"Extra" vs "All"

The streets of Houston, in certain areas, can be ruthless to those who are unprepared and mildly oblivious to the dangers lurking in the shadows.? As the 4th largest city in the U.S. and one of the most culturally diverse, area dynamics are ever changing.? Some of these, not for the better.

I started in the private Security industry in 1989 as an 18-year-old kid, an armed Officer, working bars and cantinas in North Houston, as well as high-crime apartments on the Southern outskirts - "the real deal." It wasn’t uncommon to have to go “hands on” with suspects.? It wasn’t uncommon for the Houston Police Department to make the scenes where I worked.? Outside of classroom training, I learned the "do's" and “don’ts” of private security on-the-streets.? And it didn’t take long to figure out what did and didn’t work.?

In the early 90’s, I went from private security to Corrections, as a C.O. for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division.? During those years, I worked at a boot-camp facility, a transit unit, and a max-security prison.? These were the days of a very “hands-on” approach to corrections – no camera systems in place – Officers weren’t allowed to carry O.S. spray or any other personal protection solutions.? The inmates who “threw hands” would get hands, in return.? It was a rough environment.? Uses of force were a common occurrence.?

Fast forwarding, I left Corrections and transitioned into Law Enforcement – a county Deputy, working the streets of South Houston and eventually the West district.? I graduated top of the Police Academy, class 162.? My Grandfather attended my graduation.? Seeing the smile on his face when they awarded me a plaque for the top scoring cadet; it meant the world to me.? He was a former law enforcement Officer, as well – one of several in my family.

I can remember the sense of pride I had in my new role in law enforcement – part of “the blue” – the “brotherhood.”? I can remember hitting the streets on my own, after completion of my FTO program.? I quickly realized how much I didn’t know, despite high scores in the academy.? There’s “textbook,” then there is “real-world-experience.”? Both are necessary.? But there is simply no replacement for experience.? I can also remember being told in the academy the concept of “pro-active policing.”? But virtually every Police Officer quickly realizes, it simply doesn’t end up being that way.? Shifts are mostly spent answering calls and being/becoming almost entirely “reactive,” especially in inner-city assignments.?

As a Police Officer, I was quickly pulled into the “extra jobs.”? At the time, they were a dime-a-dozen.? In fact, despite not looking for one at the time, I inherited a “road job” from a fellow Deputy that fell to cancer.? I coordinated and worked traffic direction years back, when they repaved Highway 6, North of I-10 in Houston.? And you guessed it – during the summer.? The heat was miserable.? I offloaded that job, just as quickly as I could.? Word got around that I was a “worker.”? I liked my job and took huge pride in it.? I was approached by a Sergeant with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department to work a “security” detail at Dillard’s department store, in West Houston.? After catching my first couple of shoplifters, I was quickly pulled aside by the Sergeant and chewed-out for doing so.? No, you read it right.? I was quickly informed that it was an “extra job,” that I was making my coworkers (the other L.E. Officers assigned there) “look bad,” and that I should “leave work for” my “real job.”

Over a period of time, I transitioned between several off-duty security jobs – different locations, different settings.? But there were a number of “issues” they all had in common.? They were “extra jobs," and we weren’t there to work.? There was a huge cloud of complacency amongst so many of the cops I worked with.? We were continually reminded by our departments that we were not to “try to enforce private property rules.”? As a law enforcement Officer, working in that capacity, you cannot legally enforce private property rule (s).? We were continually reminded that we were “not covered by insurance,” working off-duty.? These were concerns for me – huge concerns.? And I realized that my law enforcement uniform, alone, didn’t stop crime.? I realized the clients were often not actually getting what they thought they were. I realized the vast differences between “law enforcement” and “security.”? I realized that “law enforcement” was not designed for “security,” despite the overwhelming infiltration of law enforcement Officers into the private security industry. ??I really felt the pull between the two.? Again, they were two very different roles – two very different approaches.

I eventually went back in the direction of private sector security, after an offer to work as a professional bodyguard for an NBA player in Houston.? The money was almost 3-TIMES the income I was making in law enforcement, at that time.? It was interesting to see how the “brotherhood” faded away, as soon as I went from law enforcement to private sector.? I can’t begin to express how disheartening that was.? Fault me if you will.? I chose higher pay, the “right” way.? I became uncomfortable wearing a government agency-issued uniform, position, and title, for personal, “extra” income.? Didn’t seem right.? It wasn’t.? It still isn't, today. I chose, instead, to pursue “security” as a legitimate, licensed “security” professional.

32 years, now.? Hard to believe I have been in the profession of protecting others for as long as I have.? I had pride – substantial pride in each position.? From security, to corrections, to military and law enforcement, and back to security.? The skills and lessons I learned all along the way – invaluable.? Some of the most revealing things I learned were the differences between each position.? Though overlapping in areas, each position was specifically designed for the setting and purpose.? No one position would qualify the others.

Law enforcement was designed for “law… enforcement,” not “private security.”? Police Officers are quick to insist they are two-different-things.? And they are.

Off-duty “security” jobs (in Texas) are always “extra jobs” for the Police Officer.? Anytime you see a Texas Police Officer working an off-duty “security” detail, understand they also work a full-time law-enforcement job.? The question in this is where devotion lies.? Police Officers make more money (higher rate-of-pay) working those “extra” jobs.? I watched coworkers slack off on the “real job,” to preserve the “extra” job.? They wanted to make sure they didn’t get into anything that would cause them to be late to or miss out on the “EJ” they had scheduled.? And when they got to that EJ, a huge percentage of them would slouch and even sleep at the cost of the customer.? This wasn’t a few instances.? It was a regular thing.

A ”seasoned” Police Officer doesn’t always equate to a “qualified security expert.”? In fact, years and years of being and becoming “reactive” can dramatically hamper the approach to private sector security.? I don’t blame the cops.? It isn’t their fault they’ve spent shift after shift, year after year, answering calls, rather than truly in the direct protection of others.? Again, that is their job.? They are “law enforcement.” ?Direct protection – that’s “security.”? Police academies do not teach personal protection methods, escorts, advance-work, camera systems, access control systems and design, risk mitigation, physical security auditing, etc-etc.? Again, that’s “security.”? And law enforcement seldom includes direct protection of persons or property, other than a short duration reaction to an incident.

I have to say: I had just as much pride in private sector security, when compared to my years of law enforcement.? As a security professional, I am in the DIRECT protection of others.? I work day in and day out in the protection of those who want my help, who cherish what I do, who value my experience.? For me, it’s not “extra.”? It’s “all.”? It’s what I do.? It is who I’ve become. ?It’s a completely different mindset – a completely different approach.? And I take pride in that.

There are Security Officers out there who have made a career in the protection of people and property.? I’m not referring to the underqualified individuals working for the joke of a security company – the bottom feeders – the companies that are paying wages that are often less than fast food servers.? I’m referring to the credentialed Security Officers with training behind them – the ones who are being paid appropriately and being treated appropriately by professional and experienced Security firms.? They have become the “minority” in the industry, but they exist.?

In your consideration of that “best option” for the protection of staff, patrons, and properties, consider the mindset and approach of “extra” vs “all.”? There is a difference.? And it matters.?

Op6 - Setting Standards Few Will Follow!