It is important to remember: As a security guard/proprietary private security officer, you are NOT a peace officer!!!

How are security guard/proprietary private security officers DIFFERENT from peace officers?

Security guard/proprietary private security officers do not have:

• The same job duties as peace officers;
• The same training; or
• The same powers as peace officers, according to the law.

What happens when a security guard/proprietary private security officer PRETENDS to be a peace officer?

Any security guard/proprietary private security officer who pretends or even implies (lets others think) that he is a peace officer is committing a crime. A person who is found guilty of impersonating a peace officer could be punished by a fine and or county jail sentence and his registration may be denied or revoked.

What are a security guard/proprietary private security officer’s ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES?

A security guard/proprietary private security officer’s role should be to PROTECT people and property for his employer. A security guard/proprietary private security officer’s responsibility BEFORE an incident/offense has occurred should be PREVENTION.

A security guard/proprietary private security officer’s responsibility DURING or AFTER an incident/offense has occurred should be to OBSERVE and REPORT.

How should security guard/proprietary private security officers PERFORM their job?

The major responsibility of a security guard/proprietary private security officer should be prevention BEFORE an incident/offense occurs. Thus, a security guard/proprietary private security officer should be highly visible. By being seen, the security guard/proprietary private security officer may discourage anyone who might be considering theft, damage, or personal injury.

A security guard/proprietary private security officer’s job focus should be PREVENTION. To do the job well, the security guard/proprietary private security officer MUST:

• Be alert
• Listen
• Watch

The decision on how the security guard/proprietary private security officer should react to any given situation is at the discretion of the security guard/proprietary private security officer’s employer.

What is a sign that a security guard/proprietary private security officer is doing a good job? The absence of incidents or offenses (crimes) is one sign that a security guard/proprietary private security officer is doing a good job.

What should a security guard/proprietary private security officer do if an incident or offense occurs?

If an incident/offense occurs, a security guard/proprietary private security officer should not immediately intervene. Instead, the security guard/proprietary private security officer should:

• Stay calm
• Observe and remember events
• Report to the police/or the security guard/proprietary private security officer’s supervisor (follow the employer policy).

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.

1. AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY WHAT IS A SECURITY GUARD/PROPRIETARY PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICER’S JOB?

A security guard/proprietary private security officer is assigned to protect specific people and property. This may include detecting some of the same offenses that would cause a peace officer to act, such as a fight or burglary. But it would not include other offenses such as motor vehicle traffic violations or prostitution.

This decision is at the discretion of the security guard’s, PPSO’s, PI’s or ACE’s employer. For example, if you were on duty at a plant gate and you observed two teenagers having an auto race down a public road, you would not try to arrest them. You may decide to report it to the police if a telephone is nearby. But you were hired to protect the plant -not to arrest speeders. (In fact, you should be suspicious of any activity that may draw you away from your post. It could be a plan to draw your attention away from your duties.)

WHAT IS A PEACE OFFICER'S JOB?

Peace officers are law enforcement officers such as Sheriffs and their Deputies, Constables, Marshals, members of city police forces and other officers whose duty is to enforce the law and preserve the public peace. If a law is violated, peace officers are required to pursue and apprehend the person responsible. This is not required of a security guard/proprietary private security officer/private investigator/alarm agent responder!

REMEMBER, a peace officer’s responsibilities are different from a security guard/proprietary private security officer’s responsibilities.

• SECURITY GUARD/PROPRIETARY PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICERS only protect specific people and property as directed by their employers.
• POLICE (PEACE OFFICERS) protect all people and all property and enforce laws.