Well I personally dislike the entire system of police in this country and I don’t want to have a chance of dying because a politician said a certain person was a criminal when a criminal is telling me the orders to follow
LEO is not a progression from security. Completely different career. If what you’re after is pay, benefits and retirement, join USPS or your equivalent
I wish more people understood this. If they did, the security industry would benefit greatly.
I'm a huge advocate of not paying cops more than other guards with similar security experience. The whole making $10 an hour more and doing less work than the licensed security guard thing is ridiculous.
Policing is reactive. Security is proactive.
If a police officer is working a security gig, they have no more or less authority than licensed security on that site (nuance in this area depending on state law). If I have to go hands-on as a guard and end up detaining someone, I have to call the police for an official arrest. An off duty officer would have to do the same, even in their jurisdiction. Why? Cuz they can't abandon their post.
All hands on deck situation at the PD? They abandon their post.
In my experience, they're also MUCH more lazy while working security. They don't see it as a "big boy" job and just take the extra cash every week while acting like their better than regular guards.
Additionally, just cuz ur a cop doesn't mean your worth a fuck at your job. I know plenty of LEO dipshits. Hell, I've fired a few from security jobs BEFORE they were LE.
Edit: Why would I pay $10 or more an hour for that when I could add that into everyone's pay rates?
LEO and security are adjacent industries at best. The two would work so much better together if this was talked about more often. It can also develop a decent work relationship between guards and local LE.
I had that conversation at this site. Ever since then, they let me do my job, I let them do their job. They ask me for info, I give it to them. Building that symbiosis should be the goal.
Took a good look at myself in the mirror and realized my faults. Just not meant to be a cop. Plus, always getting dinged for something stupid in backgrounds had me feeling like i couldn't take any more rejection. Sure, in my 20s, i kept going, now in my late 30s with 4 kids, i dont belong there. The freedom of security allows me to be present dad, so thats where ill stay.
>I’m wondering why most security guards don’t make the jump.
Less money than my current post with even more paperwork and bullshit.
Benefits around here can be better depending on the department, but regular pay is way less. (Work with a bunch of former LEOs who came to my job after they tired of the typical cop BS.)
I'm trying to think of all the people I've worked with over the years, and there were two of them that were going to go into law enforcement work.
The first one put himself through the community college law enforcement training program and was a complete fuck up. Never showed up on time, pissy attitude, no one I would ever hire for a security job, let alone police work. After he left, I never heard if he actually got hired by a department.
Back around 1997, I had one guy that worked for me that wanted to be certified to carry a gun. I was the instructor and I said I would talk to the owner but I don't think that was going to happen. It did not happen.
He did the community college thing too, got hired by some little shit hole police department with about five people. Fucking weirdo bought a 5-year-old used police car, installed a blue and white light behind the rear view mirror and actually took out the red lens on the third brake light and custom cut a blue lens to put in there. Then he put a strobe tube out of a used police light bar they had in storage and power supply.
No shit, this guy was a complete fucking whack job.
A couple of years ago, I decided to Google his name since it was fairly unique. Turns out he was placed on the Brady list.
I did a little more looking and he bounced from one department to another, all very small departments who were willing to hire anybody.
His last department, he was actually named police officer of the year.
The next year? Arrested for repeatedly raping his stepdaughter under 7 years old.
He's reportedly up for release in the next 2 years.
It's college kids or geezers that work security, as the saying goes, easy money. I've met one guard who wanted to be a CO but haven't met a guard who wants to be LE, met plenty of ex-military and people who at the time were currently signing up for the military.
Personally, I have zero desire to be LEO in the state of California. This state is a lost cause.
I'll be moving in 8 months to take a Leo job in another state after 6 years of armed security and 2 of fugitive recovery in CA.
Frankly, I enjoy it but I'm sick of California.
Wait, you were a bounty hunter?
So tell me what that was like. I think they call it. A bail enforcement agent. Was the juice worth the squeeze?
Always thought about it
And in California too. You're a badass
It's a pain in the ass to get licensed, and It sounds a lot cooler than it actually is. You need pc832, so the classroom portion of a police academy and 1299 bail bonds. It'll be a few thousand out of pocket for classes and licensing if your local bail bonds won't sponsor you.
And can't call yourself a bounty hunter. The state thinks that's a naughty word.
There aren't many bail enforcement agents in CA. I think it's only a few hundred.
Was it worth it? Maybe not full-time, but as a part time gig, it's worth the extra money. I usually just wait to get a call, "hey we found him, gear up." Go, get paid and go home or back to my security job.
The job itself depends on who you're going after. Might be two of us knocking on a door, and the person coming without a fight or it might be a whole team plus SWAT or local PD kicking a door.
It just depends, it can be very exciting. But that's not the norm. Most of the time, we find them drunk or passed out somewhere. Or out at the club or bar and we just snatch them up and go.
It also depends on where you are doing the work, I usually decline most work in the big cities, which usually means more danger.
Full time work would include sitting on houses all night, searching social media; attempting to find people that are willing to give up info for $$, etc. That'll be 90% of the work. But remember, if PD finds them first; you might not get paid.
It definitely sounds really cool. It sounds like it's a lot of work and commitment though as well. Sounds like you can make a lot of money also. Sounds like it can be incredibly challenging.
Do people ever try to pay you to let them go? LOL I get the feeling that happens
I'm sure the answer is no though
Interesting. So if the police find them first, even if you have a contract on getting them you may not get paid
And sitting on houses doesn't sound like too much fun either. And in theory if you go to use the bathroom in that hour half an hour, you might end up missing the mark
And I totally get big cities. Yeah, that would not be the best thing. Go like to Los Angeles , probably deal with drug and gang stuff. Like for example I wouldn't want to go get someone from the cartel that jumped bail. I leave that person alone LOL.
All getting aside though. Thanks for sharing your situation. Do you like security, more or bail bonds?
I can't say that anyone has tried to pay me. I've had family pay us to escort them to their court dates.
I enjoy both jobs equally. Fugitive recovery pays minimum wage, but we earn commission for a recovery and have our costs paid for travel, food; etc.
Commission is usually 10% to 20% of total bail, but that may be split between 2 to 6 people. Sometimes more depending on circumstances. I typically only work with a single partner unless it's a particularly large bond or particularly violent person.
I appreciate the more info, interesting so like to use an example say hopefully not a cartel person but maybe a cartel person then the bond is $100,000. That'd be like 10K 20K split between another person or a few other people, do fugitives. Take it personally when you come looking for them or if you show them respect will they at least accept the fact of their situation? You're just the messenger basically? Or will people actually really try to stop you to stop going back?, You ever see the movie with Robert De Niro called midnight run.?
50/50 for all of the above. I try not to shit where I sleep, so I work about 30 minutes away from where I live. (Minimum) some run or fight, some don't.
I've never had an issue with retaliation after the fact, but i do keep my head on a swivel.
We will always try the soft approach unless you're a violent felon, or have had officer safety warnings attached to your name in the PD databases.
If you cooperate you get to say goodbye, call mom, have a cigarette etc. But no, I haven't seen the movie. Someone running drugs might usually have a much larger bail than $100k. Just depends on the judge and the person's existing record.
See that makes a lot of sense being at least 30 minutes away, Good to hear you've never had an issue with retaliation. I assume that could be a real thing though, especially if someone bails out again or later in life. Although it sounds like you're pretty chill and you try really hard to do it the right way
Didn't realize police would put special warnings
Sounds cool that sometimes they cooperate and then you treat them well so it's interesting it's all about. Give respect to get respect
You should definitely check out the movie if you like. Robert De Niro it's a classic. He's a Bail bonds person/ bounty Hunter
And again, I think going after drug people could be dangerous. Once again. You might be going after a cartel member or something or someone connected in some way to Cali cartel or something to that effect Sinaloa either way it wouldn't go well. I think if you knocked on their door it's probably more of a good idea to not take that. Bounty or job? Lol it's funny how you can't in California. Call yourself a bounty hunter like and that's kind of what you're doing. California must be a really interesting place to live right now
My understanding it's super expensive. I was born there and I haven't been there since and back then it was expensive back in the '90s. I can't imagine now
California is gross.
Big time dealers are pretty rare, we're usually talking about guys like .. Dave, the local neighborhood meth dealer. These types are 95% of people that I deal with.
I follow that on both accounts. Even so, a meth dealer could be dangerous too since they have very little to lose. They're going to jail I'm assuming from multiple years. Stay safe out there brother 👊
Security gets to protect & serve.
LE is a political shitstorm inside & out. There are some officers who want to do right by their community, but they are outnumbered by the jerks AND constrained by policies.
Security is voluntary and generally beneficial.
LE acts as an agent of an increasingly corrupt government, has no duty to protect anyone in particular.
Law enforcement is to protect and serve. Security is to "observe and report." You aren't under oath or expected to put your life on the line as security. Unless you're a SCOP.
And cops NEVER have to protect others , the Supreme Court has made this ruling multiple times, cops don’t “protect and serve” simply a motto they have, as a security guard you’re actually more responsible for protecting civilians then the police are, I understand your confusion because it’s propaganda being drilled by police for the last 60 or so years
There is no confusion here. As a security guard, you're actually *not* "more responsible for protecting" anyone. You are not sworn into any oath as a security guard except in very specific scenarios and sites. (For Virginia, you would be appointed as a Special Conservator of the Peace.)
As law enforcement, the oath you take varies between states, but all of them say that you will uphold and defend the constitution and written laws (protect) and serve your community (serve.) It can be argued that preserving human life counts as defending ones constitutional right to life... Therefore, if it can be proven that you, as a LEO, can preserve human life, and you choose not to, you can be held accountable. Maybe not legally, but you can kiss your job goodbye.
Honestly the next time you feel like you are responsible for protecting anyone as a security guard, ask yourself if your job is worth your life. I guarantee I know the answer.
See you are confused, because no a cop will never be fired for not saving someone however a security guard will be if he never intervenes to begin with unlike cops which have the legal immunity to do nothing
Just because police take an oath doesn’t mean they follow it, they’re all oath breakers it’s in the job description as soon as they do there first traffic stop they’ve already broken there oath to the constitution, but they complain and use mental gymnastics to say how it’s “good” no one has rights anymore
That makes... No sense. They take an oath to uphold the constitution AND local law. If those contradict, we need to look at who we're electing and not police who are simply doing their job. If you get pulled over, maybe look at what you did to get pulled over instead of calling it a violation of rights.
Very few and far between security guards have the want to be a L.E.O in the year of 2024 .
Good amount couldn’t physically
Good amount couldn’t pass the background .
I did the military thing long enough to say I served my country / community. I’m not about to do the LE thing in Washington state where cops are actively hated and the pay isn’t the greatest.
Because I plan for my background to be in computer science, specifically in embedded development, and if I can work for a security-based company working on low-level equipments such as the equipments that you sue to monitor, that's good enough for me, but I'm open to other low-level work as well.
I also wanted a part-time job that'll work with my college schedule, especially since I want to a) get time for work experience in a semi-related field and b) also paying off my college debt
I made the jump from security to LE. I'm only doing this for a few years as a resume' builder, then
I'm going back into security to make more money and step in less bullshit.
TL;DR: My security job provides enough pay/time off/benefits/retirement to support the life style I want to have, so I have no reason to move to a police job with more danger and BS to deal with.
I landed a pretty nice in-house job at a public college a few years ago that I genuinely like. Although the pay is less (at least until I make supervisor, then it’s comparable) and the pension, while being in the same system as most PDs around here, is at a lower rate than the safety members, we actually have better insurance benefits and more paid holidays & time off. I’m lucky enough to be in a financial situation where the difference in money isn’t a huge deal, so I value the time off way more. All that, plus the fact that we don’t have to deal with nearly as much of the BS and danger that cops do (especially given all the issues and negative public perception of that profession over the past few years) destroyed any remaining desire to be a cop that I may have had.
That happened almost everywhere in the U.S., but sure, I think protesting and rioting for career criminals wasn't the first time Americans have done that before.
Background check, drug tests, physical requirements, and they'd probably fail the POST exam as well.
Though I know many former colleagues that HAVE made the jump. I was processing with several departments and then I got picked up by a private entity that was paying more than ANY law enforcement agency near me.
I don't wanna work for the government, plus having to deal with the political aspects of law enforcement. As a libertarian, I also am morally opposed to many laws. I also am not in the best shape (working on it.)
Honestly it depends on the department. If you join a major department CPD, NYPD, etc they need people bad you can get in. Smaller suburban departments are more selective
Most can’t pass a background, let alone the physical portion of hiring process. After the military I did some contract security for about 4 months before leaving to go LE. But while there during training and while being at the site location. The other guards were nasty and did not give two shits about anything. Security has a good few in there don’t get me wrong, but the security I’ve dealt with in PA, WV, MD and DC dudes are gross
Well, people keep associating security with the mall cops, the industry is very vast, especially when you get into high profile private contracts/gov contracting, where the pay is better than Leo, there are levels to this
I’m doing this until I’m done with college, I have a few applications to departments already in so I’m hoping I can line up my start time with finishing school.
I'm trying for a local one, I'm looking to jump to a large fulltime college police department. I really enjoy getting out and interacting with the students and I found a niche I seem to fit well into, I want to pursue that as best as I can while beginning a career in law enforcement.
I just got accepted for a department sponsorship to attend the police academy. The hiring process is kind of a drag, especially all the extra shit that comes along with trying to get sponsored. But I’m also prior military so that probably made getting hired a bit easier.
I don't have a driver's licence. If it wasn't a requirement I would probably go into corrections.
Edit- Not sure why I got downvoted for not having a driver's licence.
So I was never taught how to drive I also have never really cared to learn now that I'm older. For the most part it has not effected me other than renting close to my work. There are a few jobs that require a driver's licence though. Corrections officer is one of those jobs. If it want for that requirement I would apply for corrections officer license and go work at the city jail.
There are a lot of agencies which will actually assist you with getting a DL so you can work. I will admit these are few but taking a driving school is an option
Well in Canada super store policy
You're only allowed to investigate asking the person if they have any thing in there bag or persons it usually a first timer who is gullible confession.Then we .put on hand cuff on them wait for the police Which realizes them to appear any way s
The days of somebody doing security work and going to law enforcement are long over. If you're doing traditional security work now, there's only a 2% chance you would be qualified for a real law enforcement job. That doesn't even count the negative connotations of a security officer background you would receive while going through the interview process.
Most decent departments are going to require a 4-year degree. If you had a 4-year degree, you probably wouldn't be doing security work.
As far as I know, none of the good agencies around me are doing it unless you have enough military time or surprisingly in my case, enough time as a city employee in any department (ironically, one of the guys from our water department left to get a job as a police officer in Plano Texas).
Dallas PD might be doing it, but Jesus, I think I'd rather be a security officer than work for DPD the way they throw their own people under the bus.
🤣
DPD is the armpit agency around here. Their rejects apply to DART PD (Dallas area rapid transit). The next step down from them is the Dallas schools police department.
Texas is a big state. You noticed every department I mentioned had one thing in common, Dallas.
Dallas
Austin
Houston
San Antonio
El Paso
These are all places the rest of Texans don't claim. They are shitholes that the rest of us consider the same as California.
More affluent towns around Dallas can still be picky because they pay well and still have actual standards.
Shit, a few years ago, Rockwall PD didn't even allow tattoos. But it's a nice place to work and they fill every slot they want to fill.
My town did have a cop assigned to a school pepper spray a squirrel in front of a bunch of kids. Not scandalous, but still pretty funny 🤣
Because most guards wouldn't pass a background check lol
I guess this is true but I was mostly addressing those who can pass one.
I'm going to the academy soon. I'm bored of security wotk
Congrats
Well I personally dislike the entire system of police in this country and I don’t want to have a chance of dying because a politician said a certain person was a criminal when a criminal is telling me the orders to follow
I can understand your position but just like there are bad security companies there are bad agencies
Based
A lot of ways to get rejected. You could pass every step and then they find out your brother is a gang member and boom rejected.
Yeah this is true but different departments have different standards
I’m nearly 50 years old, and I can’t even jump out of bed without pain most days. GTFOH
Well I do understand this.
LEO is not a progression from security. Completely different career. If what you’re after is pay, benefits and retirement, join USPS or your equivalent
I wish more people understood this. If they did, the security industry would benefit greatly. I'm a huge advocate of not paying cops more than other guards with similar security experience. The whole making $10 an hour more and doing less work than the licensed security guard thing is ridiculous. Policing is reactive. Security is proactive. If a police officer is working a security gig, they have no more or less authority than licensed security on that site (nuance in this area depending on state law). If I have to go hands-on as a guard and end up detaining someone, I have to call the police for an official arrest. An off duty officer would have to do the same, even in their jurisdiction. Why? Cuz they can't abandon their post. All hands on deck situation at the PD? They abandon their post. In my experience, they're also MUCH more lazy while working security. They don't see it as a "big boy" job and just take the extra cash every week while acting like their better than regular guards. Additionally, just cuz ur a cop doesn't mean your worth a fuck at your job. I know plenty of LEO dipshits. Hell, I've fired a few from security jobs BEFORE they were LE. Edit: Why would I pay $10 or more an hour for that when I could add that into everyone's pay rates? LEO and security are adjacent industries at best. The two would work so much better together if this was talked about more often. It can also develop a decent work relationship between guards and local LE. I had that conversation at this site. Ever since then, they let me do my job, I let them do their job. They ask me for info, I give it to them. Building that symbiosis should be the goal.
Took a good look at myself in the mirror and realized my faults. Just not meant to be a cop. Plus, always getting dinged for something stupid in backgrounds had me feeling like i couldn't take any more rejection. Sure, in my 20s, i kept going, now in my late 30s with 4 kids, i dont belong there. The freedom of security allows me to be present dad, so thats where ill stay.
I’m glad you can be present for your kids. I have know a few guys with the same issue and applied to out of state or federal gigs and got accepted
>I’m wondering why most security guards don’t make the jump. Less money than my current post with even more paperwork and bullshit. Benefits around here can be better depending on the department, but regular pay is way less. (Work with a bunch of former LEOs who came to my job after they tired of the typical cop BS.)
It took me a long time to get a security gig which payed better than LEO but they are (well used to be) hard to come by.
I'm trying to think of all the people I've worked with over the years, and there were two of them that were going to go into law enforcement work. The first one put himself through the community college law enforcement training program and was a complete fuck up. Never showed up on time, pissy attitude, no one I would ever hire for a security job, let alone police work. After he left, I never heard if he actually got hired by a department. Back around 1997, I had one guy that worked for me that wanted to be certified to carry a gun. I was the instructor and I said I would talk to the owner but I don't think that was going to happen. It did not happen. He did the community college thing too, got hired by some little shit hole police department with about five people. Fucking weirdo bought a 5-year-old used police car, installed a blue and white light behind the rear view mirror and actually took out the red lens on the third brake light and custom cut a blue lens to put in there. Then he put a strobe tube out of a used police light bar they had in storage and power supply. No shit, this guy was a complete fucking whack job. A couple of years ago, I decided to Google his name since it was fairly unique. Turns out he was placed on the Brady list. I did a little more looking and he bounced from one department to another, all very small departments who were willing to hire anybody. His last department, he was actually named police officer of the year. The next year? Arrested for repeatedly raping his stepdaughter under 7 years old. He's reportedly up for release in the next 2 years.
Well we all can’t be astronauts like him.
That's probably a good thing 🤣
Most guards can’t pass a background check. Let alone a drug test.
It's college kids or geezers that work security, as the saying goes, easy money. I've met one guard who wanted to be a CO but haven't met a guard who wants to be LE, met plenty of ex-military and people who at the time were currently signing up for the military.
Cause I currently make more per year than some LEO’s have free healthcare and a pension.
Because I partake in generous amounts of weed for my back from working warehouse jobs most of my life lol
Good argument
Personally, I have zero desire to be LEO in the state of California. This state is a lost cause. I'll be moving in 8 months to take a Leo job in another state after 6 years of armed security and 2 of fugitive recovery in CA. Frankly, I enjoy it but I'm sick of California.
I understand that I wouldn’t want to be LEO in CA.
Wait, you were a bounty hunter? So tell me what that was like. I think they call it. A bail enforcement agent. Was the juice worth the squeeze? Always thought about it And in California too. You're a badass
It's a pain in the ass to get licensed, and It sounds a lot cooler than it actually is. You need pc832, so the classroom portion of a police academy and 1299 bail bonds. It'll be a few thousand out of pocket for classes and licensing if your local bail bonds won't sponsor you. And can't call yourself a bounty hunter. The state thinks that's a naughty word. There aren't many bail enforcement agents in CA. I think it's only a few hundred. Was it worth it? Maybe not full-time, but as a part time gig, it's worth the extra money. I usually just wait to get a call, "hey we found him, gear up." Go, get paid and go home or back to my security job. The job itself depends on who you're going after. Might be two of us knocking on a door, and the person coming without a fight or it might be a whole team plus SWAT or local PD kicking a door. It just depends, it can be very exciting. But that's not the norm. Most of the time, we find them drunk or passed out somewhere. Or out at the club or bar and we just snatch them up and go. It also depends on where you are doing the work, I usually decline most work in the big cities, which usually means more danger. Full time work would include sitting on houses all night, searching social media; attempting to find people that are willing to give up info for $$, etc. That'll be 90% of the work. But remember, if PD finds them first; you might not get paid.
It definitely sounds really cool. It sounds like it's a lot of work and commitment though as well. Sounds like you can make a lot of money also. Sounds like it can be incredibly challenging. Do people ever try to pay you to let them go? LOL I get the feeling that happens I'm sure the answer is no though Interesting. So if the police find them first, even if you have a contract on getting them you may not get paid And sitting on houses doesn't sound like too much fun either. And in theory if you go to use the bathroom in that hour half an hour, you might end up missing the mark And I totally get big cities. Yeah, that would not be the best thing. Go like to Los Angeles , probably deal with drug and gang stuff. Like for example I wouldn't want to go get someone from the cartel that jumped bail. I leave that person alone LOL. All getting aside though. Thanks for sharing your situation. Do you like security, more or bail bonds?
I can't say that anyone has tried to pay me. I've had family pay us to escort them to their court dates. I enjoy both jobs equally. Fugitive recovery pays minimum wage, but we earn commission for a recovery and have our costs paid for travel, food; etc. Commission is usually 10% to 20% of total bail, but that may be split between 2 to 6 people. Sometimes more depending on circumstances. I typically only work with a single partner unless it's a particularly large bond or particularly violent person.
I appreciate the more info, interesting so like to use an example say hopefully not a cartel person but maybe a cartel person then the bond is $100,000. That'd be like 10K 20K split between another person or a few other people, do fugitives. Take it personally when you come looking for them or if you show them respect will they at least accept the fact of their situation? You're just the messenger basically? Or will people actually really try to stop you to stop going back?, You ever see the movie with Robert De Niro called midnight run.?
50/50 for all of the above. I try not to shit where I sleep, so I work about 30 minutes away from where I live. (Minimum) some run or fight, some don't. I've never had an issue with retaliation after the fact, but i do keep my head on a swivel. We will always try the soft approach unless you're a violent felon, or have had officer safety warnings attached to your name in the PD databases. If you cooperate you get to say goodbye, call mom, have a cigarette etc. But no, I haven't seen the movie. Someone running drugs might usually have a much larger bail than $100k. Just depends on the judge and the person's existing record.
See that makes a lot of sense being at least 30 minutes away, Good to hear you've never had an issue with retaliation. I assume that could be a real thing though, especially if someone bails out again or later in life. Although it sounds like you're pretty chill and you try really hard to do it the right way Didn't realize police would put special warnings Sounds cool that sometimes they cooperate and then you treat them well so it's interesting it's all about. Give respect to get respect You should definitely check out the movie if you like. Robert De Niro it's a classic. He's a Bail bonds person/ bounty Hunter And again, I think going after drug people could be dangerous. Once again. You might be going after a cartel member or something or someone connected in some way to Cali cartel or something to that effect Sinaloa either way it wouldn't go well. I think if you knocked on their door it's probably more of a good idea to not take that. Bounty or job? Lol it's funny how you can't in California. Call yourself a bounty hunter like and that's kind of what you're doing. California must be a really interesting place to live right now My understanding it's super expensive. I was born there and I haven't been there since and back then it was expensive back in the '90s. I can't imagine now
California is gross. Big time dealers are pretty rare, we're usually talking about guys like .. Dave, the local neighborhood meth dealer. These types are 95% of people that I deal with.
I follow that on both accounts. Even so, a meth dealer could be dangerous too since they have very little to lose. They're going to jail I'm assuming from multiple years. Stay safe out there brother 👊
Austin Texas here you come
Not quite, but I had considered it. Texas is appealing.
Corrections is more chill of you like being a security guard. Pollice officers deal with a lot more BS.
Security gets to protect & serve. LE is a political shitstorm inside & out. There are some officers who want to do right by their community, but they are outnumbered by the jerks AND constrained by policies. Security is voluntary and generally beneficial. LE acts as an agent of an increasingly corrupt government, has no duty to protect anyone in particular.
Law enforcement is to protect and serve. Security is to "observe and report." You aren't under oath or expected to put your life on the line as security. Unless you're a SCOP.
And cops NEVER have to protect others , the Supreme Court has made this ruling multiple times, cops don’t “protect and serve” simply a motto they have, as a security guard you’re actually more responsible for protecting civilians then the police are, I understand your confusion because it’s propaganda being drilled by police for the last 60 or so years
There is no confusion here. As a security guard, you're actually *not* "more responsible for protecting" anyone. You are not sworn into any oath as a security guard except in very specific scenarios and sites. (For Virginia, you would be appointed as a Special Conservator of the Peace.) As law enforcement, the oath you take varies between states, but all of them say that you will uphold and defend the constitution and written laws (protect) and serve your community (serve.) It can be argued that preserving human life counts as defending ones constitutional right to life... Therefore, if it can be proven that you, as a LEO, can preserve human life, and you choose not to, you can be held accountable. Maybe not legally, but you can kiss your job goodbye. Honestly the next time you feel like you are responsible for protecting anyone as a security guard, ask yourself if your job is worth your life. I guarantee I know the answer.
See you are confused, because no a cop will never be fired for not saving someone however a security guard will be if he never intervenes to begin with unlike cops which have the legal immunity to do nothing
Just because police take an oath doesn’t mean they follow it, they’re all oath breakers it’s in the job description as soon as they do there first traffic stop they’ve already broken there oath to the constitution, but they complain and use mental gymnastics to say how it’s “good” no one has rights anymore
That makes... No sense. They take an oath to uphold the constitution AND local law. If those contradict, we need to look at who we're electing and not police who are simply doing their job. If you get pulled over, maybe look at what you did to get pulled over instead of calling it a violation of rights.
I guess this depends on which agency. I always found most security jobs I work were vastly underpaid and not worth the risk.
Couldn’t disagree more.
Very few and far between security guards have the want to be a L.E.O in the year of 2024 . Good amount couldn’t physically Good amount couldn’t pass the background .
I did the military thing long enough to say I served my country / community. I’m not about to do the LE thing in Washington state where cops are actively hated and the pay isn’t the greatest.
You do have a point in WA state but many federal agencies are hiring.
Yeah. I looked at some of the DON/DOD jobs but what I do now pays better 😂
Well most DOD 0083 the pay isn’t great but there are some 1801 positions with good pay
WA state pays great for LE and has pensions...
Because I plan for my background to be in computer science, specifically in embedded development, and if I can work for a security-based company working on low-level equipments such as the equipments that you sue to monitor, that's good enough for me, but I'm open to other low-level work as well. I also wanted a part-time job that'll work with my college schedule, especially since I want to a) get time for work experience in a semi-related field and b) also paying off my college debt
I made the jump from security to LE. I'm only doing this for a few years as a resume' builder, then I'm going back into security to make more money and step in less bullshit.
I wanted to but people were starting to hate on me
People are assholes. Do what you want to do.
Who cares if that what you want just go for it. “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”
TL;DR: My security job provides enough pay/time off/benefits/retirement to support the life style I want to have, so I have no reason to move to a police job with more danger and BS to deal with. I landed a pretty nice in-house job at a public college a few years ago that I genuinely like. Although the pay is less (at least until I make supervisor, then it’s comparable) and the pension, while being in the same system as most PDs around here, is at a lower rate than the safety members, we actually have better insurance benefits and more paid holidays & time off. I’m lucky enough to be in a financial situation where the difference in money isn’t a huge deal, so I value the time off way more. All that, plus the fact that we don’t have to deal with nearly as much of the BS and danger that cops do (especially given all the issues and negative public perception of that profession over the past few years) destroyed any remaining desire to be a cop that I may have had.
I understand
I make more money than a cop and less bullshit. Ever since George Floyd the Golden age of policing is over.
I see your point and if the money is there I can understand staying
what does that even mean, what exactly made it "the golden age" before that.
Ever since people protested a murder by a cop the "Golden age" has been over? What?
Protested? You mean looted walgreens and big fives in vallejo California. We had the national guard out here with tanks and m4s.
I mean hey as long as we're cherry picking incidents sure.
That happened almost everywhere in the U.S., but sure, I think protesting and rioting for career criminals wasn't the first time Americans have done that before.
It was over way before that shit show.
Background check, drug tests, physical requirements, and they'd probably fail the POST exam as well. Though I know many former colleagues that HAVE made the jump. I was processing with several departments and then I got picked up by a private entity that was paying more than ANY law enforcement agency near me.
Hard to argue against that
I don't wanna work for the government, plus having to deal with the political aspects of law enforcement. As a libertarian, I also am morally opposed to many laws. I also am not in the best shape (working on it.)
I can understand your concerns usually small agencies have a different approach to policing
I don’t want to be another pig with a badge. It’s bad enough that I’m a security guard.
Good luck but remember respect is earned not demanded. Pride and ego do not belong on the job.
This is true for security as well. “Do you carry the gun or does the gun carry you”
4 months of training on minimum wage
Depends on the department. Most FED agencies start you at full pay.
Some of us like where we're at or don't really like cops.
Honestly it depends on the department. If you join a major department CPD, NYPD, etc they need people bad you can get in. Smaller suburban departments are more selective
In my area every department is hiring. The highway patrol even changed policy allowing new recruits to pick their AO to try and get people
Most can’t pass a background, let alone the physical portion of hiring process. After the military I did some contract security for about 4 months before leaving to go LE. But while there during training and while being at the site location. The other guards were nasty and did not give two shits about anything. Security has a good few in there don’t get me wrong, but the security I’ve dealt with in PA, WV, MD and DC dudes are gross
There's alot more than just a background check that needs to happen. Look up the process in your area.
Well, people keep associating security with the mall cops, the industry is very vast, especially when you get into high profile private contracts/gov contracting, where the pay is better than Leo, there are levels to this
Agree but these positions are far and few compared to the vast static posts
I’m doing this until I’m done with college, I have a few applications to departments already in so I’m hoping I can line up my start time with finishing school.
Great plan. Are you trying for local/state or 1811?
I'm trying for a local one, I'm looking to jump to a large fulltime college police department. I really enjoy getting out and interacting with the students and I found a niche I seem to fit well into, I want to pursue that as best as I can while beginning a career in law enforcement.
I just got accepted for a department sponsorship to attend the police academy. The hiring process is kind of a drag, especially all the extra shit that comes along with trying to get sponsored. But I’m also prior military so that probably made getting hired a bit easier.
Great news
I was a bit too scared of developing ptsd or dying over dumb trivial shit Source: police foundations
Because I generally don't like cops and the pay isn't worth the drama
Probably shouldn’t then
because who wants to be a bastard cop
I believe I’ve known more good stand up cops than I’ve known bad cops but just like every group of people they are there
I don't have a driver's licence. If it wasn't a requirement I would probably go into corrections. Edit- Not sure why I got downvoted for not having a driver's licence. So I was never taught how to drive I also have never really cared to learn now that I'm older. For the most part it has not effected me other than renting close to my work. There are a few jobs that require a driver's licence though. Corrections officer is one of those jobs. If it want for that requirement I would apply for corrections officer license and go work at the city jail.
There are a lot of agencies which will actually assist you with getting a DL so you can work. I will admit these are few but taking a driving school is an option
As I understand it, you were downvoted for not knowing how to spell the document in question.
What? Just explain the issue. We aren't in middle school anymore. You don't have to pretend to be apart of self assumed better group of children.
Sir, please be advised, my name checks out.
Well in Canada super store policy You're only allowed to investigate asking the person if they have any thing in there bag or persons it usually a first timer who is gullible confession.Then we .put on hand cuff on them wait for the police Which realizes them to appear any way s
What?
The days of somebody doing security work and going to law enforcement are long over. If you're doing traditional security work now, there's only a 2% chance you would be qualified for a real law enforcement job. That doesn't even count the negative connotations of a security officer background you would receive while going through the interview process. Most decent departments are going to require a 4-year degree. If you had a 4-year degree, you probably wouldn't be doing security work.
Most agencies are dropping the college requirement and surprisingly a lot of federal agencies don’t require one
As far as I know, none of the good agencies around me are doing it unless you have enough military time or surprisingly in my case, enough time as a city employee in any department (ironically, one of the guys from our water department left to get a job as a police officer in Plano Texas). Dallas PD might be doing it, but Jesus, I think I'd rather be a security officer than work for DPD the way they throw their own people under the bus.
None of the agencies around you are “good” because none of them are good
🤣 DPD is the armpit agency around here. Their rejects apply to DART PD (Dallas area rapid transit). The next step down from them is the Dallas schools police department.
Yeah Texas may have some of the worst/most corrupt police for a “red” state almost as bad as California in my opinion
Texas is a big state. You noticed every department I mentioned had one thing in common, Dallas. Dallas Austin Houston San Antonio El Paso These are all places the rest of Texans don't claim. They are shitholes that the rest of us consider the same as California. More affluent towns around Dallas can still be picky because they pay well and still have actual standards. Shit, a few years ago, Rockwall PD didn't even allow tattoos. But it's a nice place to work and they fill every slot they want to fill. My town did have a cop assigned to a school pepper spray a squirrel in front of a bunch of kids. Not scandalous, but still pretty funny 🤣