The real story

Anyone who knows me knows what I do for a living. For those who don’t I'm a security guard. Despite what most may think right off the bat I love this industry. And I wish to debunk some of the common misconceptions and stereotypes that all so often accompany the job title “Security Guard”.

I started with Intelligarde a company which likes to think of itself as a private police force, which it most certainly is not. But it holds contracts with some of the worst buildings in the city, to work for Intelligarde you need to be in the job because you have a genuine interest in law enforcement. Otherwise you won’t be able to handle it. When people think security they think that fat guy behind the desk in their building or office who probably could pass for hire the handicap. Or the slow witted immigrant guy who can’t speak English and is yelling at his wife on his cell phone as some thugs break into a car behind him.

Unforchintly this is the reality of the industry. There are many companies and many positions that need filling. Until recently these were the qualifications for the job according to the government of Ontario:

Must be 19 years of age or older

No prior criminal convictions for which a pardon has been granted

Legal resident of Canada

Legally entitled to work in Canada

Completion of secondary school

Needless to say there are allot of people in the industry who fuel the stereotype. But there are also the men and woman who take the job seriously and work in high risk sites requiring lots of training. These people have to deal with situations that the police are faced with day to day. But were not police and we have to rely on the limited power the Criminal code gives us to do our job. We don’t carry guns, but if you receive the training you can carry a baton and handcuffs. When I worked high risk sites my standard gear was 2 sets of cuffs a straight stick baton, Mag light, level 3 bullet proof vest, Kevlar lined leather gloves and a small first aid kit. I had received training in handcuffing self defense, tactical baton, advanced patrol techniques, communications and negotiations, and the list goes on. These courses were all offered by the company but provided by former police officers or military personal. In order to make an arrest the company wants to know you won’t be a liability. They want to know you know the Criminal code and proper arrest techniques so in the event you get in a confrontation you’re not at risk physically and the company is not at risk legally.

There are many large building projects in the city, the police are not large enough to patrol inside them or deal with the crime inside the properties. This leaves property managers using security as a way of keeping things under control. In many cases tenants will call Security before the police knowing security will be faster. This puts security officers at risk for being put in high risk situations.

Security guards may deal with everything from domestic disputes to psycatric patients off their meds, medical emergencies, fights, drugs and gangs, break and enters to even clogged toilets and sinks.