For Daniel Brewer, construction manager, Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, his security officers have their feet closer to the ground but are just as business essential. The non-profit, which builds or renovates homes for people with very low incomes, fights site vandalism and theft with a contracted combination of technology and mobile, responding officers. His ROI is having assets, often donated by others, not disappearing, as a comfort and encouragement of future donations.

When Neal Armstrong, then deputy director of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) transportation program, faced cutbacks in transporting people caught illegally entering the U.S. at its southern border to detention facilities to await judicial review, he saw business value in contracting with a national guarding firm. The resulting collaboration between the federal agency and private contractor quickly developed into a successful partnership.

Partnership is the keyword in Chicago, Omaha, along the U.S.-Mexico border and everywhere there are security officers, especially those that are contracted. Says Cullen, “If you are going to outsource, above all determine if the service provider fits your culture and vision. And, if the relationship is not a partnership, it will not work.”

Kambic agrees and adds, “So many security executives, when they hire out, they keep hands off. That is counterproductive. Contracting officers is a relationship business. I do things. They do things.”

Willis Tower, a 110-story world-known landmark, is a security challenge. Just after the tragedy of 9-ll, security demands across the country amplified, and the cost related to securing buildings of this magnitude were ever increasing. Guests, visitors and tenants were screened and x-rayed before entering the building; security officers had a military-style approach; and customer service was not a priority. The security team looked to restructure and develop a world class solution that would help in controlling costs and set the standard for high rise security and life safety.

“Contract security is a ‘no-brainer’ for me,” comments Kambic. “A contract service knows hiring, training and supervision; they do it all the time.” The final element is “to know my business.” When considering a vendor, he advises that price is somewhat important, “but I’m not a believer in choosing the lowest cost service. Look to see if the bid package is complete or if someone is trying to do a bait and switch. Carefully check that portfolio of references and, if a potential firm doesn’t come out to check your site carefully and completely, forget about it.”

"More companies are outsourcing with the hope of saving money and time," points out David Cullen, president of the consulting firm ISI - Intelligence Security International. Cullen also sees value in the chief security officer or security director checking out a service along a two-way street. “Go visit the local office of a firm you are evaluating.” There’s a lot to learn in checking out their digs.

In addition to basic training at Willis Tower, officers participate in monthly refresher training, often working with several agencies, including the Chicago Police and Fire departments and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Emergency preparedness training days simulate actual emergencies and test the security staff. “It is important for our security officers to look at the big picture,” says Skibinski. “This refresher training prepares us for any and all emergencies -- small or large. We practice evacuations and response on a continual basis and it truly is beneficial for the entire staff.”

Having well-trained and responsive security officers starts with recruiting. “District Manager Mark Hubatch and recruiter Channa Bush have made my job very easy,” says Kambic. “They understand the type of applicant we need. Not only are we an office building, but we are also a top visitor destination. We set very high standards for our officers, and recruiting efforts have certainly found us the right people. We have a very hard working and dedicated team of more than 60 security officers. We are a family, plain and simple. Officers average five years of service, ten years for supervisors.”

With the business firmly in mind, Willis Tower stressed the need to integrate more customer service into their security and life safety program. Officers live up to this request each day, as they open doors, call for cabs and greet tenants by name. “Our security officers act as customer service representatives and guests are often surprised to learn they are security officers,” comments Skibinski. Kambic helped that image along by dressing officers in two-piece tailored suits, while a doorman also dresses in a hotel-like outfit. “Willis Tower’s tenants see our team as helpful and approachable and our officers are sharp and attentive,” points out Skibinski. With a not-here attitude, Kambic says that too often security officers are “underappreciated and overworked.” For example, on an annual basis, after emergency response training, the security-Willis Tower partnership hosts a cookout and rewards picnic as well as an annual security officer appreciation breakfast where officers take part in team-building exercises and receive prizes.

Recognition is earned, however. “We test our security staff on a monthly basis with a ‘secret shopper’ program,” Kambic says. “The officers’ customer service skills are tested, and those who pass with the highest score are rewarded.” In addition, the building has implemented a Security Officer of the Month program, along with choosing the most outstanding Security Officer of the Year. Top building management can see the effort, and that business recognition pays off, too.

A trophy facility is also a target building with more pressure and demands as compared to traditional security assignments. For example, security officers must differentiate between tourist photographers and people potentially casing the facility. “But I must admit the fun is handling the tourists from around the world. They are often on vacation and in a great mood. And there is a new, interesting story every day,” comments Kambic.

In Omaha, Brewer’s Habitat for Humanity constructs homes for those in need; but, unfortunately, these projects are not immune to theft and vandalism. Like any other construction site, home construction can fall victim to theft of equipment, tools, supplies and vandalism. In the spring of last year, for instance, $50,000 worth of copper disappeared from one Omaha project. So Brewer partnered with Securitas Mobile, which began arming homes that were in the process of being built and completed homes that were awaiting a family with alarm systems, alarm response services and occasional patrol inspections. Since then, a number of incidents have been documented but the intruders were deterred, according to Brewer.

Consultant Cullen sees increasing value in such approaches. “To move away from the human side is impossible. You have to have a blend of technology and people.”

Security officers are also part of emerging public-private assignments, projects and partnerships in school districts, on city streets and police back offices and even along the U.S. border. In the latter application, responsibility for preventing illegal intruders crossing into the U.S. falls to the CBP. As America’s largest uniformed federal law enforcement organization, its role includes the detection and detention of huge numbers of people. Once apprehended, those men, women and children need to be processed and, in some cases, transported to detention facilities to await judicial review.

So a few years ago, the agency decided to outsource its transportation contract to G4S Wackenhut.
Once detained by CBP, the majority of the detainees are voluntarily returned to Mexico. Others are handed over to another DHS agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), for further processing. But “handed over” is not as simple as it sounds: It requires a transportation plan capable of collecting the prisoners – the detainees’ official designation – from a variety of points along the border and taking them safely and securely to the ICE centers. Later, they need to be transported once more to their point of release, back across the border.

The private security firm provides a combination of security officers and secure transportation which serve nine locations along the southwest border. Today, a team of more than 600 security officers operates more than 100 buses and vans.

The role of a security officer has become much more complex than it was back when “security” meant the night watchman who checked doors at an office building, particularly since 9/11. The night watchman had a job that called for minimal training. Today’s security officers have careers with advancement potential that demand education and training. These officers work in a broad range of industries, businesses, academic settings, military installations, war zones and more, according to Sandi J. Davies of the International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO).

“Know your audience is a cardinal rule in business that is often repeated, sometimes heeded, and often deeply regretted when it is ignored,” says Davies. “Not knowing what roles the officers fill or what tasks they perform can result in injury, loss of data and property, a breach of national security and even death if they are not properly trained for what they do. The need for current job delineation research for the security industry has never been greater, as the market for qualified security officers continues to grow and the roles expand.”

The only reliable way to get the right training to the right officers is to ensure there is current valid information about all the roles security officers now perform and the individual tasks involved in carrying out those roles. What do they do? How do they do it? What technologies do they use to do it? Dependable answers to these questions can be obtained through valid, independent research, points out the IFPO executive director. That research can then be analyzed to produce guidelines for effective training, which leads to the equation:

• Research + Job Delineation
• + Program Development
• + Relevant Training and Education with Proof of Training
• = Qualified Security Officers

“Unfortunately, the first part of the equation is missing in the security industry,” Davies says. “While there is research about the industry in general, there is no current research available about the roles of security officers or the tasks they perform. We must take the guesswork out of the equation; we must make research a priority; and we must ensure that the training is applicable to the tasks they will perform. Proof of training is the final vital component to ensure that, when officers are hired, they do indeed have the right knowledge to perform safely and effectively,” she contends.

The hand-held computerized system is an invaluable management tool in a variety of environments. With its multiple tour capabilities, integrated functions and reporting options, it can deliver a convenient and cost-effective solution for security professionals. For example, a computerized PowerCheck guard tour system from Morse Watchmans is a hand-held data recorder, checkpoint stations, and reporting software. The data recorder allows security personnel to input incident codes on site, using the built-in keypad and display. Software converts the data recorder information into custom reports.

In a more encompassing way, geofencing has improved officer productivity for end-users while also saving more for guarding firms.

An example is in use at Bayer Protective Services of Sacramento, Calif., which now has a tech way to route, track and verify officers in vehicles to improve efficiency and offer clients a sizeable return on their investment.

Before implementing the new technology called TeleNav Track, the company had no way to provide its clients with a measurable ROI. In addition, clients would voice concerns about rarely seeing their assigned security officers and money was being lost due to timecard rounding because Bayer had no way to hold its employees accountable. Further inefficiencies and unnecessary expenditures were created by patrol officers using paper maps to navigate to client sites and through the manual dispatching of patrol officers.

Now the company has reduced labor and vehicle-related expenses. What used to cost $10,000 a month is now only $2,000. And, with geofencing, shift reports and break/lunch tracking, the company is able to monitor where officers are in real-time.

These workers may be armed. They use various forms of telecommunications to call for assistance from private monitoring, police, fire, or emergency medical services. They also operate and monitor sophisticated electronic access control, intrusion and security video systems. Security officers write comprehensive reports outlining their observations and activities during their assigned shift. They also may interview witnesses or victims, prepare case reports, and testify in court.

The security officer's job responsibilities vary from one employer or site to another. Most states require that officers be licensed. Individuals must usually be at least 18 years old, pass a background check, and complete classroom training in such subjects as property rights, emergency procedures, and detention of suspected criminals. Drug testing often is required and may be ongoing and random. Officers who carry weapons must be licensed by the appropriate government authority, and some receive further certification as special police officers, allowing them to make limited types of arrests while on duty. Armed positions also have more stringent background checks, training and entry requirements.

The need for security officers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, will continue to grow strongly.

 

Occupation Title	Employment 2008	Projected Employment 2018	Change 2008-18
Total Security Officers	1,086,000	1,239,500	14%
Gaming Officers	9,300	10,400	12%
Security Officers	1,076,600	1,229.100	14%