Pros and Cons of armed security

[TAPS CCW]

Hey Gang - My boss called me about a half an hour ago wanting the list of pros and cons of Security being armed. I have all kinds of training material and my own ideas why, however this won't fill the bill. So I figured with the 9,000 years of experience on this site someone might have a list. We have been trying to get the the powers that be to re-arm security in a large hotel casino type environment. Bob and I were working on this before his early departure. He had the time to be on the computer more than I. If anybody can help it will be appreciated. Thanx

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[rocky]

pros - better able to deal with dangerous people, stronger presence, more flexable reaction to threats

cons- more training required, more likely to increase insurance, individual officers may be a bigger risk with a weapon, image of the business may suffer.

[lowflyer]

Cons: You'll probably want to pay them more to attract current and former LEOs.

[kd5nrh]

One thing you might consider is how much more training and psych evaluation your state requires for armed security. Most states will allow pretty much any high school kid with no felonies to be an unarmed guard, but are really careful about who gets to carry a gun.

[Miggy]

If you gonna have armed security, it is better to carry concealed. Guests will wonder why you have armed guards around and think the place is unsafe. Also, I agree with lowflyer, current or former LEO's are good and do not arm anybody under 25 unless you have seen them in stresfull situations and see how they react. Last thing you want is some armed young pup blasting away at some drunk because he called him names and spilled a beer over his uniform.

[p8riot]

When we have a perceived threat, such as when we lay off a particularly bad actor, we usually will hire off-duty LEOs to supplement our normal unarmed security force.

There are also 4 former LEOs on staff in our facility, myself and three others, that have received special dispensation from the company to be armed (always concealed) while at work.

[one eyed fatman]

In Texas all security guards are not allowed to carry concealed. They must carry openly. Bodyguards can carry concealed. Only 30 hours of training is required to become a commissioned (armed) guard in Texas. Businesses usually prefer security guards over police officers as we work cheaper than cops do (to damn cheap a lot of times). Security guards with better training is probably the best answer. Also having a concealed handgun license should count towards security guard training (it doesn't).

The biggest con: Our law makers. They make laws to create jobs to make money for the state with no other thought in mind. That might work for concealed carry but it does not work for armed security. Until our government starts taking security more serious than grabbing peoples money we will always have problems with security.

The second biggest con: Insurance companies. They are always going to continue to bully their way into money. Armed security should be about lowering your insurance rates not increasing them.

[WVCCW]

Go for armed SOs.

An armed SO can still escort someone out but have something to answer with if the SHTF.

I have both plain clothes and uniformed accounts and which method depends on the clients. (Where a lot of cash trades hands but has mostly elderly customers calls for concealed.)

[Black Knight]

One more con is that your insurance premiums will increase considerably.

[Ride4TheBrand]

While a list might be beneficial to some degree, a professional risk/threat analysis would probably be more accurate.

[paramedic70002]

How about the ability of the SOs to defend themselves and others, something that most of us take for granted. I'd rather flip burgers than work unarmed security.

[ccw9mm]

While a list might be beneficial to some degree, a professional risk/threat analysis would probably be more accurate.

+10. Best advice so far. Casino in Vegas? No matter how small, this will give you the best result. Of course, it's not the quick-fix route, but it will provide an evaluation, not merely a list.

[purple88yj]

Having been a Security Officer for a large casino in Reno several years ago, I can honestly say that some of the people that I worked with didn't need to have firearms.

My list of those with would be the Director of the department, the shift supers and assistants, and lead officers (in my casino it would have been the Floor Training Officers) as far as Security went. I would also liked to have seen the shift lead in Surveillance. They would often come down to the casino floor and aid in arrests.

I think the liability of arming all officers would have been a bad thing, not only for appearance to the casino/hotel guests, but also within the department itsself.

To add few others to the list, the cart man on the pit drops (I remember during busy seasons, we would have three carts on the floor), and maybe the money handlers (from the cage to the pits).

Unless they were in uniform, I would urge for concealed carry. People are a lot less on edge when a uniform is carrying a gun moreso than if some guy in a suit walks by with a gun on his/her hip.

[Hawkeye50317]

If you gonna have armed security, it is better to carry concealed. Guests will wonder why you have armed guards around and think the place is unsafe. Also, I agree with lowflyer, current or former LEO's are good and do not arm anybody under 25 unless you have seen them in stresfull situations and see how they react. Last thing you want is some armed young pup blasting away at some drunk because he called him names and spilled a beer over his uniform.

Police Departments do hire officers as young as 21, not just 25 and older, and yes, they're armed.

[paaiyan]

Police Departments do hire officers as young as 21, not just 25 and older, and yes, they're armed.

I don't think he was saying PDs don't hire under 25, I think he was stating his opinion that the OP should only arm security guards over 25 except in certain circumstances.