NCJ Number
130316
Journal
Security Management Volume: 35 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1991) Pages: 39-40,42
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Because most contract security officers are hired to fulfill insurance requirements for fire-watch and other low-skilled services rather than provide expert services, many misperceptions about the nature of the contract security industry arise. These often result in lack of respect toward security officers, low wages, or expectations that security officers have police powers.
Abstract
Many security industry executives perpetuate these views by stressing sales over quality, by lobbying against higher standards for qualifying security officers, and by resisting demands for increased training. Clients would be better satisfied with their security services if they made their needs clear, provided post orders and clear and consistent instructions to the contractor, and hired a qualified security director. Some recommendations for selecting a contract security firm include knowing the salesperson, remembering the contract company's bottom line, and knowing the contract company. Clients can undermine the contractor's authority by micromanaging or limiting hiring procedures, abusing contractor personnel, or cutting costs involved in training and hiring qualified personnel.