"Be the best at everything you do."

Security officers have a challenging job. Everyday a security officer is only a second away from having to put their skills and abilities to the test. It is easy in police and security work to become complacent when days pass by with little activity. As a security officer you have to work hard to maintain your skills for when they are needed. Continually working to improve your skills and abilities will improve your ability to complete your job tasks, respond to emergencies when required, and improve your job satisfaction. So how do you do it while you are working? 

1. Learn About Your Environment - While on post, or patrolling your area, make an effort to learn about that jobs and tasks of those around you. How does the loading dock track shipments? What are the primary duties and functions of office workers? More importantly, who are they? Making an effort to learn more about the environment around you will improve your observation skills in identifying suspicious behavior. You will also improve your understanding of the processes followed by those around you in the event something goes awry. 

2. Stay Current On Local Events - Knowing about events, or activities occurring in the area immediately adjacent to the property you are protecting will improve your skills as a security officer. News, local advertisements, and talking with others will help you identify potential hazards that may impact your property. Maybe vehicle thefts are on the increase in the area immediately surrounding your property. Chances are it will occur on your property. This information will help you warn others and allow you to adjust your patrol plans as necessary to reduce the opportunities for thefts to occur.

3. Tradecraft  - Of course improving your skills as a security officer is critical to becoming more proficient in the services you provide. Take some time every month to learn more about skills, and techniques for conducting better patrols, completing reports, or improving your interview skills. Make a point to spend 30 minutes to an hour each month focusing on a specific skill and learning how to improve it. 

Working hard to be the best at everything you do will increase your performance which can lead to pay raises or promotions. Working hard at being the best at everything you do will increase your job satisfaction and more importantly, increase the safety of those you are entrusted with protecting as well as your own safety. 

Primary duty for a security officer is crime prevention. So, what exactly is meant by "crime prevention"? 

Crime prevention is reducing the opportunities for crimes to be committed. 

The theory of crime prevention is often expressed by the crime prevention triangle.  

Ability  - diminishing the ability for the criminal to complete a crime. While on patrol you look for ways to reduce the ability for a criminal to complete a crime. Verifying that individuals in a facility are authorized to be there is one way to reduce their ability to commit a crime. 

Opportunity  - reducing the opportunities is another element of crime prevention. Securing doors, making sure unattended valuables are secured are ways to reduce the opportunity. 

Desire - taking away the desire of a criminal to act. Most criminals wanting to commit acts of theft, such as shoplifting, are relying on their ability to not get caught. Maintaining high visibility patrols is a way of reducing the desire, by increasing the potential they will be observed in the act. 

As a security officer, if you can reduce one or more of these, you are able to reduce the chances that a crime will be committed. When starting your patrols, think of the triangle and how you can protect those around you and the property. 

As a security officer you will encounter individuals that you suspect of being involved in a crime, or you will suspect they are about to complete a crime. Following are some tips to follow when approaching an individual you suspect: 

1. Safety - when possible, closely observe the individual before you approach. Look for indications they may be armed; bulges in clothing around the waistline, ankles, or pockets where they may be concealing a weapon. Call for assistance. 

2. Approach - if you are not sure they have or are about to commit a crime, make a "soft approach". Introduce yourself, say "Hello", approach as you would any other individual. Sometimes this type of approach will reduce their desire to commit a crime as you are making them aware of your presence, more importantly, you are letting them know you are aware of them.  Ask how you might help them. Maintain a safe distance from them. Create space between you and the individual that will allow you time to react in the event they attempt to attack you. 

3. Be observant - look for signs they are being deceptive when talking to them. Nervous body language such as shifting feet, looking around - failing to maintain eye contact, repeating questions you ask them - indicates they are trying to "think-up" an answer to your questions. Be aware of their hand movements. Sometimes armed suspects may move their hand toward their weapon subconsciously, re-affirming that it is there. 

4. Document - always document your encounters and pass the information on to fellow officers so they can be on the lookout for the suspect to return. Include description, time, date, and nature of the encounter. Further, include any answers to questions you asked such as their reason for being on the premises. 

Always be alert and observant, approach with caution, and be prepared to react in the event they attempt to attack you. 

As a professional security officer your primary duty is to be observant of everyone, everything around you. Here are a few tips to help you improve your observation skills: 

1. Visual inventory - at the beginning and throughout your work day take a visual inventory of your surroundings. Look for doors that are not normally opened, new visitors, and potential safety hazards. Make a point to check often throughout the day and investigate when something doesn't appear quite right or normal. (One officer reported that he takes a photo of his work area with his phone at the beginning of his shift. He can compare later observations with the photo he took. Good idea!)

2. Make notes in your activity log or notebook - Taking notes helps you remember. Notes are also a good reference when you see something out of the ordinary. Even making notes of "normal" activities will help later if something is found out of place or out of the ordinary. Note deliveries, visitors, door opening and closings. 

3. "Observe" - the best way to be observant is to observe your surroundings. Look for clues that something may be out of the ordinary. If you normally see business visitors at your post, try to be observant of clothing, or items that may signal the individual is not who they appear to be. One security officer had a visitor that asked a lot of questions about the business. He left and returned several times over the period of an hour. The officer later found the individual trying to enter the building from the loading dock in what appeared to be an attempt to burglarize the business.  

4. Share information - Share your observations with fellow officers. Let them know of any strange happenings that occurred during your shift. Sharing information will help your fellow officers identify suspicious activity and may even protect them. 

Always make an effort to be observant. After working a shift for several hours it is easy to become complacent. When you observe something out of the ordinary ask questions, and continue to observe. This is a great preventative measure as criminals will not like the attention!

A key aspect in providing security services is to gain the trust of the community you serve. Whether you are staffing a post, or providing preventative patrol services, it is important to make time to interact with the community you serve in a positive way. Here are a few tips to gaining community trust: 

1. Courtesy - More than likely your parents emphasized the importance of courtesy at different times during your life. Being courteous with those you are protecting is a critical to gaining their confidence and trust. The simple lessons such as; addressing others as "sir" or "ma'am"; being friendly when dealing with difficult individuals (my grandmother called this "killing with kindness"), and, being respectful at all times will do the most in gaining trust. If you are courteous in your first contact with someone, you have increased the chances they will call upon you when they witness a suspicious act because you have established yourself as being approachable. 

2. Be an active listener - Whether you are in a cordial encounter or are investigating an incident, make sure that you are an active listener. Don't cut people off, fail to maintain eye-to-eye contact, or roll your eyes when they are relating an incident to you. One key method to being an active listener is to paraphrase what they have said to you. This shows the individual that you understand what they are trying to convey to you, that you listened, and the individual feels you are being respectful. 

3. "If you say you will then do it" - the most important aspect of gaining trust is following through on promises of action. If you tell someone you will do something then make a point to carry it out promptly. Set a deadline and offer to follow-up with them as to the results. Following this simple principle will quickly gain another's respect even when the results may not be what they wanted. 

The benefits to gaining your communities trust are numerous. They will alert you to potential problems, be supportive when you are dealing with difficult circumstances, and it will reduce your stress, making your work more enjoyable. Work each day to gain the trust of your community with these three simple steps.  

Recent events underscore the important role that private security officers play in protecting the homeland. Private security officers are on the front lines in protecting citizens throughout the United States as they often work smaller geographic areas, areas where large numbers of people often gather whether shopping, attending special events, or guarding access to important infrastructure. Security officers need to be alert to potential criminal activity: 

1. Be alert to potential surveillance - terrorists and other criminals often will visit the locations prior to committing an act. Security officers need to be alert for individuals that are conducting surveillance of a particular property. Individuals that are taking photographs of entrances/exits, other areas of the property that have no real photographic significance. Repeat visitors that appear to linger in areas throughout the property. They may move from one location to another lingering for a few moments surveilling their surroundings. 

2. Inquisitive inquiries - individuals that appear to be inquisitive about staffing, security routines, or have other questions that would reveal vulnerabilities. 

Technology is great! Smartphones provide access to information, email, and allows you to send a quick text message. When it comes to taking notes, the best method is still the tried and true notebook. 

A notebook that easily fits in your uniform pocket, and a pen or pencil provides the quickest method for jotting down notes, phone numbers and important dates. Later, when you have the opportunity, you can convert your written notes in to an electronic format. You can quickly look up notes by flipping through the pages to find what you are looking for. 

More importantly, Safety is improved with a field notebook and pen. You can drop it quickly if you have to respond quickly to a suspect without fear of damaging it.

Make sure you carry your field notebook each time you report to duty.  

Whether you are wanting to expand you business or you are looking to replace a contract that is due to expire, it is important to invest some time in selling your security services. These tips will help market your security services: 

1. Set aside some time each week to make sales calls - taking 30-45 minutes each week to make sales calls on prospective clients will increase your marketability. Understand that for every 100 calls you make, only one may provide results. Calls that are met with "I don't need security right now" could turn in to a contract in the future. 

2. Update your web pages - it is important that your web page is updated periodically, at least once every four months, to let the major search engines now your business is alive and well. Publish accomplishments of your business. Consider providing brief news stories about your services, accomplishments of your employees and continued training that you implement to keep your officers up-to-date. Don't have a web page? Get one!

3. Be active in your community - make sure that your business is represented in local events. Start with the Chamber of Commerce, and look for opportunities to give back to your community by volunteering to help with community services. This will promote your business in the community and let people know you care. 

4. Publish a Public Service Announcement in your local paper - this is another good method for becoming known in the community. Consider placing a public service announcement providing residential security tips, or other helpful tips. 

5. Improve your public speaking skills - spend some time practicing a 30 second "elevator" speech about your company. Teach it to your supervisors so they are prepared if asked about your company. Taking a few hours to write a brief overview then ensuring your employees know and understand it will increase your marketing activities exponentially. 

Be creative in your marketing strategies and always think of ways to market you firm. 

Security Officers are required to subscribe and abide by a set of ethical standards apart from many other professions. Security Officers must be honest, trustworthy, and courageous. Security Officers must undergo a background investigation and with some posts, periodic recurring screening. 

Why? 
Security Officers have access to all things. They respond to sensitive situations that require confidentiality. More importantly, they have taken a position that requires them to protect people and property for their employer. As the world changes careers in security continue to grow and so do the employers expectations. 

Expectations? 
Security Officers play a pivotal role in providing for Homeland Security. As trained observers and reporters they must be alert to activities and behaviors that could threaten national security. Security Officers are protecting ports, serving as trained observers for businesses with sensitive and valuable products and information. Further, they are being required to fill positions with increasing responsibilities beyond the historical security officer role. Expanding expectations include protecting business interests, ensuring protection of life and property, and most importantly, behaving in an ethical manner when others in unrelated fields do not. 

Future Expectations? 
The future of private security is one of continued growth. Security Officers are being called upon to fill voids where local law enforcement do not have the capabilities nor resources to respond adequately. Issues of domestic unrest, continued threats to national security are increasing the need for private security officers. 

For the reasons above, GuardStar Academy has continued to increase the standards for completing the course(s) offered. Students are required to complete assignments and successfully complete a final examination to successfully graduate. The basic requirements establish by the State of Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies serve as a baseline. At GuardStar Academy, our graduates are expected to do more.