A Basis for Making Decisions:

The very nature of security work requires security personnel to be constantly aware of their surroundings, the law, and the mission of private security in today’s society.

Three factors to consider when making timely and reasonable decisions are:

  1. FACTS: Consider the FACTS involved in the incident. The facts of any incident will be learned by answering the following questions:
    • WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? HOW? and possibly WHY?
  2. LAW: Consider the LAWS that may apply to the incident. Has a city, county, state, or federal law been violated?
  3. POLICY: Consider any POLICY that may apply to the incident. What is the POLICY of your employer regarding this incident?

Inspections

What Is An Inspection?

As a security guard/proprietary private security officer, your employer may enlist your assistance in conducting inspections of employees. This is not a search. Always make sure the employer has notified the employees first. Such inspections are often conducted at the end of the work day by looking into employees’ cars, lunch pails, purses, or tote bags to make sure unauthorized items are not being take off the premises.

What Is An Inspection?

An inspection is always conducted with the employees’ cooperation.

For example, when you want to look inside a lunch pail, purse, or tote bag, ask the employee to open it up for you to look inside. If you can’t see the contents because something is in the way, ask the employee to remove the obstruction. If the employee tries to hand the item to you, politely refuse. NEVER TOUCH THE EMPLOYEE OR HANDLE THE EMPLOYEE’S PROPERTY.

What Is An Inspection?

Understand company policy. Generally, if an employee does not cooperate, you should record:

  • Date, time, and location
  • Name
  • Physical description
  • Badge ID number
  • License number of any vehicles involved
  • Then make a full report, in writing to your employer

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.