Agencies relations to security

[PositiveInfluence]

Any LEO's able to talk about their Department's views on Security companies and their Officers/Guards? Lately while I am in my patrol area I have been getting more and more smirks and dirty looks, but from Cops, not ordinary people.

A while back, Officers/Deputies would always smile or wave or have a brief friendly word or two. It was more or less the only respect me or others working in the industry would get. But now, even after talking to people from other companies, whom have all noticed the change in attitudes and demeanor, express that it is concerning and would hate to see a good working relationship falter.

I understand that I am just a civilian, and i understand that a LEO's job is stressful, but shouldn't there be some level of acceptance?

If any of the mods find this thread to be a "bashing" thread, or that it could start a flame war, please close it down as neither are my intenton.

But i do request that if anyone is going to post negative "bashing" comments about security, please just PM it to me, keep this thread clean.

Thank you.

[BigDogatPlay]

I've always found there to be a fundamental mistrust by some LEOs of many / most security companies and guards. Me, I never cared much one way or the other since I worked security before I got hired and understand the other side of the fence. Most guys working as guards are just out trying to earn a living doing a job, and there's nothing wrong about that.

But one negative or adverse contact with a guard seems to just turn LEOs against them. I saw it a number of times.

[tyrist]

Honestly I don't really trust or put much faith in security guards. Many companies seem to have put cheap labor rates ahead of selecting decent people.

Arrested a sex offender who was working as an armed security guard. Had a few security guards at a night club knee drop a guy on his throat causing a death. Arrested more than a few for narcotics.

I am not rude to anyone but then again I have seen enough to be wary of them. They also seem to get themselves in over their heads FAR to often.

[Ron-Solo]

Having supervised private security hired by our department to fill vacancies in the courts, I have become very skeptical of their skills and abilities. While there are many officers and companies who are skilled, capable, and honest, there are many who lack the basic qualities, morals and ethics to adequately do the job. Many fail to realize the limits of their authority and abilities. The few bad apples regretably make it difficult for you while doing your job.

Not bashing in any way, but trying to explain the reality of it.

[headshrinker]

Seems to be a matter of you get what you pay for. If you hire contract security you are hiring the lowest bidder unless you don't mind paying more. I've seen several security companies owned and staffed by former LE (like the one that provides security where I work) and they seem to be pretty professional. I don't know what they pay, but I'm sure it's more than minimum wage.

[Bobula]

I work private security for two companies. Both have good relations with the local Leos. Mainly because we know our role, don't overstep our boundaries, and never second guess a Leos decision for something they get called out for.
Hell I can't tell you the number of times I've backed up local Leos on traffic stops waiting for either 29's or their backup.

[Fspeed]

My obersvation from working retail

I've dealt with two types of security guards: John Wayne and Alan Alda.

John Wayne will go after shoplifters with w/passion and sometimes even tackles people who actually paid for their merchandise. He does not exhibit the not so commonly shown common sense or other quick thinking that was written into the Duke's scripts. They talk a good game about how they could take down both those guys in that UFC rerun on spike, but actually they have only taken down some poor guy who actually paid for his shoes.

Alan Alda talks a bad game. He'll tell you that he gets paid 12 bucks an hour to stand around and talk. And how! He won't go after shoplifters and even if someone is slapping their girlfriend around in the store, he aint doing nothing. Unlike the MASH version of Alan, when the chips are down he is not.

I've seen and worked with a few guys who did the job with some skill and were professional, but it was uncommon. The sad fact is many people do the job because it pays as much as most other unskilled labor, without as much workload.

Just do your job as best you can and not worry what the police or public think.

[PositiveInfluence]

Like you guys said, I can see that a few bad apples spoils the bunch. I think my supervisors were talking about doing some sponsoring of community based events like BBQ's and game days. Maybe help in spreading community awareness in crime and such. Might be a good marketing tool too. I guess time will tell in the end.

[bcj128]

While I like to keep a good rapport with a security personnel, I have seen numerous incidents over twenty years in police work where security guards went above their authority, acting and even representing themselves as police. As a result I have to deal with them, or check into complaints against my personnel that turn out to actually be a security guard who acted out of his scope.

Security guards perform an important function, and when they keep within the scope of their jobs, they help us immeasurably. It's the few who act outside that scope or become badge heavy that make it difficult. Then again, we cops can suffer from the same ailments.

[bubbagump]

I know a lot of security guards, police officers, and CSO's/Cadets.

Security Guards are the worst. I knew security guards that used to steal, use drugs on the job, and I knew of one who committed a sex crime while on the job. And thats just the serious stuff. Some of the security guards I've met think they are cops. Its pretty sad.

There are also police officers that steal, do drugs, and commit sex crimes.

CSO's/Cadets usually get in trouble because they get into situations they can't handle.

With that said, MOST security guards just want to make money and go home.

I don't blame cops for not liking security guards, but then again...cops got their own bad apples.

[trendar5]

I work private security for two companies. Both have good relations with the local Leos. Mainly because we know our role, don't overstep our boundaries, and never second guess a Leos decision for something they get called out for.
Hell I can't tell you the number of times I've backed up local Leos on traffic stops waiting for either 29's or their backup.

I appreciate your support of your local LEO's. I have to tell you the truth though. If you as an individual or your company in general had a practice of filling on our traffic stops, it wouldn't be allowed. I understand things might be different in the Lower Sierras, due to terrain, staffing and response times.

[PositiveInfluence]

I appreciate your support of your local LEO's. I have to tell you the truth though. If you as an individual or your company in general had a practice of filling on our traffic stops, it wouldn't be allowed. I understand things might be different in the Lower Sierras, due to terrain, staffing and response times.

I've assisted here in the Sacramento area a few times, but usually in a "Cover" roll during arrests and once in clearing apartment complexes for possible wanted subjects. But I try to keep out of their way unless I am asked specifically and been given guidelines of what they want from me.

[Notorious]

Depends on the company and how the guards carry themselves.

Securitas... yeeech... their guards don't seem to care much for uniform appearance and they don't act any better than the thugs I lock up.

Then there are those big corporate security guys that guard some of the industrial complexes in the area. Those guys are in-house and they're pretty good as far as private security goes. I wave to those guys and they wave to me.

Public security is a bit better due to the higher standards, such as county security or airport security. Those guys know their station and how they are in the chain as it relates to LE and they help out without attitude.

[alex00]

I try not to let my bad experiences with particular guards, on in one case an entire company, color the way I treat and deal with security in the field. There are plenty of guards that have been helpful, professional, and stayed within their scope. I've had some really bad experiences with a few guards. I once arrested an on duty, uniformed security guard for armed robbery. He was running around pulling people over with a red light, jamming a gun in their face and taking large amounts of cash. In the last two weeks I've done residential parole/probation searches and found two armed security guards living with the target of my searches. In both cases the security guards were as dirty as the targets of our search.

I realize that certain individual guards give a bad name to the field, but I try not to paint everyone with the same brush. Unless you work for one company in particular, then I'll do my best to avoid dealing with you. There isn't a brush broad enough to paint that company.

[Lrchops]

I treat security officers/guards with due respect as with anyone else. I don't see how any cop can have such a big ego to think they are really much better than anyone not to treat them fairly. I will wave to security because I want them to know we are there for them if they need our assistance.

It is plain ignorant to smirk or ignore a security guard. In fact, many of the armed security guards in our area are guys out of the military that are going to school or in between career jobs. We have a lot of armed security in my area and I always want to be on a level playing field with them! They can be very helpful to law enforcement. It is nice to let them know that cops are respectable and don't address them as a lower form of life!