Security Officer Safety Alert

ARE YOU A PRIVATE SECURITY TRAINER?
DO YOU OWN A SECURITY TRAINING ACADEMY?
ARE YOU INVOLVED IN PRIVATE SECURITY REGULATIONS?
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED BECOMING A TRAINER?
 
YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE NEW
INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE SECURITY TRAINERS ASSOCIATION
UNITING EDUCATORS AND REGULATORS!
JOIN NOW!

SEPT 18 2011
 
SECURITY OFFICER SAFETY ALERT
 
(PASS ON TO YOUR EMPLOYEES)
 
In the past two years, more than 60 police agencies have laid off several thousand police officers, 9 police departments have closed their doors and numerous city and state law enforcement agencies have cut back in shift coverage, area response and types of calls that are given priority.
 
Today, another 105 police officers were laid off in Trenton NJ, a small police department closed and had their response area incorporated into the county sheriff's office and the courts in Jefferson County Alabama are facing shut down because of a lack of funding for building security.
 
While all of this is in itself a sad reality to our economical times, for the private security industry, it is a sign of impending danger to any private security person who relies solely on the police for immediate back-up, response and support.
 
We have been in communication with numerous security companies who patrol high crime areas, residential properties and retail centers who have all told of slower responses and even no responses from their police agency.
In one situation in Florida, police responded 75 minutes after the initial call for a fight in progress and in another situation, police did not prioritize a theft call and eventually the suspect assaulted the security agent and fled.
 
Private security officers need to be conscious of their local police force staffing and ability to respond to their calls for assistance in a timely manner.
Don't depend on your local police to be there in minutes and don't involve yourself in dangerous situations that you alone will not be able to safely handle.
 
We need to understand that many police departments are financially strapped and manpower is stretched and in some cases security officer calls for assistance may receive a lower priority especially in cases where a particular security officer, agency or property is known to involve law enforcement in every situation that occurs on their client's property.
While we are not suggesting that your local police department won't answer your call, we are cautioning you to only call your local police in an emergency and to communicate with the dispatcher or call taker the urgency of your situation.
 
We also suggest that private security personnel use caution when responding to any incident on their property, conduct an immediate threat assessment and to back away from dangerous incidents that the security officer is not equipped or trained to handle.
 
Now more than ever, private security officers must look before they leap into dangerous situations, use good common sense and communication skills, train to be proficient with all of their weapons and tools and understand that back-up may not be there immediately.
 
In responding to possible violent or dangerous incidents on your property, situations where an assault has occurred, a drug offense is in progress or there has been a domestic violence situation, always notify law enforcement before you respond to the location of the incident. This will get the call for assistance generated and response to help you expedited.
 
Don't be a hero and try to go it alone. Don't fail to communicate with your partner, supervisor, dispatcher or the police.
 
During this time of police agency understaffing and budget cuts, we must work smart, safe and together so that we can all go home at the end of our shift!
 
Alert + Safe=Alive
 
 
Original article written by: Rick McCann
                                          Founder-CEO
                                          Private Officer International