What Is a Private Security Officer?

The private security service industry is by far one of the fastest-growing industries world-wide, which has been true for several years now. Private firms, corporations, non-governmental, and even governmental entities often look to outsource or augment services including: public safety, protection, surveillance, executive protection, emergency services, correctional services, escort services, and many others. The private security service industry has seen a massive growth since the Sept 11, 2021 attacks and the resulting response from American citizens. There has also been a rapid growth in worldwide, since private security service providers can be found virtually anywhere there’s an operational government.

Choosing The Best Private Security Officer

Private security services may be executed in a number of ways. There are companies that contract with individual businesses and corporations to provide security services for a monthly fee. In this scenario, the business providing the security services sends a team of guards into a specific location on a specified shift. A private security service company may also provide services on a contract basis, where they would pay an annual or monthly fee based on the number of guards that they need to secure a given location. There may be private security companies that only utilize “private” personnel, such as the guards that work for the U.S. military. Other private security service companies have both private and military personnel performing their duties.

Private security companies will also hire “private security officers” to guard their facilities. Private security officers are individuals that have been trained in many aspects of protecting business and private homes. The majority of private guards are ex-military or have some previous experience within the guards industry. The duties of a private security officer varies according to each company, but typically include a combination of the following: monitor the perimeter of a facility, ensure that guards report to the central office daily, serve as a sentry in strategic areas of a facility, man check points, guard doors and gates, call for help in an emergency, guard the parking lots of commercial buildings, guard against theft and vandalism, maintain communication lines, and perform other duties as needed. If you are interested in becoming a private security officer, you should research schools that offer training in this field.