ASIS CPP - Physical Security (Part 4) Flashcards
Security Officers - Qualifications
In addition to the mental ability to complete administrative tasks and make judgments, the security officer must also have the physical ability to observe, listen, report, and function in emergencies
Security Officers - Qualification
Actions that must be taken before arming any private security officer
- They must furnish information about all prior employment
- The employer should make a reasonable effort to verify the last seven years of employment history, and check three personal references
- They must pass a recognized pre-employment drug-screening test
Security Officer - Training
Competency refers to…
An individual’s ability, skills, and qualifications to perform the necessary duties
Sec Officer - Training
It is good practice to provide a set number of pre-assignment training hours at the contract agency’s expense
Security Officer - Training
The quality of assets protection is a direct function of…?
Local training and local supervision
Security Officer - Training
What is directly related to the quality of local supervision and local training?
The quality of the service provided by the contract agency
Security Officers - training
Unless officers are properly trained and closely supervised, they may not provide the protection required
Security Officer - Training
What determines security officer effectiveness and raises a question of the actual need for the post
Post-Specific Training
Security Officer - Training
What should be given as soon as the officer reports for duty? Instruction on specific duties can be given as the duties are assigned
An initial period of general security
Security Officer - Training
Two reasons for testing the security operations program
Identify residual risks
Identify necessary changes within the organization
Security Officer - Training
The quality of training is directly proportional to the quantity of training
Security Officer - Training
Hallcrest Report (1985, Cunningham & Taylor) found that contract security firms had inadequate employee selection and training standards
Security Officer - Training
The key to effective guard us is…
Training
Security Officer - Arming
One of the greatest liabilities an organization faces involves…?
issuing deadly weapons to security officers
Security Officer - Arming
Some think when a contract security vendor is properly contracted, most of the liability is shifted to the vendor
Legal actions usually involve anyone remotely associated with a situation
Security Officer - Arming
Payment for vendor services indicates acceptance of the vendor’s management style and practice; thus, crucial policies and protocols should be prescribed by the organization that employs the vendor
Security Officer - Arming
The decision whether to arm an officer should be based on the existence of one of these two conditions
- there is a greater danger to life safety without the weapon
- The officer may reasonably be expected to use fatal force
Security Officer - Arming
Facility management assumes several responsibilities for armed officers
- Property training of the officers to be armed
- Selection of the appropriate firearms and ammunition
- Proper maintenance of the firearms and ammunition
- Proper maintenance of the firearms by a qualified gunsmith
- Maintenance of records of the foregoing actions
- An adequate level of liability insurance
Security Officer - Arming
Other considerations regarding the use of deadly weapons
- Conditions when weapons may be issued
- Persons who get a weapon, and the type of weapon and ammo issued
- Quality and reliability of the weapon at the time of issue, and repair and maintenance of the weapon by a qualified armorer
- Accountability for the specific weapon and its ammunition, and specified training with the weapon
Security Officer - Arming
Other considerations ctd…
- Conditions when weapons may be used, and safety precautions for the issuance and carrying of weapons
- Return or surrender of the weapon when not required for authorized use
- Secure storage for weapons when not in use (weapons unloaded, separated from ammunition, locked in approved container)
- Accurate records of each of the preceding points
Security Officer - Arming
Use of non-lethal weapons should also be covered in policy statements
Security Officer - Contract vs. Proprietary
Contract Security = 3rd party employers of officers
Security Officer - Contract vs. Proprietary
Contract Security: Advantages
- Less expensive (most prominent advantage)
- The pool of replacement workers typically readily available
- No need for a customer to deal with vacations, sick time, discipline, hiring/termination
- A wider range of expertise available
- HIgh turn-over potentially lower quality, sometimes less well-trained, not as loyal
Security Officer - Contract vs. Proprietary
Proprietary = Directly-employed officers
Factors:
- More direct control of personnel selection, screening, training, supervision
- Generally considered more loyal, less turn-over, better quality
- more expensive
- Must deal with discipline, salary determinations, vacations, sick time, etc…
Security Officer - Contract vs. Proprietary
Direct-employed officers oversee contract officers; also called the “principal-agent” relationship
Hybrid Security
Security Officer - Contract vs. Proprietary
Turnover costs
Due to advertising, interview time, background checks, hiring new employees processing and training - generally run >=25% annual salary
Security Officer - Reports
From the first day on the job, security personnel should realize their observations, reports, or findings, coupled with their demeanor and their ability to articulate events, may be the key to the verdict in a trial immediately or years after an event, even if they have left the job
Security Officer - Reports
Every security incident should be treated as if could result in a courtroom appearance
Security Officer - Reports
Security reports and logs are admissible in legal proceedings as entries made in the regular course of business and are therefore exceptions to the evidentiary rule against hearsay
Security Officer - Reports
The admissibility is pertinent in litigation, arbitration, or administrative matters in which the entry is the only evidence of the event. To qualify, the report or log must
- Be regularly maintained
- Be maintained by a person as part of his or her regular duties
- Record an event of which the recorder had personal knowledge or which was reported to the recorder by one who had personal knowledge and a duty to report
Security Officer - Reports
Which forms are better than those that expect the officer to formulate a narrative?
Report forms that force positive statements
Security Officer - Reports
Which report is the security log?
Central report document
Security Officer - Reports
Whether manual or electronic in format, security logs generally fall into two classes:
Main or control log
Individual past log
Security Officer - Policy & Procedure
Written instructions must be reinforced through personal communication
Security Officer - Policy & Procedure
What are the most important written instructions for the security force?
Post Orders
Security Officer - Policy & Procedure
Post orders are also important for the following reasons:
- Express the policies of the protected enterprise
- Summarize required officer duties
- Avoid the problems of word-of-mouth instructions
- Provide a basis for site-specific training
Security Officer - Policy & Procedure
Post orders should be developed with the following criteria in mind
- Each order deals with a single subject
- Each order is as brief as possible
- Each order is written in simple, easy-to-understand terms
Security Officer - Policy & Procedure
Reading time is inversely related to reading comprehension - the longer it takes to read a passage, the less likely it will be accurately understood or remembered
Reading time is a function of both the structure of the passage and the reading skill of the individual
Security Officer - Policy & Procedure
Post orders should be available at each guard post and kept current and accessible. They are the vital link between the requirements of the client and the ability of the security officer to effectively meet those requirements
Security Officers - Fatigue
Individuals awake for more than 17 hours are likely to reach dangerous levels of mental fatigue
Security Officer - Fatigue
The most effective way to maintain officer vigilance is to systemically rotate the security officer’s duties, at 2 & 4 hour intervals, between fixed posts and roving patrol (both foot and mobile) assignments
Security Officer - Fatigue
Officers’ schedules should allow for meaningful rest, including at least two nights of unrestricted sleep between shift changes, and limitations on days worked consecutively and hours worked per shift
Security Officer - Contracting for security services
The first step in contracting for security officers is…
To determine the organization’s contracting rules,
Security Officer - Contracting for security services
Other steps in contracting for security officers
- Buyer beware
- Properly evaluate the needs of the organization to be protected
- Acquire information and know the state of the art
- Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each service
- Avoid panic decision making
Security Officer - Contracting for security services
Three criteria to consider when choosing a guard contractor
- Consistent performance
- Prompt, efficient and positive response to client concerns
- Competitive pricing
Security Officer - Contracting for security services
Clients should look for agencies that can substantiate a…?
Lower-than-average turnover rate
Security Officer - Contracting for security services
Factors affecting guard agency performance
- Poor scheduling
- Lack of adequate supervision
- Limited opportunities for advancement
- Little or no recognition
Security Officer - Contracting for security services
The most important aspect required to ensure adequate guard agency performance is
a genuine commitment to partnership with the client
Security Officer - Contracting for Security Services
The more specific and detailed the information a client provides, the greater the likelihood of getting quality service at a competitive price
Security Officer - Contracting for Security Services
The Scope Of Work (SOW) should state
- Security tasks
- Days and hours of performance
- Total number of hours to be worked
Security Officer - Contracting for Security Services
Customers should specify hourly pay rates rather than allowing bidding guard agencies to do so
As a general guideline, the lowest wages received by the contract security officer should at least equal the entry wages paid to the proprietary positions
Security Officer - Contracting for Security Services
Supervisory roles are generally determined by the number of personnel at the site (or total hours)
If officers work more than 400 hours per week, the contracting organization should hire its own (proprietary) security supervisor
Security Officer - Contracting for Security Services
Seven measures on which contract security companies can be assessed (at minimum)
- Employment and reference checks
- Psychological testing (where allowed)
- Polygraph testing (where allowed)
- Minimum qualifications at the local jurisdiction level
- Management qualifications
- Selection process for officers
- Turn-over / tenure / seniority
High Rise Security Issues
Generally, a high-rise structure extends higher than the maximum reach of available fire-fighting equipment
Set variously between 75 and 100 feet, or approximately 7 - 10 stories
High Rise - Concepts
Access is typically unrestricted at the building entry level as well as to individual floors. There may be an unrestrictive security or concierge desk to assist visitors and others
Open Buildings
High Rise - Concepts
Access to elevator banks is controlled and visitors are managed
Closed Buildings
High Rise - Concepts
For a major tenant, one or more elevator banks may be controlled while other elevator banks to other floors are open
Hybrid Buildings
High Rise - Concepts
Operations controls vary according to time of day, traffic, occupancy level, or day of week
Multi-Mode
High Rise - Access Control
Three access control classes of space in a high rise
Public Access
Leased Spaces
Maintenance Spaces
High Rise - Access Control
Sensitive spaces should be grouped together in the same group of floors serviced by a single set of elevators, allowing more control over access
High Rise - Access Control
Floor control can be accomplished in several ways in a high rise
- Programmable elevators
- Elevator cabs with card readers
- Escorts for visitors
- Employee awareness of piggybacking and tailgating
- Turnstiles at the ground floor elevator bank
- Controlled elevator landings (with or without reception)
High Rise - Access Control
What two factors control how building stairwells are secured?
- Local fire and building code requirements
- Whether inter-floor movement of building occupants via stairwells is allowed
High Rise - Access Control
Service or freight elevators pose special problems in all high-rise structures because they often serve all levels of a building