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The Role and Responsibilities of The Security Guard/Proprietary Private Security Officer and Employer

It is important to remember:

  • As a security guard/proprietary private security officer, you are NOT a peace officer!!!

How are security guard/proprietary private security officers DIFFERENT from peace officers?

Security guard/proprietary private security officers do not have:

  • The same job duties as peace officers;
  • The same training; or
  • The same powers as peace officers, according to the law.

What happens when a security guard/proprietary private security officer PRETENDS to be a peace officer?

  • Any security guard/proprietary private security officer who pretends or even implies (lets others think) that he is a peace officer is committing a crime. A person who is found guilty of impersonating a peace officer could be punished by a fine and or county jail sentence and his registration may be denied or revoked.

What are a security guard/proprietary private security officer’s ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES?

  • A security guard/proprietary private security officer’s role should be to PROTECT people and property for his employer.
  • A security guard/proprietary private security officer’s responsibility BEFORE an incident/offense has occurred should be PREVENTION.
  • A security guard/proprietary private security officer’s responsibility DURING or AFTER an incident/offense has occurred should be to OBSERVE and REPORT.

How should security guard/proprietary private security officers PERFORM their job?

The major responsibility of a security guard/proprietary private security officer is should be prevention BEFORE an incident/offense occurs. Thus, a security guard/proprietary private security officer should be highly visible. By being seen, the security guard/proprietary private security officer may discourage anyone who might be considering theft, damage, or personal injury. A security guard/proprietary private security officer’s job focus should be PREVENTION. To do the job well, the security guard/proprietary private security officer MUST:

  • Be alert
  • Listen
  • Watch

The decision on how the security guard/proprietary private security officer should react to any given situation is at the discretion of the security guard/proprietary private security officer’s employer.

What is a sign that a security guard/proprietary private security officer is doing a good job?

  • The absence of incidents or offenses (crimes) is one sign that a security guard/proprietary private security officer is doing a good job.

What should a security guard/proprietary private security officer do if an incident or offense occurs?

If an incident/offense occurs, a security guard/proprietary private security officer should not immediately intervene. Instead, the security guard/proprietary private security officer should:

  • Stay calm
  • Observe and remember events
  • Report to the police/or the security guard/proprietary private security officer’s supervisor (follow the employer policy).

The above direction is a suggestion and is at the discretion of the employer. Some employers may want their security personnel to be more proactive as long as they stay within the parameters of what is lawful regarding private persons (citizen’s) arrest.