How to become a security guard, including security guard training class requirements and costs in all states.
The news is always reporting strange incidents that happen to security guards, much like the show “Cops” shows unusual incidents that police encounter while on duty.
In this incident a drug store security guard attempted to stop a woman from stealing $14.11 worth of beer. She bit him on both his hands. This story illustrates that even when a suspect is not armed with a weapon, a security guard can still be injured by a suspect. You might say this security guard did a “Stout Stop.”
As you know from this site, many states regulate the type of training and the number of hours of training security guards need to be licensed to work. Michigan currently only requires security guard companies to be licensed by the state and to turn in lists of who they employee as security officers. However, legislation is being introduced that would require security guards to get training in crisis intervention, conflict resolution, the use of force, pepper spray, CPR and threat assessment. The Michigan security guard training regulation proposal is the first
Two recent incidents have prompted this legislation. In one incident a young man died at a mall after multiple security guards held him to the ground for about five minutes. In another incident, a high school student is accused of picking up a school security guard and slamming the guard to the ground causing the guard to suffer facial and head wounds.
In both of these cases, videos seem to show that the incidents quickly escalated instead of being diffused. The legislation would give guards training in ways to diffuse conflict and prevent the use of unnecessary force.
With the increased news reports of violent incidents involving private security guards in multiple states, more states may require these guards get training in the use of force and conflict resolution.
In your armed security guard training, you most likely received instruction on ways to prevent someone from getting your weapon from you and using it against you. For example, where you carry you weapon is important and how you position yourself in regards to a suspect impact how difficult it is to dis-arm you. If a security guard fights with suspects, it allows the suspects to get close to the security guard. When a suspect is close to a security guard, it makes the security officer’s weapon reachable by the suspect.
Recently, in Miami a transit security guard was disarmed, pushed on to train tracks and shot in the leg with his own weapon. The guard along with another guard were trying to remove a suspect from the train station when an altercation occurred on the train platform. The guard was disarmed during the scuffle. It is difficult to protect your weapon when in close combat situation.
This case shows that when on duty as a security guard, your own weapon may be used against you if you are disarmed.
With increased domestic terrorism threats, some institutions, such as churches, synagogues, and schools, want their guards trained in how to recognize bomb threats. In response to this need, Bryant Security Corp in Miami is the one of only a few private security companies that offer security guard bomb training for their security officers. This training includes both IED and bomb recognition skills. Usually this type of training is only available to military and law enforcement personnel.
Training includes:
In the future, more security companies may get authorized to offer this type of training to their private security officers.
Private security guards attacked more partially due to the increased numbers of private security officers being used in place of police officers. In 2011 in the USA, 37,000 security guards, which includes nightclub and bar bouncers, were attacked. These guards incurred 13,700 injuries. 114 security guards were killed on the job. (Data from Private Officer International.)
The increase in attacks on private security officers is leading to these guards requiring more training as more guards are hired because of the reduced police presence in many communities. These private security guards are employed by private companies to prevent incidents, but sometimes incidents to do happen and the guards have to react appropriately. A police officer said he would like to see more officers and bouncers get better training.
In a recent incident in North Carolina, a private security guard was shot and killed trying to break up a fight and disperse people outside a restaurant.
Because security guards know the security systems where they work, they sometimes find stealing too tempting despite their duty to protect their employer’s property. In this case, a security guard couldn’t resist three LA Lakers championship rings and a bunch of gift cards from a training center.
The former security guard pleaded no contest to grand theft. He will have to spend 180 days in jail and pay almost $14K in restitution. Because most security guard employers run background checks on people who want to work as security officers, this former guard probably won’t be able to get another security officer job in the future.