With the concern recently about security at schools, events and other public places, it’s hard to imagine that untrained staff at these locations can see and respond to all the possible safety threats that may arise around them.

Extra Ears and Eyes. Employees at schools, events, retail stores, nightclubs, public facilities and commercial businesses are busy doing their jobs. Security is not their primary responsibility.

For security guards, protecting the public is their number one priority. While we go about our day’s activities, security guards are going about their day’s activities too—including making sure trespassers don’t enter a property or event, preventing theft, deescalating arguments, reporting suspicious activity and creating a strong security presence to deter crime and keep people safe.

While security may not be top of mind to employees, employees should be encouraged to work with security guards. If they see someone or something that looks suspicious, employees should have the ability to contact security personnel right away.

Rest assured, the guards will know what to do. Licensed guards are trained in such areas as:

–Escalation and deescalation techniques

–Restraint methods

–Trespass laws

–Preventing incidents

–Understanding the nature of terrorism

–The power to arrest