Is your company armed or unarmed,and would you be armed on the job or not

Hawkeye,

we've been down this road before on PL....Some positions need armed security...those that do should have a great deal of training in fundamentals of marksmanship, weapon retention, when NOT to draw your weapon, and so on... there are waay too many folks in the security industry that are dangerous when armed with just a falshlight.... 

I have worked many venue's as security, from San Diego Chargers/Padres ball games to club security. I am currently unarmed at Eastern Idaho Technical college. I do however wear a bullet proof vest rated for a .45 caliber. I have been armed security while in the Navy as well. The company I work for has both armed and unarmed guards depending upon the job requirements. Here I am observe and report, but after being shot at by someone with a pellet gun that was not paying attention to their back stop. I opted to buy and wear a vest.

When I first started out in security I worked unarmed, but currently I only work armed. 

when i first started working security in 2003 i wass unarmed , but i refuse to work a post unarmed , so i am at an armed company

The company I work for has both. I have an armed security officer license but work an unarmed post in a very seedy and dangerous part of Chattanooga....Go figure....Am I ballsy or just plain stupid?

 I work unarmed because my company only gets a few armed spots and they usually go to the guys who are responsible for assigning jobs and want the armed ones because they pay more. I carry concealed if I'm assigned to an area I wouldn't ordinarily go to without a weapon. I don't consider the gun as part of my job - just a safety precaution so I'm not left in a bad spot thinking "wow, right now my job really isn't all that important to me - I'd much rather have my gun". 

I’m the owner of a private security organization. 80% in plain clothes and (concealed), 20% in uniform (open carry). I also work uniform security during the NASCAR races in Bristol to make some extra money. As the owner of my security organization my #1 rule is armed 24/7 365. My reason is a few people have been served with AWs included with my signature on the AW. They will think of me while incarcerated, and may not forget by the time they get out. My life has  been threatened a couple of times.

Jay73 says ...

My 2 cents, depends on the job. I worked for an armored carrier for 4 years. Couldnt pay to do that job without a weapon. Then again in NJ all you need in that job is a clear background check, if anything pops up you have the chance to appeal to a judge who has the final say so. BUT that is only if the NJSP dont put the brakes on your paperwork first. I worked with some people who had absolutly no business carrying a weapon let alone working in the private security industry. We had a guy who actually took his weapon home (S&W 686) went out drinking with it in his waistband all ghetto style w/ no holster. Needless to say he was fired and locked up. That is why the boss made all guard leave their weapons (company issued and personal) at the office at the end of the day unless you were a Sgt.or higher iwth 24 hour access to the building. Other then that in NJ all security companies for the majority are unarmed, largely untrained other then SORA certified. Which was mandated by the state after 9/11. Kind of like Pennsylvania ACT 235 but with out the firearms training. It is more of checks and balances system to keep tabs on who is working security jobs in NJ,sorry for the length of this post but it just kept spewing forth....

It's always the idiots that ruin it for the rest of everyone...

We have both armed and unarmed. but i wouldnt use the crap they have for weapons. old 38 revolvers just tossed in a box in the office, never been cleaned and touched and falling apart. the lady in the office just throws them in the box across the room loaded or not and will grap a bunch of them at once to get one that works. i swear she is going to kill or shoot herself one day.

I work directly for a hospital as an armed security officer.  I would not work unarmed at a hospital, seen too much in the E.R.

Jay73 says ...

My 2 cents, depends on the job. I worked for an armored carrier for 4 years. Couldnt pay to do that job without a weapon. Then again in NJ all you need in that job is a clear background check, if anything pops up you have the chance to appeal to a judge who has the final say so. BUT that is only if the NJSP dont put the brakes on your paperwork first. I worked with some people who had absolutly no business carrying a weapon let alone working in the private security industry. We had a guy who actually took his weapon home (S&W 686) went out drinking with it in his waistband all ghetto style w/ no holster. Needless to say he was fired and locked up. That is why the boss made all guard leave their weapons (company issued and personal) at the office at the end of the day unless you were a Sgt.or higher iwth 24 hour access to the building. Other then that in NJ all security companies for the majority are unarmed, largely untrained other then SORA certified. Which was mandated by the state after 9/11. Kind of like Pennsylvania ACT 235 but with out the firearms training. It is more of checks and balances system to keep tabs on who is working security jobs in NJ,sorry for the length of this post but it just kept spewing forth....

 

I work for an armored transport company in the midwest.  Those of us who are serious about self preservation buy our own firearms.  Only allowed are the cop calibers, no safety, no decocker.  The company offers wheel guns, and a cheap holster.  No gunbelt.  You get a different gun and two speed loaders each day.  It is clear that nobody cleans or even oils them.

I have heard stories of other companies that the guards carry replicas, pellet, single action cowboy guns, or just forgot to load their company issued revolver back at the base.  Management often has to remind a few that cuffs, spray, or batons are not allowed.  We have no powers of arrest.  We don't even hand out free samples.

There are several here who always go unarmed because they claim unable to aford the fee for the state permit.  They  always drivers only, and they are always gone in six months.  That is always fun, when you are outside the truck, the both the back doors are open while you load-unload coin on a handcart.  The person watching you back, does not have a weapon, and really could careless.

We have our share of wanna be law enforcement, and even a Barney Fife or two.  Management only cares about saving money, and the customers packages.  Guards are replaced eaiser then the air filters on the trucks.  The branch does not need the headquarters approval to replace a guard. They do for an air filter.  In the summer time the air conditioner sometimes breaks down or becomes inefficent.  In the winter, do you have any idea how cold a steel box can be?

Although my comments may suggest many are less then capable, I need to add here, there are many you would not attempt to hi-jack. 

I carry two weapons, a glock 17 one or two spare mags. A S&W stubby in pocket.holster, left side  Ankle holster you say.  No, thats for the movies.  I am in and out of the truck, and often pushing a cart with 500 pounds of coin. I wear steel toe boots that I can put a shine on.   I often wear the body armor especially on the high risk routes.  Dark fishing glasses complete the costume.  It is all about putting on a show, maintaining an image.  I sure don't wish to shoot anyone.  However, if it comes to that, I brought enough bullets.

I laugh at your comment about the 686 worn in the waistband.  I thought that was called "mexican style", not Ghetto style.  We have a few who ride bicyles, or public transportation in full uniform. 

We have a female guard, who is short and plump.  She won't buy a decent gun or even trouser belt.  Anyway, there is so much of Debbie spilling over her belt, her company issued ruger, and cheap holster are often at a gravity defying cant.  One day while she was leaving a bank with a package, her revolver fell out of the holster, hit the floor and bounced. I was driving that day. I never laughed so hard.  The bank didn't complain, and what happens on the truck, stays on the truck.  The exception to that rule is anything involving a package.

I try to have fun with a very low paying, and high risk position.

 

 

 

mcq, I may stir up a hornets nest.  However most LEO's don't bother to read security guard postings.  Most of the Leo's I have encountered on and off the job are are nice people, and a pleasure to work with.

However there are the few who for what ever reason think they have god like powers, and everyone must bow to them.  Badge heavy I belive it is called.  I have always called it other choice words.

These insecure chosen few act like you might be taking their income or you may try and  possess some of there special powers.

I remember running a route with a heavy footed driver.  I can't manage everything from that hoppers chair.  Anyway we get pulled over for speed.  The young officer wanted both of us out of the truck because he "feared for his safety" or some sorry excuse.  He even tried to board the truck.  Procedure calls for the driver out of the truck to deal with a traffic stop. One of us always has to be onboard when we have packages.

I thought in cop school these BJT's were told what armored transport was all about. 

Long story short, I had to call my boss, who called his boss.  My driver was fired that day.  Of course I was yelled at for making the route run over time.

Some of my co-workers think that armored transport has "police like powers".  We are allowed to speed, and drive stupid.  Not true.  Of couse many in my profession are not mental giants.

I still have the upmost respect for all leo's but asswipes like that guy give all leo's a very bad image.  Enough said.

Mike_OH says ...

I currently worked unarmed, but that is because I am a plain clothes Loss Prevention Associate for a supermarket, only thing I carry is an ID badge.

Is that a banana in your pocket? Or are you happy to see me?

THe company I work for has both. All of our Mobile Patrol officers are armed and so are a few sites. Our higher ups have a "Special Responce Team (aka SWAT Team)" in the works just not authorized to go into operation yet.