Page 20 - June July 2017

The Threat of Ambushes to Private Security Are Real
The very first thing we, as security professionals, must do is have a mindset that we too are just as likely to be
ambushed, assaulted and attacked as any other public safety professional. This is the plain truth - like it or not.
It makes no difference which site you are assigned to or what industry you are protecting. Complacency is not
your friend. It’s for this reason I continually post across my social media and drill into my students to be aware
of your surroundings – all of the time.

The threat of terrorism, active shooters and other violent acts are all too real both in public locations and private
sector properties, many of which are open and accessible to the public. Yet, self preservation and the protection C
of others are not only assumed but expected. A

During my career, I have personally observed private security officers driving their security patrol vehicles with P
music blaring from the radio, talking on the phone or texting. In other words, for them the mindset is “what I
could happen?” Anyone in public safety will tell you that no tour is routine, even if it appears to be. I can tell T
you with certainty that no two days on my tours were ever routine. As an FTO and now an instructor, the very
first thing I tell my participants is no matter what, expect the unexpected and to realize there is more going on A
around you than you think. L

A person who is seeking to harm law enforcement may instead find a private officer on post or on patrol. To this
person, it doesn’t really matter who you are or who you really represent. To him or her, you are a uniform, a tar- P
get, a perceived wrongdoer in their eyes. At that moment only you know who you are. You will not have much U
of an opportunity to react let alone explain. It’s imperative that private security officers understand that we are N
not living in a bubble. The reality is that we place our lives on the line every time we put on that uniform and
report for duty. You are the first responders on that site. I
S

Security companies and proprietary entities must also come to this conclusion. It’s not always about the bottom H
line. It can’t be. Contract and proprietary businesses must re-evaluate their training to include the possibility
of being ambushed and how best to prevent and respond to them. We simply can’t place a security officer on a M
site and hope for the best or allow insurance companies to dictate what security officers can and can’t do or the E
equipment that may used if force becomes necessary. It’s wrong in so many ways. N

Recently, headlines have shown us that law enforcement officers declined to use any force for fear of being ar- T
rested and/or prosecuted. Protests and riots didn’t help either. It’s a shame that police officers have been reduced
to the point of not only the possibility of losing their lives but also fear being judged especially when videos go
viral across social media and media outlets.

Private security officers are being tasked more and more with law enforcement type responsibilities such as
corrections, parking enforcement, crossing guards, community patrols, etc. This is a step forward in the private
security profession but it also brings real risk. The security officer is becoming increasingly exposed to violence
and scrutiny. The scales are not tipped in the officer’s favor. Trends show that cities, state agencies and other
organizations, seeking to cut costs are looking to private security to handle some of their responsibilities that
were once performed by sworn officers and other employees. This in and of itself would make security officers
a law enforcement target. Security Officers who accept these roles on behalf of these agencies must understand
the risks and know that although in most cases they are not sworn or commissioned, they are essentially private
citizens performing police responsibilities. No one will take the time to read your badge or patch if there is ill
intent. It is paramount security officers are always aware of their surroundings.

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