Why Having a Good Security Partner Makes Cents

By Jason Berckart, CPP

Now that I have your attention with the presumably incorrect homonym, ‘cents,’ I want to illustrate how selecting and partnering with a good security services/ Courtesy Patrol provider makes sense and cents! Although there are several instances where a security program can generate revenue, the context here is more about keeping those cents (and dollars) where they belong, in your bank account.

Most of us read news articles, industry news, and even legal summaries on at least a somewhat regular basis. For some of us it provides some perspective and generates thoughts on how we may need to amend our business operations. And at least a small part of each of us finds some entertainment value in that unusual case or story that is probably a contender for a Darwin Award. In today’s litigious society, you can bet most of what you read will end up in a courtroom.

You have your business, you hired a licensed and insured security service company at a good price, and now you get to focus on your own business operations, right? Not so fast. There is more to selecting a security company than just licensing and insurance, LOTS more.

By now you’re wondering, “OK. What does this have to do with me and my business?” If you’ve ever asked yourself any of the following questions regarding your security provider, you should have some concerns:

-         Do the security guards sent to my building/ property have an acceptable background?

-         Are these security guards sent to my building/ property properly licensed?

-         Are these security guards working at my building/ property properly trained?

-         Do these security guards have a written set of instructions they are required to follow?

-         Are the security guards assigned to my building/ property actually fulfilling their required duties?

-         How do I know the security guards assigned are at my building or property when they are supposed to be?

-         Is my security provider maintaining proper records?

If you cannot confidently answer each of the above questions positively, you may have some liability exposure that needs a closer look. It would seem the “good price” you are paying your security provider may not be as good of a deal after all. In the security world, two rules ALWAYS ring true:

1) You get what you pay for, and

2) There is no ‘One size fits all’, cookie-cutter approach that works.

This is why customers of contract security services should look for a true security PARTNERSHIP in their provider.

Many security providers hand you a shiny proposal with lots of pictures and charts, bragging about how big a company they are, claiming how they will ensure all of the above questions are answered properly. In the beginning they shine – you’re a new client, with new employees being hired, and initial compliance is inevitable. However, over time many security companies get distracted by other new customers, other new employees, acquisitions, and mergers and you fall between the cracks. Compliance should not end in the honeymoon phase of your relationship! The partnership should remain consistent throughout the entirety of the contract, and in many cases a retention period afterward.

What should be your security partner’s response to the above questions?

Do the security guards sent to my building/ property have an acceptable background?

This question has three parts: Criminal, Work, and Education/ Training History.

This can be a tricky area in some jurisdictions such as California because of ‘fair chance’ legislation where employers must consider candidates with some criminal histories. Typically, convictions for minor offenses or offenses in the distant past are not of concern. Additionally, many states require licensing for security guards and related occupations that require a separate fingerprint check and background check by the licensing authority. Individuals with a problematic criminal history are typically not licensed. In some jurisdictions, a licensee who is arrested or convicted could face an immediate license suspension and the employer would be immediately notified by the licensing agency. However, this is not typically the case, including in California, where there are far too many licensees to monitor. This can negatively affect litigation against your business where a claim of failure to hire a competent security guard is made.

Your security partner should require applicants to state their previous work history on their job application. The security partner should look for “red flags” such as inconsistent work dates, large gaps in employment periods, involuntary terminations, multiple recent employers, and short duration with employers (< 60 days each). These could be indicators of poor work performance that could negatively affect your business. Poor work performance in the security industry commonly involve post abandonment or dereliction of duties, which open you and your security partner to liability exposure.

Your security partner should also require applicants to provide their previous training and education info. In many jurisdictions, an employer is required to confirm the existence of basic security training and ensure ongoing training standards are met. Applicants who cannot provide previous training certificates and training history should be scrutinized closely to ensure there are no gaps in the required training.

Many security providers get into the business of filling a security post with a warm body and often overlook the above items. These shortcuts create inherent liability to you and your security partner. A reputable security partner should involve you in the selection process and allow you to interview their selected candidates prior to placement at your account. You should also have the right to request the immediate removal of a security partner’s employee from your account for any reason.

Are these security guards sent to my building/ property properly licensed?

As we started to address under the previous section, many jurisdictions require security guards and related occupations to be licensed by some sort of licensing agency. Many of those licensing agencies typically maintain a public access portal online where anyone can search an employee’s name to see their license status. Additionally, states with such licensing laws typically require a licensee to carry on their person the security license and a photo ID while on duty or in uniform.

Earlier I mentioned how compliance is a given in the beginning of your partnership but can fall through the cracks after a while. In my years in the industry, I have seen dozens of instances where a licensed employee was unknowingly nearing a license expiration. The employee seemingly forgot about their license renewal. If it had not been for our tracking software, these employees could have fallen out of compliance. Besides administrative fines for these violations, this shows negligence on the part of the security partner.

Are these security guards working at my building/ property properly trained?

As a nationally accredited and California licensed firearms Instructor, I will personally say that “qualification” is NOT TRAINING. Qualification alone is NOT TRAINING. This is so important it is worth repeating. This is especially true when dealing with high-profile and armed security programs. Courts across the nation have continuously and consistently held this to be true. Failure to have properly trained security guards will expose both you and your security partner to liability should an incident occur.

Besides the basic security training for all security guards, you need to consider if there is adequate on-the-job training, enhancement training such as first aid and CPR, and how your security officers should respond to certain situations. The training needs to be conducted by certified and knowledgeable trainers. The more complex your operation, the more training (and refresher training) should occur. This is where the ‘cookie-cutter’ approach does not fit well. Your business has specific needs, and your security partner should identify and provide an individualized training plan to support your operations.

Your security partner should provide training data to you on a quarterly or annual basis so you can ensure the training promised to you is actually received by your security team. This will also give you the opportunity to call out any missing training or shortcomings and provide for records should future litigation occur.

Do these security guards have a written set of instructions they are required to follow?

Security guards thrive on knowledge and guidance, period. The best way for your expectations to be met is for your security partner to ensure it is communicated and reinforced to every security guard who works at your site. The best way this is done is through a set of site-specific Post Orders or written directives. This can be a paper document kept in a binder on site, or my preferred method, electronically available in the security guard tour system. The electronic version works best because it is readily available to the security guard, and never gets lost or destroyed.

Your security partner should review these documents with you at least annually, and more frequently when notable changes occur. You and your security partner should always archive older versions in case a need arises where they may be needed for future claims or litigation.

Are the security guards assigned to my building/ property actually fulfilling their required duties?

This is the question that every security service client should not have to worry about. Theoretically, you selected your security partner because of their qualifications and integrity to fulfill their obligations. A good security partner should be able to provide irrefutable data to verify they completed all required tasks. There are dozens of systems that exist today that can confirm a security guard did what they were supposed to do. There is no one perfect system; Certain systems are good for one type of location or account, but not another. Some systems, such as barcode and QR code tours can be easily defeated by security officers. I have yet to find any one system that is perfect everywhere (no “one size fits all” here either). My company, Redwood Private Security still utilizes several options so we can pick the perfect system for each individual client.

How do I know the security guards assigned are at my building or property when they are supposed to be?

Like the above question, a good security partner should be able to provide data, preferably from an automated system (to maintain data integrity) to prove the times they were on your site. There are several types of systems that use GPS or NFC technology to confirm physical presence at your site. If you are utilizing a patrol-type service, your security partner should ensure there is no predictability in patrol times and routes, otherwise you are just wasting your money on that service.

Is my security provider maintaining proper records?

Records retention laws can be burdensome and can change from time to time. Nonetheless, it is vital that records of timekeeping and activity occurring at your business or property are maintained and archived for at least the statutory minimum. This includes time records, daily logs, incident reports, and maintenance reports. In many jurisdictions, claims and litigation can be initiated years after an incident. Often, these records will prove to be more beneficial and should be viewed as an asset until no longer required.

Your security partner should retain this data and ensure you are provided with copies or access to copies throughout the partnership and beyond.

What should you look for in your security partnership?

• A TRUE partnership, where info is provided to you without having to ask or wonder about. This provides for easy auditing of your security team. You should be able to answer the above questions without having to ask.
• Proactive approach from your security partner to constantly identify threats, risks, and vulnerabilities to your organization or business operations. Threat elements change, and your security partner needs to remain on top of current trends.
• A security partner who takes a genuine interest in complementing your business operations, and not just fulfilling a job and sending you an invoice.
• Responsiveness from your security partner and open discussion of issues.

If any of the above info causes you concern with your current security provider, contact Redwood Private Security for a no-cost consultation and to learn more about how we can improve your security program and show you a true PARTNERSHIP.

About the author.

Jason Berckart, CPP is the co-founder and CEO of Redwood Private Security, a California-based private security service, providing security, concierge, and courtesy patrol partnerships. Mr. Berckart has over 18 years experience in the security industry in management, operations, business development, and training. Mr. Berckart earned his Certified Protection Professional (CPP) from ASIS International in 2019 and holds many other instructor credentials and licenses in California and Nevada. Mr. Berckart earned a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from University of Phoenix in 2015, and continues to attend continuing education in legal concepts and case law.

Mr. Berckart can be reached at [email protected]

To learn more about Redwood Private Security check us out at:

www.redwood-security.net                  www.dhirubhai.net/company/redwood-private-security/