Role and Responsibilities of the California Security Guard

It is important to remember:

• As a security guard, you are NOT a peace officer!!!

How are security guards DIFFERENT from peace officers?

Security guards do not have:

• The same job duties as peace officers;
• The same training; or
• The same powers as peace officers, according to the law.

What happens when a security guard PRETENDS to be a peace officer?

Any security guard who pretends or even implies (lets others think) that he is a peace officer is committing a crime. A person who is found guilty of impersonating a peace officer could be punished by a fine or county jail sentence and his registration may be denied or revoked.

What are a security guard’s ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES?

• A security guard’s role is to PROTECT people and property of his employer or contracted clients.
• A security guard’s responsibility BEFORE an incident/offense has occurred is PREVENTION.
• A security guard’s responsibility DURING or AFTER an incident/offense has occurred is to OBSERVE and REPORT.

How should security guards PERFORM their job?

The major responsibility of a security guard is prevention BEFORE an incident/offense occurs. Thus, a security guard should be highly visible. By being seen, the guard may discourage anyone who might be considering theft, damage, or personal injury. A security guard’s job is PREVENTION. To do the job well, the security guard MUST:

• Be alert
• Listen
• Watch

What is a sign that a security guard is doing a good job?

The absence of incidents or offenses (crimes) is one sign that a security guard is doing a
good job.

What should a security guard do if an incident/offense does occur?

If an offense occurs, a guard does not charge in. Instead, the security guard should:

• Stay calm
• Observe and remember events
• Report to the police/or the security guard’s supervisor (fellow employer policy).

Credit Source: Power To Arrest, Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, November 2005
Also see: California BSIS Security Excerpt