes guard.

• The main goal for hiring a uniformed security guard is deterrence.
• The main goal for hiring a plainclothes security guard is apprehension.

After deciding what kind of security guard to hire, you must determine whether the security guard should be armed or unarmed. There are many costs and benefits to be considered when choosing an armed versus unarmed security guards.

Unarmed Security Guards
Majority of outsourced guards deployed are unarmed guards. Most situations unarmed guards are effective. When selecting unarmed guards consider:

• Use of deadly force is neither desired nor required.
• Unarmed security guards often provide the same deterrent as armed guards without the risk of deadly force.
• The protection afforded by unarmed guards is less expensive and may incur less liability and insurance.

Armed Security Guards
It is important to determine if hiring armed security guards meets your expectations for security. When selecting armed guards consider:

• Realize that armed guards may utilize deadly force.
• Review the training qualifications the security guards have with firearms.
• Review the contractor’s policy on the use of weapons with regard to deadly force.
• Verifying reference and making sure the reputation is a degree higher when hiring armed security guards.

Consider the cost effectiveness of an armed guard. They are much more expensive than unarmed security, due to licensing and training requirements. Decide whether the presence of a weapon may escalate the possible use of force and violence which otherwise may not occur. Insurance may be adversely affected by the presence of an armed guard. An ineffectively deployed armed guard can pose additional risk to staff. Deploying armed guards should not be taken lightly but may be your only option if what you are protecting or the area that needs protection required arm deterrents.

Summary

Outsourcing security guards needs to be carefully decided. When hiring short term security guards, the plan needs to be detailed and perfectly communicated to the short term guards and your organization’s staff. Security guards need to follow policy to the letter and any deviation from the policy needs to be cleared with the guards’ liaison. Security guards should not be chastised for following the policy to the letter. Deciding if the security guards should be armed or unarmed is a very important decision that can have noticable ripple effects and sets a tone on the security posture of your organization.When selecting security guards, nothing replaces experience and a great reputation. by Ryan Groom – About.com

Security guard services, body guards, special event security, retail security, cctv security cameras, residential security guards and patrol services provided in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Miami Dade, Miami Beach, Weston, Pembroke Pines, South Beach, Doral Florida, Medley, Miami lakes, Miami Springs, West Palm Beach, Miramar, North Miami, Hialeah, Homestead, Boca Raton, Plantation, Pinecrest and south Florida

SECURITY GUARD SERVICES MIAMI

Miami Security Guard Services  provided by our Miami Security Company are superior to many other security companies in Miami, Broward County and West Palm beach Florida. Our Security Guard Services, Patrol Services, Commercial Security, Retail Security, Condominium Security, Body Guard Services are available for long and short-term security guard services. Our security officers are professionally trained and experienced and prepared to handle every security concern. Our Security Guards may be uniformed security guards or plainclothes security guards, armed security guards or unarmed security guards. Our Miami Security Company and our security guards are prepared to make the difference from other security companies in Miami, Broward County, and South Florida.Miami Security Company  and our Miami Security Guards provide protection services in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Weston, Medley, Boca Raton, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Homestead, Doral, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Pinecrest, Miami Lakes, Miami Gardens, and south Florida. Our security guards protect office buildings, residential gated community, condominium security, concierge security, patrol services, pro bodyguarding, corporate office building, retail shopping centers, warehouse security, protective service and os hotel security. Our Miami security services  cater to vip security, special events, tactical protection, body guard services, celebrity security, armed security, unarmed security and celebrity protection services.

SECURITY GUARD SERVICES

• Contract Security• Security Patrols  • Corporate Security  • Retail Security Guard• Office Security  • Miami Executive Protection  • Hotel Security Guard Services• Protective Services  • VIP Security  • Special Events • Miami  Security  • Hospital Security • Apartment Guards  • Residential Security Guards  • Warehouse Guards  • Commercial Security.Call our Miami Security Company – 305.264.7878
 

Security Guard Services – CCTV Security Cameras 

Who is in your building? Do you know? And most importantly, do you care?

If you answered ‘no’ to either of those last two questions, you could be in for a rude awaking. In today’s environment more and more building owners and managers are outsourcing their basic services to third party providers; the most common are security services, janitorial and landscaping functions.  The reason for this is economics, plain and simple. The fact is, it’s far less expensive for a building owner or management company, condo, co-op or gated community to use outsourced workers than to hire full-time, in-house security, janitorial, and landscaping staff.

It’s also a fact that in most cases, the lowest bidder wins the contract—but just what are you getting for that low bid?  Are the people hired to secure your association or building the best qualified and the best trained? Is the company you’ve hired fully licensed and insured? Not knowing the answers to questions such as these is like driving without a seatbelt. Here are some of the questions that you should be asking any vendor that you plan to do business with — particularly if the vendor is going to have a major presence at your facility or on your property.  

• Do you screen your employees and subcontractors?

• Are you licensed?

• Are you insured? What are the limits of your policy?

• Will you name my company as an additional named insured?

• Do you carry worker’s compensation insurance?  

Many of these questions are traditional business questions; however, how a company screens their employees is not. Not all screening methods are created equal. It’s important to know whether your prospective security guard company is doing full background checks, or only checking where the applicant tells them they lived. Does the company confirm that the person is who they say they are? Do they use database searches, statewide searches or county searches, or check to see if their employees and applicants are on a sexual offenders list? Does the company validate previous employers and experience?

Many employee screening firms offer a variety of services and packages, so it’s sometimes a challenge to determine exactly what types of searches and background checks are appropriate. For example, most people think a Statewide Criminal Search is the best, most thorough way to screen a prospective security employee. Some states do not offer a statewide search, however—and most statewide searches do not include all of the counties within the state. Other states only provide Department of Corrections records, which does not reveal all convicted felons—only those who have ever been incarcerated.

According to Michael Pachuta, president of Credential Check Corporation in Troy, Michigan, many hiring companies who run pre-employment screens on applicants aren’t aware of all the searches that are available, or that their screening company may not be offering the best available search. Sometimes it is a matter of cost, but the typical screening is only around $50 per applicant. Running the right background check on an applicant can help avoid situations like this one, taken from the Michigan’s Lansing State Journal:

“Charles Byam Jr. wasn’t necessarily the guy you’d want handling your money.

His rap sheet includes larceny in a building and attempted embezzlement in 1990 and misuse of a financial transaction device – using someone else’s credit card number to buy airline tickets in 1996.

But the…company put him in charge of handling payments for water permits.

Not such a good move, as it turned out. Earlier this year, Byam pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $180,000 by essentially getting businesses to write checks that he could divert to his own bank account…Byam asked customers to write checks to him rather than the company, and would then submit false invoices.

A spokesman said the company didn’t know Byam was a convicted felon with a taste for taking other people’s money when they hired him in March of 2000. He didn’t disclose that on his employment application, and the department didn’t do any criminal background checks.

He was fired for falsifying his job application by failing to disclose his criminal history. He is now serving a two- to 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to three counts of embezzling more than $20,000.”

You may be satisfied with the way your HOA’s security provider does their background investigations, but it’s still important to be aware and ask questions regularly. Are they drug screening each and every employee that they hire? Do they have a random drug screen policy? What about screening for cause—post-incident and/or accident?

These are also important questions that should be asked during the bidding process—not after a company is selected.  Not all service providers are doing all of the above-mentioned things. Doing a thorough screening of prospective service providers can help lower your general liability policy. According to Chris Robichaud of Szerlip & Company, an insurance provider for the service industry, these issues are addressed by underwriters because sound, thorough screening tends to limit the exposure that a carrier has to potential loss. The factor — the base for computing a insurance rate—is adjusted upward or downward, depending on the type of screening a hired security company is providing.

Gary Bradley of Bradley & Gmelich in Los Angeles represents a number of security providers.  He says the courts are holding employers to higher standards because there are so many ways to conduct pre-employment screening. Both the number of negligence suits and the amount of damages involved are increasing, and courts are toughening their definition of reasonable care. This is expected to intensify as available cctv security systems become more sophisticated.

Juries are holding employers to higher and higher standards when it comes to negligent hiring. Many companies are being sued—and found guilty of negligence—for hiring individuals that present a danger to others. Many of these companies are required to pay for damages that are in the millions of dollars. The average cost for an out-of-court settlement of a negligent hiring lawsuit is approximately $170,000.

To avoid these costs—and the human cost they represent—your association’s best defense is to ask questions. Look at the big picture, and don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions. Your company and you community will be better off for it in the long run.

Brian Dooley has been in the security guard industry for over 30 years and is the founder of security consulting firm Brian T. Dooley & Associates. By Brian T. Dooley CPP

SECURITY GUARDS MIAMI 

Security Guards Miami, Security Miami Florida, Security Guards Services Miami, Security Guards

Miami Security Guards and Miami Body Guard Services are available in Miami, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Weston, West Palm Beach, Hialeah, Medley, Miami Beach, Doral, Cooper City, Miramar, Pinecrest, North Miami, South Beach, Cutler Bay, Cutler Ridge, Homestead, Aventura, Bal Harbor, Miami Shores, Miami lakes, Wilton Manors and South Florida. Security Services in Miami and other cities include;  Armed Security Guards, Miami Body Guards, Commercial Security, Security Guards Miami, Special Event Security, Condominium Security guards, Retail Security, Home Security, Residential Security, VIP Bodyguards and more.

Security Guards MiamiOur Miami Security Guard Company is your best choice for security guard services in Miami:

Call our Miami Security Guards Company at 305.264.7878SECURITY GUARDS MIAMI

Miami Mobile Patrols

Our Miami Security Company provides Mobile Patrols, patrolling services, patrol service, residential patrol, community patrol and security guard services in south Florida.

A visit to your premises by a trained mobile patrol driver or a mobile patrol security guard officer is a useful alternative to the presence of a static guard or a stationary security guard.

All visits to your business premises or to your corporate office or residential community may be computer recorded and are arranged to be at irregular times so as not to create a noticeable pattern that could otherwise be exploited by a criminal element.

Our trained licensed security guards, uniformed mobile patrols and patrolling services create a high profile presence. Our patrol services and mobile patrols serve not only as a deterrent to vandals also are extremely helpful in the early detection of crime vandalism or any potential problems.

Mobile Patrol Miami – Mobile Patrolling

Our Miami mobile patrol service can be extended to a fully scheduled lock and unlock service. Our miami Security Company and security guards provide lock up services includes switching off any unnecessary electrical equipment, locking doors, checking and securing doors and windows, checking fire equipment, monitoring fire exits, unlocking doors, locking doors, activating alarms or simply to provide a patrol and security presence at your office, residential community, home, residences, gated community, shopping mall, retail store, corporate offices, condominium or business premises. Our patrol service can patrol residential community, homes, businesses and more. Patrol residential communities or a business with our Miami patrol service.

Our Miami Security company is dedicated the quality of security services and patrol service in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Miami Lakes, Hialeah, Kendall, Hallandale Beach, Lauderhill, Hollywood Beach, Weston, Doral Florida, Medley, Miami-Dade,  Pembroke Pines, Weston, Miramar, West Palm Beach, North Miami, Broward County, Key Biscayne, Miami Beach and south Florida - it is our security guard companies goal to be recognised as Miamis leading security guard provider among all other patrol service providers, contractors and security guard companies in Miami Florida.

Call our security company today for patrol service in miami and mobile patrol service in south Florida.

Shopping Center Security

Family Security Advice

Shopping Centers & Malls

Shopping centers come in all sizes from the giant regional malls to the small strip-center with only a few stores. What they have in common is a parking lot. This is where your family is at greatest risk because of the “nature” of a shopping center parking lot. The most common violent crimes committed in the parking lot are stranger-on-stranger purse snatch and strong-arm robbery and occasionally carjackings and abductions.

If you think about it, we are all strangers in a large parking lot. Violent criminals can blend in with the rest of us and get in close proximity fairly easily. Criminal predators can walk right by us and we will allow it because of the public setting. Next time you go to a large shopping center sit in the parking lot for a few minutes and observe how easy it would be for a criminal predator to approach and attack you or your family. Shoppers walk to and from their cars totally consumed by their thoughts and thinking about what they are going to do next. Watch shoppers as they approach their cars fumbling for their keys. They will turn their backs and attention completely away from those nearby to load their shopping bags into the car, and get children and infants installed inside the vehicle. Most shopping center and parking lot abductions and carjackings occur precisely at this point.

Awareness is Best Defense

To protect your family in this setting the best defense is awareness. Awareness will allow you anticipate the potential danger and plan ahead for the next time you go to a shopping center. Planning includes selecting a safer time to shop (daylight) and arranging not to shop alone if possible. You can plan where to park (i.e. not next to a large enclosed van) and in high traffic areas. You can plan to scan the area for suspicious males before parking and exiting your vehicle. You can also plan not to park or exit your vehicle if suspicious males are in the area. Families should agree in advance to exit and enter their vehicle quickly and lock the doors. Families should be trained to look around their vehicle before approaching and retreat if anyone suspicious is loitering in the area. They should be trained to return quickly to the shopping center and alert mall security or call the police. A little awareness (educated-paranoia) is healthy and can keep your family safe.

• Be aware and alert to predators in the parking lot
• Plan when to go and where to park
• Do not get out of the car if not safe to do so
• Scan the area around your car as you approach it
• Teach your family to enter and exit the care quickly
• Return to the store if anyone looks or acts suspicious
• Call the police and notify mall security of any criminal activity

Shopping Center Security

Our family is at the center of our personal universe. Most people would do almost anything for the sake of their family. That includes protecting them from known dangers and harm. This becomes increasing difficult, at times, because we live in an open society where we share the same public places as violent criminals like at shopping centers.

Family Security Plan

Whenever your family walks out the front door they leave that zone of protection that you have created. The secret to keeping your family reasonable safe once they leave home is to have a family security plan. To develop a family security plan you must give careful thought to the public routines of each family member and think of ways to make them safer from the violent people in the world. The best way to accomplish this is to hold a family meeting to discuss this plan and play what if using different scenarios. For example, what if we need to go to the shopping at the mall? What precautions can we take to be safer in the parking lot? What if someone approaches to rob us while walking to our car on the street at night? What would we do and how would we react? Where would we go and who would we notify in case of emergency?

Most people have no such family plan and have not met as a family to discuss what if situations. When or if a criminal assault does occur, the family will not be prepared and will have to rely on instinct in response to the incident. What if their response instincts are wrong or their reactions inappropriate, under the circumstances?

Shopping Centers

Shopping centers come in all sizes from the giant regional malls to the small strip-center with only a few stores. What they have in common is a parking lot. This is where your family is at greatest risk because of the “nature” of a parking lot. If you think about it, we are all strangers in a large parking lot. Violent criminals can blend in with the rest of us and get in close proximity fairly easily. Criminal predators can walk right by us and we will allow it because of the public setting.

Learn to Observe Conduct

Next time you go to a large shopping center sit in the parking lot for a few minutes and observe how easy it would be for a criminal predator to approach and attack you or your family. Shoppers walk to and from their cars totally consumed by their thoughts and thinking about what they are going to do next. Watch shoppers as they approach their cars fumbling for their keys. They will turn their backs and attention completely away from those nearby to load their shopping bags into the car, and get children and infants installed inside the vehicle. Most shopping center violent crimes occur precisely at this point. The most common violent crimes are purse-snatch and strong-arm robbery. Less common but potentially more serious are the crimes of carjacking and abduction.

Awareness is Important

To protect your family in this setting the best defense is awareness. Awareness will allow you anticipate the potential danger and plan ahead for the next time you go to a shopping center. Planning includes selecting a safer time to shop (daylight) and arranging not to shop alone if possible. You can plan where to park (i.e. not next to a large van) and in high traffic areas. You can plan to scan the area for suspicious males before parking and exiting your vehicle. You can also plan not to park or exit your vehicle if suspicious males are in the area. Families should agree in advance to exit and enter their vehicle quickly and lock the doors. Families should be trained to look around their vehicle before approaching and retreat if anyone suspicious is loitering in the area. They should be trained to return to the shopping center and alert security guards or call the police.

• Be aware and alert to predators in the parking lot
• Plan when to go and where to park
• Do not get out of the car if it doesn’t appear safe to do so
• Scan the area around your car as you approach it
• Teach your family to enter and exit the car quickly
• Trust your instincts of you see someone suspicious
• Return to the store if anyone looks or acts suspicious
• Ask if the shopping center does parking lot escorts

Shopping Center Security

Shopping center security has become a necessary component to safely operate large regional shopping centers. Let’s face it; no one wants to shop in an environment that is perceived to be unsafe. In some shopping centers, hordes of teenagers descend on the property and sometimes walk in large groups causing disruption. Sometimes gang members try to claim a shopping center as part of their turf. Other undesirables like aggressive panhandlers, intoxicated persons, and loud and obnoxious persons sometimes create a disturbance. Sometimes crimes are committed where security officers detain someone for arrest. Because of this, shopping center managers have established policies to cause the removal of those unwanted persons who commit crimes or violate mall rules while on the property.

What is a Trespass Warning?

If you think about it, a shopping center is private property that’s open to the public. This means that the invitation to come onto the property can be revoked by its operators. In the security vernacular, the word trespass has been coined as a term-of-art used to describe this policy. To trespass a customer means to formally warn the offending customer that they are to immediately leave the premises and not return under threat of criminal prosecution. The trespass notification can be written document or just a verbal warning. Obviously, written is better but not always practical. In either cause, the trespass warning must be communicated to the offender and should contain the precise language used in the state criminal statute. Trespass warnings can be given for a day, a week, a month, a year or permanently. However, temporary trespass warnings are difficult to enforce. For example, can you legally trespass a 15-year-old minor child for life? Technically speaking, once a person is formally trespassed they can be arrested if they return. Be advised that wholesale use of trespass warnings are sometimes viewed as a tactic to rid the mall of unwanted minority groups or others exercising their constitutional rights.

Who Can Issue a Trespass Warning?

Anyone who represents the property owner or leaseholder can revoke permission to come onto private property. The shopping center landlord, property manager, and their employees would certainly have the authority to trespass someone. Mall security typically is given the responsibility for trespassing undesirables. A tenant within a shopping center can only trespass a person from their shop, but not from the entire shopping center. Sometimes a tenant will call mall security after catching a shoplifter, and ask them to trespass the shoplifter from the entire mall. The trespass warning is equally legal if given verbally or in writing as long as it contains the proper language. Written and signed trespass warnings are better for proof purposes. The problem arises when a security officer illegally detains a mall patron for the purpose of filling out the respass form or requiring the unwanted person to stand still for a photograph.

Can Trespassers be Legally Detained?

One of the most misunderstood and abused shopping center practices is how to legally handle persons about to be trespassed. Many security officers believe that they can temporarily detain a person for violating a mall rule and process them. Many times I hear stories of mall security officers who detain teenagers for fighting or walking in large groups or for using foul language. These offenders are sometimes handcuffed and transported to the mall security office.

Once in custody, the rule violators are required to produce ID, sign formal trespass warning forms, and stand still for a photograph. After the teenagers are released, the photos and trespass forms are maintained in a mall filing system for future reference. The intent of these records is to be used as evidence of trespassing should the offender return. This process sounds okay to many mall security officers, but is patently illegal in most states. You can’t take someone into custody for violating a mall rule like walking in groups, using foul language, or being too noisy. Also problematic is posting a trespassed person’s picture on the office bulletin board for all to see (sort of rogue’s gallery) when they haven’t committed any crime.

When to Detain Trespassers

Security has no more authority than an ordinary citizen, in most states. At best, security officers can ask rule violators to leave the premises and not return. Unless a state statute specially allows for it, security officers cannot detain someone or take him or her into custody unless they have committed a crime. If a crime is committed then the officer must make a citizen’s arrest before detaining a person. To legally make a citizen’s arrest, a minor crime (misdemeanor) must have been committed in the presence of the person making the arrest. Security officers cannot rely on another person’s word that a misdemeanor crime occurred.

This whole business of stopping a person for a rule violation, transporting them to the mall security office for processing, and formally trespass-warning them is improper. Also, improper is requiring mall miscreants to stand in place while security officers obtain ID, bring forms and a camera to photograph them before issuing the trespass warning. To argue that the offending teenager volunteered to be detained for the purpose of being trespassed and processed is risky and should not be practiced.

Should all Trespasser be Arrested?

No! There are many exceptions, for example, when trespassed teenagers return with their parents. Most malls issue second and even third warnings for non-violent re-offenders. As always, using good judgment is important.

However, there are times when detention and arrest of criminals and trespassers is proper. Legitimate troublemakers and known criminals who have been trespassed previously sometimes should be arrested. The mall has an obligation to keep the premises reasonable safe. If mall security learns that a previously trespassed person has returned it can create a liability, especially if the person is known to be potentially dangerous.

If the person previously trespassed is not believed to be dangerous then discretion can be applied, depending on mall policy. Most mall security personnel simply remind the offending person that they are unwelcome and reaffirm the trespass warning. Trespassing is not a strong criminal charge and should be reserved for the more deserving offenders. The courts have been known to drop trespassing charges, in the interest of justice, without consulting the retailer. This can be a trigger for a lawsuit.

Use Good Judgment

Some shopping center security departments get carried away with the whole trespass concept. The trespass warning is just another tool that can help rid the center of the most troublesome persons. As a matter of policy, not all trespassers should be arrested. Sometimes second or even third warnings make more sense to rid the property of undesirables. Trespass warnings may not be enforceable across city or county lines making blanket banishment from all stores within a chain meaningless. Trespass policies are not designed to be a license for security officers to abuse state laws or violate the civil rights of mall visitors.

Violation of a mall rule is usually not a crime. The most that mall security can do is to advise, warn, and request mall visitors to act appropriately or to leave. What happens if an undesirable refuses to leave after being issued a trespass warning, can you arrest them for trespassing? The answer is usually, no, because the offender was initially invited onto the property as a member of the public and hasn’t left the property yet. In most states, the crime of trespassing won’t take effect until the next time they return. In some states refusing to leave when asked and warned completes the crime of trespassing. But in the exercise of caution, most shopping centers have a policy to call the police to remove the person who refuses to leave rather than attempting a citizen’s arrest.

Escorts off the Property

Make sure those persons who are asked to leave the shopping center actually vacate the entire premises, including the parking lot. Most major shopping centers escort and observe the offending persons off the entire property. This practice allows for clear enforcement of the trespass policy. The security escort should not be harassing or forceful.

by Chris E McGoey, CPP, CSP, CAM

Our miami security guard company may customize security services if needed depending on the specific requirements. Other security guard services readily available include shopping center security guards, shopping center cctv surveillance, temporary security, permanent contract security guard, plain clothes security guard, fire watch, mobile patrol, construction site security, private security, VIP Protection, concierge security, personal protection and many more. Our Miami Security Guard Services, patrol officers and security officers are all licensed and insured to provide security services in Miami and all of Florida. Call our Miami Security Guard Company today and experience guard service and shopping center security guard services like you never have. Our dedication and commitment is to provide unwavering service to every client who may need to hire patrol or hire security services in Miami, Florida. Services are provided in all of South Florida including, Miami-Dade, Broward County and West Palm Beach Fl.

Our Miami Security Guard company also retails and installs residential and commercial security systems in shopping centers , retail stores, malls and other retail stores in miami, Broward and south florida including, Shopping center Video Surveillance Cameras, Surveillance Products, CCTV security camera, Shopping Center Video Surveillance Systems, Hidden Cameras, and access control systems and surveillance equipment for your home, business, apartment building, condominium, warehouse or office.

Contact our miami security guard agency today and obtain a security assessment and a quote from the leading security company in Miami. A friendly licensed security service consultant will assist you with any information you may need regarding security guard services, shopping center security guards, shopping center security services and patrol services in miami and Florida..

Cities & counties we provide Security Guard Services, shopping mall security, parking lot security, retail security, retail store security, loss prevention services, undercover store security, mobile patrol services, temporary security, security guard officers, convenience store security are;  Miami-Dade County, Broward County, Palm Beach County, Aventura , Bal Harbour , Bal Harbor, Boca Raton , Boynton Beach , Coconut Creek , Coconut Grove , Cooper city , Coral Gables , Coral Springs , Cutler Bay, Cutler Ridge , Dania, Davie , Deerfield Beach , Doral, Fort Lauderdale , Ft. Myers , Fort Pierce , Hallandale Beach , Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, Hollywood Florida, Homestead , Islamorada , Kendall , Key Biscayne , Key Largo , Key West , Lake Worth , Lauderdale-by-the-Sea , Lauderhill , LeHigh Acres, Marathon key, Margate , Medley, Miami Beach , Miami Gardens, Miami Lakes , Miami Springs , Miramar , Naranja , North Bay Village , North Miami Beach , North Palm Beach , Opa Locka , South Florida , West Palm Beach , Pembroke Pines , Perrine , Pinecrest, Port Saint Lucie, South Miami , Miami Design District, Wynwood, Hialeah Gardens , South Beach , Sunny Isles Beach , Sunrise , Surfside , Broward Fl Tamarac , West Palm Beach , Weston , Wilton Manors, Tamarac, Tallahassee, Florida City and Miami Security Services.

Call our miami security guard company for details on our security guard services , body guard or private detective services.

(800)743-2313   or   (305)264-787