New York State Security Guard Training

1. New York State Security Guard Training Chapter 1 Introduction

2. Why Have this Course? • The Security Guard Act of 1992 • In response to the rapid growth in the field of private security • Public security is overwhelmed • Private concerns need immediate attention that public security can’t provide • Private industry relies on private security

3. Why Have this Course? • The Security Guard Act of 1992 • In response to the rapid growth in the field of private security • Provides a general and specialized workforce to enforce rules, regulations and procedures of employers • Prevents loss or damage to people and property

4. Duties of Private Security • The Security Guard Act of 1992 • In response to the rapid growth in the field of private security • Represents the employer by providing guidance to visitors and employees • Manage traffic flow • Deter criminal activities on the employers property

5. New York State Responds to this Need • The Security Guard Act of 1992 • Ensures security personnel meet a minimum recruitment and training standards • There is a need to regulate and license security guards

6. Training • Unarmed Training • 8 hours pre-assignment training • 16 hour on-the-job training course • 8 hour annual in-service course

7. Training • Armed Training • 47 hour Firearms Training Course for Armed Security Guards • 8 hours annual Firearms Training Course for Armed Security Guards

8. Security Guard Training Chapter 2 Role of a Security Guard

9. Role of a Security Guard • The Role of a Security Guard • Provide client or employer with professional protective services • Dedicated to the principle of maintaining order and security • Firm and fair in their actions when providing safety to persons and property

10. The Role of a Security Guard • Public Relations • Treat people with courtesy and tact • Be firm but polite • Complete assigned tasks

11. Role of a Security Guard • Character • A security officers should be honest and loyal to their employers • A security officer should not • Fail to prevent damage or theft of property • Accept bribes • Permit violations of company policies or procedures • Engage in unlawful activities

12. Role of a Security Guard • Character • Report all violations of rules and regulations • Beware of the “Routine” • This is what you are paid to do • There is also the possibility of danger • Remain alert

13. Role of a Security Guard • Attitude • The security officer is often the first person a visitor comes into contact • This is the first impression of the company • This will impact all future contacts

14. Role of a Security Guard • Be Courteous • This allows for greater cooperation • Do’s • Assume non-threatening attitude • Remain impersonal • Expect • Repeat questions from visitors • Questions that seem silly or ridiculous

15. Role of a Security Guard • Be Courteous • Should never be discourteously • Making the visitor wait • Become emotional • Use abusive language • Don’t escalate the situation

16. Role of a Security Guard • Appearance • Hard Appearance • Police type uniform • Training of a paramilitary structure

17. Role of a Security Guard • Appearance • Soft approach • Blazer, slacks, shirt and tie • More in tune with a public relations approach

18. Role of a Security Guard • Appearance • Regardless must be readily identifiable • Good personal appearance, goes with ability

19. Knowledge of the Job • Learning is a Never Ending Process • Rules and regulations • Locations and areas of protection • Structure of the company

20. The Security Officers Primary Directive • Detect • This includes diligent patrol • Good observation and perception skills • Being proactive

21. The Security Officers Primary Directive • Deter • Deterrence is seen as preventing a crime or incident from occurring • This is accomplished by maintaining • High visibility • High profile • Uniformed appearance • Don’t fall into a routine or pattern

22. The Security Officers Primary Directive • Report • Reporting is gathering information and passing it on the appropriate person • Written • Verbally • Electronically

23. Duties of a Security Officer • No Longer Just a Watchman or Guard • Must have knowledge of the facility • Policies and procedures of post • Layout of facility • Hours of operation • Regulations, procedures, notification

24. Duties of a Security Officer • No Longer Just a Watchman or Guard • General tasks of Security Officers • Escort service • Alarm response • Crime prevention • Patrol • Crowd and traffic control • Basic investigation

25. Duties of a Security Officer • No Longer Just a Watchman or Guard • Control of theft or loss prevention • Be aware of delivery schedules • Be knowledgeable of visitor access • Be knowledgeable of employee access

26. Duties of a Security Officer • No Longer Just a Watchman or Guard • Substance Abuse • Allows others to be placed in jeopardy • White Collar Crimes • Sabotage, bribes, kickbacks, payoffs, computer fraud, embezzlement • Emergency Situations • Fires, explosions, disturbances, strikes, hazardous materials, natural disasters, evacuations

27. Duties of a Security Officer • No Longer Just a Watchman or Guard • Security officers are not police officers • Security officers can only act on company rules, regulations and policies • When it comes to enforcing the law, security officers are viewed as private citizens

28. Security Guard Training Chapter 3 Legal Powers and Limitations

29. Main Functions of a Security Officer • Provide a Safe and Secure Environment for: • Employees • Visitors • Residents

30. Main Functions of a Security Officer • Use Caution When Taking Action • Liable for Actions • Arrest • Detention • Use of force

31. Main Functions of a Security Officer • Use Caution When Taking Action • Liable for Inactions • Mistaken for being a police officer • Acting outside your geographic area • Security officers have the same legal rights as private citizens • Liable may be civil or criminal

32. The Origins of Law • Common Law • A traditional body of early unwritten legal precedents created from everyday English social customs, rules and practices that were supported by judicial decisions during the Middle Ages • Judicial decisions came together into a set of legal rules that were accepted as national law

33. The Origins of Law • Common Law • Judges criminalized actions that were previously private disputes • Common Law involved the transformation of community rules into a national legal system • Common law became the law of the land by proclamation of King Edward the Confessor and William the Conqueror in the 11th Century

34. The Origins of Law • The Magna Carta (1215) • Signed by King John in response to pressure from British barons which demanded a pledge from the king to respect their traditional rights • It was interpreted in 1613 by Sir Edward Coke, a Chief Justice under James I, to supply basic liberties to all British citizens and any acts imposed by Parliament which were contrary to common law would not be valid

35. The Origins of Law • The U.S. Constitutional Convention (1787) • A constitution is a system of basic laws and principles that establish the nature, function and limits of a government • The framers believed that English Common Law was a solid foundation of civil and human rights laws

36. The Origins of Law • The U.S. Constitutional Convention (1787) • However, there were those, Anti-Federalists, who opposed a strong federal government • In an effort to appease the Anti-Federalists, the framers of the Constitution added Amendments to ensure the national government would not interfere with individual liberties

37. The Origins of Law • The U.S. Constitutional Convention (1787) • The first 10 Amendments are the known as the “Bill of Rights” • The 4th Amendment protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures • The 5th Amendment protects citizens against self-incrimination

38. Security Officers and Their Authority • Police Officers Can Arrest Without a Warrant NYS CPL 140.30 • For any offense when he has reason to believe a person has committed the offense in his presence • For any offense when he has reason to believe a person has committed the offense whether in his presence or not

39. Security Officers and Their Authority • Security Officers, Just Like Any Other Person, Can Arrest Without a Warrant NYS CPL 140.30 • For a felony when the person has in fact committed that felony • For any offense when the person has in fact committed that offense in his presence

40. Arrest Without a Warrant by Security Officers • The Standard of Proof • The “Standard of Proof” necessary to support an arrest by a private person or security officer requires that the act was committed, not a hunch, not a guess, not ever reasonable belief • Remember, only police officers can arrest on a reasonable belief

41. Felony, Misdemeanor and Violations • Felony • An offense for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in excess of one year may be imposed • Misdemeanor • An offense, other than a traffic infraction, for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in excess of 15 days may be imposed, but not in excess of one year

42. Felony, Misdemeanor and Violations • Violation • An offense other than a traffic infraction for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in excess of 15 day cannot be imposed • Offense • Conduct for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment or to a fine is provided by an law of this state

43. Security Officers and Their Authority • Violations of the Rules • Civil Law Suits seek monetary compensation from the security officer or company • Criminal charges seek punishment from the wrongdoer in the form of imprisonment

44. Security Officers and Their Authority • Violations of the Rules • The “Theory of Respondeat Superior” • An employer may be responsible for the acts of an employee, when the employee is acting within the legitimate scope of his authority

45. Factors Supporting an Arrest • Physical Evidence • The “Chain of Evidence” requires that all property seized from an arrestee must be properly documented and accounted for until it is turned over to law enforcement officers • Confessions • All confessions must be written, signed and witnessed

46. Factors Supporting an Arrest • Fingerprints and Photographs • All must be clear and recognizable • Witnesses • Keep all witnesses at the scene until police arrive • Keep them from talking about the incident • If they are unable to wait for the police, get good identification

47. Factors Supporting an Arrest • Record personal observations ASAP • Record all information from the police • Record all information received from sources in addition to the police • Establish the reliability of the person making the identification • Establish the basic knowledge of the witness

48. Procedures for Taking a Person into Custody • The Arrest • The person effecting the arrest is allowed to use the physical force necessary in Section 35.30 (4) of the New York State Penal Law

49. Procedures for Taking a Person into Custody • The Arrest (Section 35.30) • A private person acting on his own account may use physical force upon another person when and to the extent that he reasonably believes such to be necessary to effect an arrest or to prevent the escape from custody of a person whom he reasonable believes to have committed an offense and who in fact has committed an offense

50. Procedures for Taking a Person into Custody • The Arrest • Security officers do not possess the authority given to police officers or peace officers and are not duty bound to act as law enforcement officers