Security Officers are not Jacks of All Trades

We commonly hear from recruiters that candidates should be "well rounded" and possess the appropriate skills and knowledge necessary for a particular position. In theory, this is a no brainer and most of us applying believe we have those qualities. Sounds cut and dry, right?

As we continue to reiterate that private security and public safety continue to advance in their roles and responsibilities, security officers continue to multi-task on duty. Sometimes, multi-tasking is essential to the welfare of the security operation or position. However, many times, security officers are asked to perform a multitude of tasks that generally have nothing to do with the protection of life and property. In many security officer positions, some duties include signing and accepting packages, vehicle assists, etc. Tasks such as these do add service value to the position and employer. After all, it's about justifying the reason we are there in the first place.

 

However, many security officers are tasked (not asked) to perform other responsibilities that just do not fall under the protection of life and property mantra. I have observed first hand security officers leaving their assigned posts to water plants, mop floors, dust, pickup dry cleaning for the client, sweep floors and the list goes on. Service is everything and again it's about justifying our presence but what do theses tasks have to do with the protection of life and property? If security officers are fortunate enough to work in a location where these tasks are performed by non-security personnel, they are left to do the job they were hired to do: protect life and property.

 

A security officer employed at a site where he/she does everything including the above just does not make good protection and business sense. By asking a security officer to perform non- security related responsibilities, the employer or client is inviting risk. To perform these tasks, the security officer must leave their assigned posts which means the area of the post becomes vulnerable to unauthorized entry, loss, or criminal activity detection. Imagine a crime taking place where a security officer should have been posted but was instead mopping the cafeteria at the time. From a business point of view, an employer might see this as a savings expense in which a maintenance person would not have to be hired.

One common argument I hear from employers is that security officers do not have much to do, especially if they are working after hours and holidays. This argument in itself is not justifiable Some years ago as a newly minted security officer, I was employed by a security contracting agency and was assigned to a very small office building with multiple tenant companies. After a few months, I was approached by the property supervisor and asked to leave my post, lock the entrances and meet him on the 2nd floor. I complied and when I met with him, he proceeded to show me which office garbage bins to empty and how to clean the bathrooms. I knew at the time that the property supervisor was supposed to be doing this every night. I politely informed him that I was a security officer not a maintenance person, that leaving the post was risky, not to mention that unemployment could soon become a factor. He disagreed, said he was the boss and contact my boss. Fortunately, my boss saw my point of view and backed me up 100%. I was never bothered with that again. I'm not attempting to interfere with any operations, but merely pointing risks involved. This is not to say that security officers who observe a spill or boxes blocking an ingress or egress should not remove a safety hazard.

 

On the flip side, many employers use sanitary personnel, cleaners, or janitors in the complete opposite way. Many work during the off hours and are often treated like security personnel. Many of these individuals have not received any security or public safety training and therefore place themselves and employer at risk.

 

A properly trained security or public safety officer, by their very nature are tasked with great responsibilities including loss prevention, protection, fire safety, access control, patrol, etc. This demands the officer be vigilant at all times. We are security and public safety professionals. Our goal has been and continues to be the protection of life and property.

Dan Sinisi, CAPP

Partner - Sound Training Group LLP