Duties and risks working as a Security Guard
Posted by Maureen Fowler on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 Under: Static Security Guards
Being a security guard can be a very rewarding and satisfying career for many people, especially those with any sort of police or military training. The job of a guard is to monitor and protect products, people and buildings. A security guard's work could be protecting a movie star at a social function or providing protection at a music festival or rock concert. It could also include protecting a business from theft or vandalism such as a bank or office complex.
To be considered as a guard that provides security for people or places, you typically must have a high school diploma, pass a criminal background check and undergo a physical fitness evaluation. Depending on where you work, there may be additional requirements necessary, but generally it is less intensive to become a qualified security guard than a law enforcement officer.
That being said, security guards are well-trained professionals, capable of handling most of the risks they are asked to face. Not only are guards required to patrol potentially dangerous areas, but they are also asked to restrain people who are committing a crime on the patrolled property, such as theft or vandalism. Security guards who work at concert events must be ready to react if an overzealous fan tries to rush on stage, and many event-goers can be intoxicated and therefore potentially violent. The same holds true for those that provide security for athletes and celebrities in public places. Fans who violate a star's personal space may become rude or harassing and may need to be restrained. Security personnel must be able to handle these highly volatile situations without the use of deadly force. As such, guards may work in tandem with local law enforcement and must frequently call for backup if additional help is needed to subdue a dangerous person.
The training regimen for a security guard is rigorous. Candidates are required to pass an eight-hour course as well as other courses which teach how detain suspects and how to process other information relating to safety and security. Those who have a foundation in law enforcement or criminal justice will find the road to becoming a certified security guard easier than the average candidates.
For some situations, a guard may need to carry a weapon, in which case they are considered an armed guard. These types of professionals have the authority to use deadly force if necessary. These roles would include protecting a bank or a highly important person from public attack. The risks for these men and women who put themselves in harm's way to protect another are great, and they perform their jobs without the need for the adulation of others. Simply knowing the person or thing they are protecting is reward enough.
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