Shopping Mall Security Guards (US)
Created | Updated Aug 1, 2006
MALL SECURITY GUARDS:
The motto of being a mall security guard is Observe and Report. Most Mall security officers do not have the power to arrest, simply to detain. However, certain areas invest the right for security officers to make lawful arrests, making them equal in stature to a local low rank police officer. The point of security guards is to enforce a company's or an organization's policies if necessary to protect lives, property, or to keep the peace. Some examples of mall security responsibilites would be detaining or arresting shoplifters, recovering stolen items, watching security monitors and generally making possible theives anxious about stealing. Mall Security Guards are expected to have experience in using emergency equipment, carrying out first aid, writing notes, making reports, and any other specifications required by their employer.
EMPLOYMENT:
Although security guards are a distinct type of personnel from either police officers or the military, in the United States a very high proportion of security personnel, including most senior management personnel, are either former or retired members of one of both services. Many security guards who don't fit this profile (young people in particular) use the job as a springboard into a police career.
ARMORY:
A security guard is not as well equipped as an ordinary U.S. police officer. An average mall security guard is equipped with the standard weapons. Those being a can of spray-mace, a 9mm pistol, and any other gadgets that a guard might need eg. extra ammunition or a specific tool to fit the need of his or her employer.
IN SOCIETY:
As a result of being an enforcement figure, the mall security guard is met with much criticism. This is due partly for two reasons, the youths lack of respect for authority, and the guards being rude and making uncomfortable situations for happy shoppers. Both are unavoidable results of this position of limited power. Most mall security guards are also known as "rent-a-cops" which is really not true at all, they have a salary that they are paid. Although the optional reflective vest does give off the impression that they have as much power as an elementary school crossing guard. All in all, the mall security guard has become both a teen symbol of authority and an adult symbol of a dead end job.
The motto of being a mall security guard is Observe and Report. Most Mall security officers do not have the power to arrest, simply to detain. However, certain areas invest the right for security officers to make lawful arrests, making them equal in stature to a local low rank police officer. The point of security guards is to enforce a company's or an organization's policies if necessary to protect lives, property, or to keep the peace. Some examples of mall security responsibilites would be detaining or arresting shoplifters, recovering stolen items, watching security monitors and generally making possible theives anxious about stealing. Mall Security Guards are expected to have experience in using emergency equipment, carrying out first aid, writing notes, making reports, and any other specifications required by their employer.
EMPLOYMENT:
Although security guards are a distinct type of personnel from either police officers or the military, in the United States a very high proportion of security personnel, including most senior management personnel, are either former or retired members of one of both services. Many security guards who don't fit this profile (young people in particular) use the job as a springboard into a police career.
ARMORY:
A security guard is not as well equipped as an ordinary U.S. police officer. An average mall security guard is equipped with the standard weapons. Those being a can of spray-mace, a 9mm pistol, and any other gadgets that a guard might need eg. extra ammunition or a specific tool to fit the need of his or her employer.
IN SOCIETY:
As a result of being an enforcement figure, the mall security guard is met with much criticism. This is due partly for two reasons, the youths lack of respect for authority, and the guards being rude and making uncomfortable situations for happy shoppers. Both are unavoidable results of this position of limited power. Most mall security guards are also known as "rent-a-cops" which is really not true at all, they have a salary that they are paid. Although the optional reflective vest does give off the impression that they have as much power as an elementary school crossing guard. All in all, the mall security guard has become both a teen symbol of authority and an adult symbol of a dead end job.
