The Threat of Ambushes to Private Security Are Real!
By now many of you know of the amount of violence that has been committed against law enforcement all across the country. Some of these police officers were killed for the simple fact that they were in uniform and were police officers. By extension Security Officers have been placed in the very same position along with their counterparts in the fire and EMS services.
The new reality: ambushes are all too real now. The patrol car which was once considered “sacred” as a place to safely write your reports, park to deter would be criminals or simply eat your lunch or dinner now has a bull’s-eye on it, especially if the vehicle is marked. Sadly too, police stations have been shot at and even fire apparatus and ambulances have been targeted and the trend appears to be more and more fire departments and EMS providers are now purchasing and requiring their staff members to wear body armor. What continues to amaze me is that many of the security companies and private officers have not begun to take this type of threat seriously enough to warrant such purchases and protections.
The reality is that Private Security Officers face many of the same threats and the sooner we come to realize this, the better. Here’s my reality: there is absolutely no justification for assaulting, injuring or killing law enforcement officers, security officers, firefighters and EMS professionals - absolutely none!
The responsibilities of a private security officer are far reaching but all have the same basic job of protecting people and assets. However, they should have available to them any equipment that will keeps themselves as safe as possible. Everyone in public safety and private security deserves to go home to their friends and family. It’s time to get off the “observe and report” wagon. Those days are gone- long gone! It’s unfortunate that there have been too many private officers killed in the line of duty, approximately one-hundred so far this year, according to Private Officer International. Additionally, one-thousand private officers have been assaulted, stabbed or shot. It’s inexcusable these officers are not afforded the same protections as law enforcement officers. Many of these officers are not armed and in many cases are not allowed to carry defensive equipment. We want them to protect us but let’s face it, we are setting them up to fail from the very beginning.
Let me take a step back and be blunt because it’s very important that we understand that today’s world is much more different and violent than in years past.
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 of others are not only assumed but expected.
During my career, I have personally observed private security officers driving their security patrol vehicles with music blaring from the radio, talking on the phone or texting. In other words, for them the mindset is “what could happen?” Anyone in public safety will tell you that no tour is routine, even if it appears to be. I can tell 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 around you than you think.
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 target, a perceived wrongdoer in their eyes. At that moment only you know who you are. You will not have much of an opportunity to react let alone explain. It’s imperative that private security officers understand that we are 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.
Security companies and proprietary entities must also come to this conclusion. It’s not always about the bottom 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 site and hope for the best or allow insurance companies to dictate what security officers can and can’t do or the equipment that may used if force becomes necessary. It’s wrong in so many ways.
Recently, headlines have shown us that law enforcement officers declined to use any force for fear of being arrested 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.
Likewise, security officers privately employed on private property are just as likely to encounter an attack or ambush, especially if the officer is working alone. They should take nothing for granted. Crimes have a tendency to spill over to private properties which places the officer at greater risk. Security Officers are not immune to crimes against them. Believing you are just a “security guard” and nothing will happen to you is a fantasy. Statistics have proven this mindset, unfortunately, wrong many times over.
Your training will go a long way in how to you react and respond to incidents against you and those you protect. However, training alone will not deter, or even stop someone from acts of aggression. Your employer must provide the foundation, the mindset, training and the equipment to perform your responsibilities as safely as possible. It’s also incumbent on the security officer to seek out real and proper training for today’s world.
Have a good working relationship with local law enforcement. The continued support and assistance in either direction will go a long way.
Be proud of your profession and what you stand for. Your uniform represents the line between law and order and chaos. It also means you place yourself in harm's way every time you put it on.