A Unified Security Profession

 

 

According to latest statistics, security professionals outnumber their public counterparts by 3:1 and the security industry continues to grow exponentially. Yet in some ways, the industry is fragmented by high turnover, salary disparity, and lack of training standards.

 

Fortunately we don't see much of this with law enforcement, fire and EMS providers. Granted, most of these professionals belong to their respective unions as well as some security professionals. This post is not is not meant to debate whether all security professionals should be unionized but rather that we, as a profession, should be unified.

 

During the recent violent attacks on law enforcement here and abroad, our public protectors joined together and became one - a unified voice representing law enforcement agencies around the country and around the world. They all come together for a fallen brother or sister both physically and spiritually. The world sees their grief and tries to make sense of it all. In unity they grieve and we come to respect the "Thin Blue Line." They are one. Firefighters and EMS providers similarly have a unified voice. They too line the streets to pay respects to their fallen brothers and sisters. They grieve and the public grieves with them. There is a respect and a bond that only those in public safety can truly understand. In unity they all share the same foundations within their respective professions, namely training standards, cohesiveness, and the ability to support each other.

 

Security Officers, by the nature of their job responsibilities, are also protectors. They protect us on private and public property. They have given their lives in the protection of life and property and yet in many cases, we the public, don't here about it. According to Private Officer International, a security-law enforcement association (not a union), there have been seventy-five confirmed security officer line of duty deaths and perhaps more that have not been reported. Each of these officers sacrificed their own lives in the protection of others yet we don't see the security profession unify itself for the fallen like our public counterparts. We don't see the industry unification and support of one another both publicly and privately. There are no images where security professionals line the streets to pay respects for their fallen bothers and sisters. Security lives matter but we must become a unified voice.

 

Private Officer International is leading the way in unifying and giving a voice to the many security professionals out there. They are the only organization which dedicates one week in September as "Private Officer Memorial Week," which recognizes the sacrifices made by those in the security profession. POI has been leading the way in advancing the cause of higher training standards with state legislators and other professional organizations. However, security professionals must also become involved in their own profession if we wish to see a unity that is shared among other public safety professionals. It's easy to sit back, watch, and demand respect.

 

As the Musketeers would say, "All for one and one for all!" This quote embodies what our profession should be. Caring and respectful professionals who, through unity and strength, are one.

 

Dan Sinisi, CAPP, CCSS

 

Partner - Sound Training Group LLP