Role of Professional Security Officer
The terms "professional" and "security officer" are sometimes perceived as being mutually exclusive. The public perception of security officers as lazy slobs who sit around and do nothing all day is rather common. All one has to do is watch TV or movies for a while and the scene will inevitably come up where a major crime takes place because a guard had fallen asleep at a console or didn't pay attention to obviously suspicious behavior.
However, as someone who has spent several years in the private security industry, I can tell that there are professional security officers within the industry. I also believe that it is possible to develop and enhance professionalism within the industry.
But what, exactly, does it mean to be a "professional security officer?" Let's break this down. A professional is someone who works in a profession. In turn, a profession is generally accepted to be a vocation that involves the development of a body of knowledge and following a code of conduct. For example, no one doubts that a lawyer is a professional because a lawyer must earn an undergraduate degree, attend law school, pass the BAR exam, and adhere to a code of ethics.
So where does that leave the "professional security officer?" If you look at the requirements for licensing security officers in many states, you'll find surprisingly minimal standards. A common requirement is for security officers to be at least 18 years old with no felony convictions and attend "training" that involves sitting in a class for a few hours, watching a video, and taking a simple test. It should be stated that there are some states, and employers, that do have higher standards for security officers.
It's commonly accepted that lawyers require extensive training due to the complexities of the law and legal system. The impacts they have on others also dictate the need for an ethical code to govern their actions. So let's look at the typical responsibilities and duties of a security officer.
Security officers are often the first point of contact for employees and visitors at a business. Therefore, security officers must have excellent customer service skills. They are also responsible for ensuring that those employees and visitors are authorized. This means the officer must know the relevant policies and procedures of the client and be able to apply them to their access control duties. Access control duties also require officers to be aware of, and know how to apply, relevant state and local laws in areas such as trespass, public disturbance, and, if necessary, the use of force. Many security officers have first responder duties, requiring them to be trained and certified in first aid and CPR skills. In addition, security officers are often in a position that exposes them to confidential information, whether it's related to an incident occurring in the workplace or protecting a company's proprietary intellectual property.
This sounds like a "body of knowledge" to me. Further, these responsibilities require officers to adhere to ethical standards, either explicit or implied, since clients rely on their trust and integrity.
As mentioned before, many states only have minimal requirements when it comes to security officer standards. Some states do require higher standards and continued training for development, and these will go a long way towards professionalizing the industry. This inconsistency makes it difficult to legislate professionalism in the security industry.
Therefore, professionalism in the security industry must come from within. To that end, there are organizations that work to enhance the professionalism of security officers. Officers who truly desire professional status would do well to seek out these organizations and pursue training and development opportunities. Officers should also seek out employment with security companies and departments that embrace professionalism. Yes, there are lazy officers who reinforce the stereotype, but the growing complexity of security officer responsibilities is opening the way for a true professional security officer.
