WHAT DOES A SECURITY officer DO FOR A BUSINESS, SITE, OR ORGANIZATION?
Security guards protect people, records, merchandise, money, and equipment in retail stores. They might collaborate with undercover store detectives to prevent customer or employee theft, detain shoplifting suspects until the police come, or patrol parking lots. Security guards keep order and protect the organization’s customers, employees, and property in office buildings, banks, hotels, and hospitals. People, transportation equipment, and freight are all protected by security guards who serve as transportation security screeners at airports, train stations, and other transportation facilities.
WHEN SHOULD I HIRE ARMED VS UNARMED SECURITY?
Security personnel who are not armed may carry non-lethal weapons, such as a baton or pepper spray, for protection. They may be armed with a taser in some situations, but not a lethal weapon. Unarmed security guards are typically hired for tasks where the actual threat is low, such as video surveillance, retail outlet monitoring, and school security. Armed guards extensive training in order to be prepared for the responsibilities of their employment. Often they are off-duty police, or former law enforcement. Businesses having a higher risk of crime, such as banks, major hospitals, technical firms, or courthouses, hire these guards. Generally, armed security is only used in situations where there are high value items on site, or large amounts of money.