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

BSIS Launches Statewide Compliance of Security Guard Training Requirements

This applies to PPOs (private patrol operators, the employers of patrol guards).

Beginning January 2007, The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services will be launching statewide compliance inspections of security guard training requirements. Bureau representatives will be conducting scheduled and unscheduled visits/inspections of Private Patrol Operators (PPO’s) to verify compliance with guard training and related recordkeeping requirements. Additionally, these visits will provide an opportunity for the Bureau to provide assistance to PPO’s that may not be in compliance with statutory requirements.

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