Security Guard Equipment Choices for Your Company

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As a security guard company one of the many choices that you have to make from day one is how to equip your officers. When I think about security guard equipment I think of three categories: 1) Uniforms, 2) Essential Equipment, and 3) Training.

UNIFORMS

Uniform Type: There are three basic types of uniforms: Hard, Soft, and Tactical. Hard uniforms are the most common uniforms that security officers wear. It is the military or police look uniform. The Soft uniform is the second most recognized type of uniform. It usually consists of a sport coat, tie, white shirt, and dress slacks. The Tactical uniform is the least seen type of uniform and for good reason. Tactical uniforms usually consist of black battle dress uniform (BDUs) or some variant. Newer firms will sometimes choose these uniforms. Those companies haven’t figured out that security isn’t law enforcement or the military.

ESSENTIAL SECURITY GUARD EQUIPMENT

Security Guard Management: As a security guard company you know how much information your officers produce. That information includes daily activity reports, incident reports, field inspections, time sheets, and tour tracking information to name a few. If you are still using paper for reports, a wand for tour tracking, and paper timesheets; using tools like OfficerReports.com help to modernize and drive efficiency across your operations.

Body Cameras: Because of all the conversations happening in the news about body cameras, they are probably something that you are considering. With the availability of video recorders on most mobile devices, when paired with incident reporting software, smartphones and tablets also become a viable option as well.

Communications: Previously, because of the cost of smartphones and the associated monthly costs, they could not be considered as standard security guard equipment. But as prices lower, including a mobile device has almost become a requirement at most security posts.

TRAINING

Although you may not agree with including training as security guard equipment, I see it as being exactly the same. You have to price it the same as with any other equipment being placed at the site. Without training on what is expected of them, nothing else really matters.

When you carefully consider the options that you have and the implications of your choices, you can best position your company for success.

Original Article by: Courtney Sparkman

Revised by: Deidra Martinez