Introduction

This document was prepared as a set of guidelines for meaningful security officer standards in the areas of private security and public safety. In the past two decades, the number of non-sworn security officers has grown dramatically. Presently, there are more than twice as many private security officers as there are commissioned police personnel.

Contract security companies employ the largest group of these private security personnel. However, some corporations, colleges or universities, and units of government elect to provide for their own protective services with proprietary security units. This is accomplished either on an exclusive basis or in combination with contract security officers. These guidelines have been drafted to apply to both contract and proprietary security operations. It is understood that individual states may elect to address standards for these two groups differently in such areas as individual licensing, certification or accreditation.

Still, it is intended that initiatives developed from use of these guidelines apply generally to contract and proprietary security officers. In the end, quality assurance for both employee groups is the most critical element for public safety.

These guidelines are not designed to address all aspects of hiring and training security personnel. They are the considered effort of a wide range of professionals from both sectors. As guidelines, they come at a time when growing media and public focus is centered on high-profile events that reflect negatively on security personnel. This unfavorable attention is seldom balanced against the reality that each day hundreds of thousands of security officers provide effective and valued protection to tens of millions of citizens and billions of dollars in assets in a wide range of venues.

1. Be at least 18 years of age—"unarmed" private security officer.
2. Be at least 21 years of age—"armed" private security officer and comply with U.S. Public Law 104-208 Section 658 (The Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997).
3. Possess a valid state driver's license (if applicable).
4. Not have been:
1. Convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a felony in any jurisdiction;
2. Convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, acts of dishonesty or acts against governmental authority, including the use and/or possession of a controlled substance within a seven-year period;
3. Convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any crime in any jurisdiction involving the sale, delivery, or manufacture of a controlled substance; or
4. Declared by any court to be incompetent by reason of mental disease or defect that has not been removed or expunged.
5. Submit two sets of classifiable fingerprints and two passport-sized photographs, along with applicant's name, address, date of birth, social security number, citizenship status, and a statement of conviction of crimes in order to conduct a state criminal record check, and a FBI criminal history check, prior to permanent employment as a private security officer. In all instances, these actions must be taken prior to the private security officer's being armed;
6. Furnish information about all prior employment through the employer making a reasonable effort to verify the last seven years of employment history, and checking three personal references; and
7. Successfully pass a recognized pre-employment drug screen.

1. High School education or equivalent;
2. Military discharge records (DD 214);
3. Mental and physical capacity to perform duties for which being employed;
4. Armed applicants shall successfully complete a relevant psychological evaluation to verify that the applicant is suited for duties for which being employed.

Commentary

These guidelines establish the following types of license or certification classifications:

• Class I—Security Officer/Unarmed Alarm Responder
• Class II—Armed Security Officer/Armed Alarm Responder
• Class III—Armored Car Security Officer

Temporary Security Officer Permit

1. An employer may issue a temporary security officer permit to a person meeting the qualifications and selection criteria, provided the employer has submitted to the state licensing and certification agency the application required for a registration permit, including the statement from a certified trainer verifying completion of the pre-assignment training requirements.
2. Under no circumstances may the holder of a temporary permit carry a firearm.

Additional Requirements for Class II and Class III Licenses or Certification

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements for a Class I License, an applicant for a Class II and Class III License or Certification shall:

1. Be at least 21 years of age;
2. Submit a statement by a state-recognized firearms instructor verifying that the firearms training and range qualification requirements of these guidelines have been completed;
3. Pass an annual range qualification test as certified by a state-recognized firearms instructor.

License Renewal

Licenses should be renewed every two years.

It is recognized that security officers who have been licensed or issued a permit can commit crimes without their employer or state regulators' knowing of these events. Accordingly, there should exist a procedure that requires regulators to conduct appropriate state and/or national records checks of security personnel at the time of license/permit renewal.

If the person involved has continued to work and reside in the same state, a state records check may well be sufficient. This will reduce the risk that a licensee could commit crimes without the employer or regulatory authority's knowing of them at the time of renewal.
 

Commentary

1. Minimum basic training requirements and relevant, continuous in-service training for private security officers should be required. A formal mechanism to establish curriculum requirements and hours of training should be established.
2. All private security officer training should be reviewed and approved for certification by a state regulatory agency. Instructors will also be certified by the state regulatory agency. All training will be validated by approved testing criteria.
3. Private security officer basic or in-service training should include the following elements based upon needs analysis related to job function:
1. Security officers fall into one or more of these categories based upon their job function:
1. Unarmed security officers
2. Armed security officers
3. Unarmed non-sworn alarm responder
4. Armed non-sworn alarm responder
5. Armored car guard
2. Security officers' training needs will be addressed in large part under these topic areas as appropriate:
1. Legal
2. Operational
3. Firearms
4. Administrative
5. Electronic
6. Armored transport
7. Use of force
4. Due to the varied nature of security tasks and duties along with the proper training for each, the demands for each specific setting should be assessed for the level of training certification to build public trust and confidence.

Commentary

If there has been any one element of policing that has produced the recognized quality of personal performance by today's officers and deputies, it has been the advent of recognized professional selection/training standards beginning in the early 1970s. This was the cornerstone that has brought policing to being a genuine profession. The same approach can apply to the security officer position. There is every reason to believe that with proper employment screening, coupled with meaningful training and responsible supervision, security officers can earn the respect of communities and law enforcement. If there is anything that will calm those who would be critical, it is the careful administration of statutorily required employment/training standards for all licensed or certified private security officers.

Acknowledgements

The following individuals and organizations contributed to the drafting, preparation, and review of this document.

Marene N. Allison
Vice President Loss Prevention
Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company

Richard J. Barry
Executive Vice President
First Security Services Corporation

Ernest C. Blount
Vice President, Public Services Division
The Wackenhut Corporation

Michael D. Brasfield
Chief of Police
Fort Lauderdale, FL, Police Department

James L. Brodie
Director Public Safety (Ret.)

James J. Emerson
Lieutenant Colonel
U.S. Marine Corps

Michael D. Gambrill
Vice President of Operations
Dunbar Armored, Inc.

L. Earle Graham
Vice President
Westec Security, Inc.

Hobart M. Henson
Director, National Center State & Local Training
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

Marvin L. Herrington
Director of Public Safety
Stanford University

S.T. (Steve) Hess
Manager, Police Academy
Justice Institute of British Columbia

Charles Houper
Sheriff
Chemung County, NY, Sheriff's Office

*Weldon L. Kennedy
Vice Chairman-Group Executive
Guardsmark, Inc.

Michael Martin
Technical Support Specialist/Assistant to Chief of Staff
IACP

Theresa Martin
Captain, Private Security Manager
Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training

Clifford J. Maurer
Manager of Security & Investigations
Carter-Wallace, Inc.

John M. McNamara
Director, Loss Prevention
J.C. Penney Company

#Harlin R. McEwen
Deputy Assistant Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation

Richard L. Moe
Executive Vice President
The Interpro Group

John A. Nickols
Bureau Chief, Security and Investigation Services
California Department of Consumer Affairs

Edward D. O'Brien
Director, Corporate Security
Champion International Corp.

Roberet L. Ohm
Vice President Eastern Region
Westec Home Security

Bruce Prunk
Assistant Chief
Portland, OR, Police Bureau

Joseph Ricci
Director
American Society for Industrial Security

Thomas M. Seamon
Managing Director, Division of Public Safety
University of Pennsylvania

**Michael G. Shanahan
Chief of Police (Ret)
University of Washington

Gail M. Simonton
Executive Director & General Counsel
National Association of Security Companies

Katherine P. Spivey
Editorial Assistant/Publications
IACP

Thomas J. Sweeney
Chief of Police
Bridgeport, CT, Police Department

John E. Tomlinson
Deputy Assistant Director
U.S. Secret Service

Harold Wankel
Vice President Patrol Services
Protection One

Thomas W. Wathen
Chairman of the Board
Pinkerton Security and Investigation Services

*Co-Chair, Security Officer Guidelines Sub-Committee
**Co-Chair, Private Sector Liaison Committee
#Special Advisor