Security Officer Selection Employment Screening and Training Criteria.
SCOPE
The Private Security Officer (PSO) Selection and Training Guideline has been written for both proprietary and contract security but is not intended to cover all aspects of selection and training criteria for private security officers. It is intended to set forth minimum criteria that regulating bodies and companies for use to assist in recommending legislation and policies for the selection and training of private security officers.
The Private Security Officer (PSO) Selection and Training Guideline offers minimum criteria for the selection and training of all private security officers and includes definitions of terms and references/bibliography.
TERMINOLOGY:
Armed - As used in this guideline, armed refers to a private security officer who is equipped with a weapon (firearm), such as a pistol or rifle, from which a shot is discharged.
Armored Car Company - A company which, for itself or under contract with another, transports currency, securities, valuables, jewelry, food stamps, or any other item that requires secured and insured delivery from one place to another with armed personnel.
Armored Car Personnel - An armed employee of an armored car company who is engaged exclusively by that company and is liable for the safe transportation, care, and custody of valuables.
Background Verification/Check - The process of checking an individual's character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living for consideration of employment, promotion, access to sensitive assets (such as national information), or for continued employment. Elements of a background verification/check can vary widely, and may include information from credit bureaus, courts records repositories, departments of motor vehicles, past or present employers and educational institutions, governmental occupational licensing or registration entities, business or personal references, and any other source required to verify information that was voluntarily supplied.
Computer Based Training - Any training that uses a computer as the focal point of instructional delivery. Training is provided through the use of computer hardware and software that guides the learner through an interactive learning program.
Contract Security Service - Protective services provided by one entity, specializing in such services, to another entity on a compensated basis.
Criteria - The individual (criterion) or collective stated qualifications (criteria) to be compared with an applicant's or employee's actual credentials, experience, or history in determining suitability for an employment decision (hiring or otherwise).
Critical Infrastructures - The sophisticated facilities, systems, and functions, which include human assets and physical and cyber systems, that work together in processes that are highly interdependent to provide the foundation for our national security, governance, economic vitality, and way of life.
Electronic Medium Based Training - Any training that uses an electronic technology as a method of effectively conveying instruction and/or information. Electronic technology includes but is not limited to video or audiocassettes and video conferencing.
Nolo Contendere - The name of a plea in a criminal action, having the same legal effect as a plea of guilty, so far as regards all proceedings on the indictment, and on which the defendant may be sentenced. (Latin for ''I will not contest it.'')
Private Security - An independent or proprietary commercial organization whose activities include safeguarding the employing party's assets, ranging from human lives to physical property (the premises and contents), responding to emergency incidents, performing employee background investigations, performing the functions of detection and investigation of crime and criminals, and apprehending offenders for consideration.
Private Security Officer - An individual, other than armored car personnel or a public employee (federal, state, or local government), employed part or full time, in uniform or plain clothes, hired to protect the employing party's assets, ranging from human lives to physical property (the premises and contents).
The definition excludes individuals who are not employed in the capacity of a private security officer.
Proprietary Security - Any organization, or department of that organization, that provides full time security officers solely for itself.
Public Safety - Support mechanisms that sustain the life and vitality of a community's health, safety, and social stability by performing such services as law enforcement, fire prevention, personal and facility security, disaster preparedness, and emergency medical assistance. In some instances, public safety may refer to law enforcement officers, firefighters, rescue squads, and ambulance crews. In other instances, public safety properly encompasses private security officers, as well.
Regulatory Body - Any state board, commission, department, or office, except those in the legislative or judicial branches, authorized by law to conduct adjudicative proceedings, issue permits, registrations, licenses, or other forms of authorization to offer or perform private security officer services, or to control or affect the interests of identified persons.
Selection - The act or process of choosing individuals who possess certain characteristics or qualities.
Threat - An indication of something impending that could result in damage or injury.
Training - An act, method, or process of instruction; to teach so as to make fit, qualified, or proficiency.
Regulation of Private Security
Private security officer selection and training criteria vary from state to state ranging from comprehensive training requirements for every private security officer to little or no training for private security officers. One of the main goals of the Private Security Officer Selection and Training Guideline is to develop and encourage adoption of minimum national criteria for the selection and training of all private security officers, be they proprietary or contract.
The development of such minimum criteria has become essential for enabling the private security industry to meet the need of providing effective security to its clients as well as meeting the demands associated with new homeland security initiatives. Effective security today requires workers who are familiar with all aspects of a facility's security system for assessing and containing potential threats. Security officers are required to be well versed in emergency procedures and able to work with an organization to ensure that emergency procedures can be implemented successfully. They are also required to be able to work closely and effectively with public safety personnel.
The ability of companies to protect a nation's critical infrastructure and contribute to security efforts depends largely on the competence of private security officers. Therefore, private security officers and applicants for private security officer positions should be thoroughly screened and trained, in accordance with these recommended criteria, at a minimum.
The tables within this document set forth the recommended steps to be taken by persons responsible for the development of such guidelines, beginning with effective licensing and enforcement. Recognizing that specific details of many regulatory body's licensing laws will be different, elements listed of Private Security guidelines are nevertheless basic for the effective private security officer. It is hoped that security managers will embrace the concept of greater consistency of requirements.
Selection: Employment Screening Criteria Criminal History Employment Verification Registrations/Licenses
A requirement that candidates have not been convicted of or plead guilty or nolo contendere to a criminal or job related crime for a minimum seven-year period immediately preceding the candidate's date of hire. Any criminal conviction discovered in the course of conducting the search should also be considered relevant to the candidate's qualifications for the position.
Armed (non lethal) security officer candidates must not have been convicted of a national misdemeanor involving the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon. A.I SECURITY requires verification of a candidate's current and previous employers' addresses and phone numbers for at least the last seven years. Candidates with prior military service are required to provide form
A.I SECURITY has a requirement that each private security officer pass a written and/or performance examination(s) to demonstrate that he/she understands the subject matter and is qualified to perform the basic duties of a private security officer. A.I SECURITY Training includes the following Core Training Topics:
A.I SECURITY Nature and Role of Private Security Officers / Security Awareness / Private Security Officers and the Criminal Justice System.. Information Sharing / Crime and Loss Prevention / Legal Aspects of Private Security / Evidence and Evidence Handling Use of Force and Force Continuum / Court Testimony / Incident Scene Preservation / Security Officer Conduct / Ethics / Honesty / Professional Image / Observation and Incident Reporting / Observation Techniques / Note Taking / Report Writing / Patrol Techniques / Principles of Communications / Interpersonal Skills / Verbal Communication Skills / Customer Service and Public Relations / Principles of Access Control / Ingress and Egress Control Procedures / Electronic Security Systems / Principles of Safeguarding Information / Proprietary and Confidential / Bahasa English / Non lethal weaponry / Driving
Recommendations - Considerations are given to attendees excelling in:
- Emergency Response Procedures Critical Incident Response (e.g., natural disasters, accidents, human caused events)
- Evacuation Processes Life Safety Awareness Safety Hazards in the Workplace/Surroundings Emergency Equipment Placement
- Fire Prevention Skills Hazardous Materials Occupational Safety and Health Requirements (e.g., OSHA related training, blood borne pathogens, etc.)
- Job Assignment and Post Orders
Depending upon the requirements and specifications applicable to the assignment, considerations are given to attendees excelling in the following training:
- Employer Orientation And Policies
- Substance Abuse
- Communications Modes (e.g., telephones, pagers, radios, computers)
- Workplace Violence Conflict Resolution Awareness Traffic Control and Parking Lot Security Crowd Control
- Procedures for First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs)
- Crisis Management Labor Relations (strikes, lockouts, etc.)
A.I SECURITY has an established requirement for annual training. The training consists of on the job training, classroom training, computer based training, and other forms of electronic medium based training. The type of training is determined by such factors as the type of facility where the security officer is assigned, the duties of the security officer, the value of the assets being protected and the level of security risks, threats, vulnerabilities, and criticality of the assignment.
Pre-Assignment Non Lethal Weaponry Training Post-Assignment
Recommendations - Consideration should be given to:
A.I SECURITY has an established requirement for a minimum operational and classroom course, taught and administered by a qualified instructor. Applicants are required to provide any prior information regarding the suspension or revocation of any firearms certification or license they may have held.
A.I SECURITY has established a requirement that security officers notify the A.I SECURITY management of any discharge and or use of a non lethal weapon in the course of the officer's duties. The incident report contains an explanation describing the nature of the incident, the necessity for using the firearm, and a copy of any report prepared by a law enforcement office.
Annual NLW Training
A.I SECURITY has established a requirement that company mandated annual NLW arms training be maintained.
Adjudication Scoring Considerations for Education Verification
Score as Approved: All information provided by applicant is verified with no discrepancies.
Score as Pending when any of the following conditions exist: The educational institutional was not located.
Three attempts on three days, no response was received from the educational institution.
No high school diploma/GED can be found. Institution cannot verify applicant's attendance due to unavailable records. Discrepancy in dates outside a 90-day window.
Score as Unacceptable when any of the following conditions exist: Institution verifies that applicant never attended. Discrepancy in major course of study or degree earned.
Adjudication Scoring Considerations for Employment Verification
Score as Approved when any of the following conditions exist: All information provided by applicant is verified.
Applicant is eligible for rehire.
Score as Pending when any of the following conditions exist: The place of employment was not located.
Three attempts on three days, no response was received from the employer. Minor discrepancy in the position held. Discrepancy in dates outside a 90-day window. Not eligible for rehire.
Score as Unacceptable when any of the following conditions exist: Applicant never worked at business indicated on the application. Major discrepancy in the position held. Terminated for cause.
Adjudication Scoring Considerations for Motor Vehicle License Verification
Score as Approved if any of the following conditions exist:
Name and license number match.
Clear record.
Score as Pending if any of the following conditions exist: Driver not found or not a driver.
Subject has ID record only. Current status active, but record shows suspension or revocation in the past five years. Three or more traffic violations or accidents within the past five years.
Score as Unacceptable if any of the following conditions exist: DUI (Driving Under the Influence)/DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) convictions in the past three years. Expired or suspended status. Criminal (conviction) vehicular conviction within the last three years.
A.I Security is a preeminent organization of security professionals. The A.I group of companies was founded in 1985, A.I SECURITY Management is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security manpower as professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests, such as the A.I SECURITY Annual re-training program/s, involving specific security topics.
A.I SECURITY also advocates the role and value of the security management profession to business, the media, governmental entities, and the public. By providing staff members as security professional with access to a full range of programs and services, we deliver a quality assured service with an increased productivity equal to fee for service.
Clients may remain informed that A.I SECURITY is a professional firm delivering a transparent value added security service.
The A.I Security Group leads the way for advanced and improved security performance.
