Training Builds Frameworks of Support for Armed Security Personnel
Armed security officers train to respond to a threat in seconds, sometimes making life-altering decisions in the blink of an eye to draw their service weapon to protect themselves and other people in their care.
Many of these officers will go their entire career and never draw their firearm while on duty. But some do have to take that action. One such case occurred this past year at a poultry processing facility in the United States.
An employee at the facility had been let go. As he exited the plant, however, he stopped at his vehicle, retrieved a rifle, and opened fire in the parking lot. He then walked toward the facility’s perimeter gate and guardhouse, continuing to fire his weapon.
The security officers on duty heard the rounds and immediately reacted. A supervisor provided cover for a newly trained officer on her first day at the site, helping her shelter on the floor behind a concrete wall. The supervisor then took cover behind a guardhouse, stepped out, saw the gunman pointing the rifle at him, and neutralized the threat with his service weapon before anyone else could be harmed.
“Our officer neutralized the threat immediately, then had the forethought to recognize he needed to survey the scene, make sure there’s no other threats, and secure the scene until law enforcement got there. That same officer started directing personnel, getting them out of the way, getting them away from the scene itself,” says Edward E. “Gene” Sanders, COO of DSI Security Services. “That officer exhibited all the training that he had had—not only being able to neutralize the threat with what he learned on the firing range but to also control a very chaotic situation with what he learned in incident control.”
The officer’s actions likely saved many lives at the facility, which employed several hundred people, including his own life. The incident demonstrates the seriousness that must be taken when training security personnel to carry and use firearms on the job.
Sanders is extremely familiar with this training process. His career began in law enforcement and then he transitioned to working with DSI in 1991. About 15 years ago, he obtained and continues to maintain the rigorous National Rifle Association (NRA) Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor certification.
The incident at the poultry plant “makes you realize that on any given day, we have 5,500-plus security officers out there on post, and the vulnerabilities that are out there, the risks that are out there and that are present,” Sanders says. “It confirms just how important and how serious training should be taken and should be administered.”
Client Education
When arming a security officer, it’s important to keep in mind the purpose for doing so: armed security is often seen as a deterrent. Thieves or other malicious actors might see an armed security officer at a store, for instance, and decide they should target another location that doesn’t have a potential guard standing by to intercept them.
“It’s really more about that officer presence and being a deterrent to somebody breaking the law, stealing that piece of property, or assaulting that individual,” Sanders says.
Several factors go into deciding whether armed security is needed at a site. These include the location of the site, the crime in the area, the risk analysis, and the product or people you’re seeking to protect.
“Generally, in the banking industry, you’ll see [armed security] quite often,” Sanders says. “In the retail industry, you’ll see it frequently. Then in areas that are known to be high-crime areas or known to be very vulnerable, then you’ll incorporate an armed security officer as that deterrent.”
It’s critical to educate the client, however, to make sure it understands the differences between law enforcement and armed security personnel.
“They may think that an armed security person can carry out the exact same duties and exact same responsibilities with the level of force that a police officer or law enforcement officer can, and unfortunately that’s not completely accurate,” he says.
Law enforcement, for instance, is trained to enforce the law and has a much broader authority to use deadly force when necessary to do so. Certified peace officers—private security officers who have been commissioned by a government entity but are employed by a private company—may have more latitude to use deadly force because they are also enforcing the law in their posts. But generally, contract security officers have the same right to use deadly force as regular civilians do, Sanders explains.
“In the security arena, the ability to use deadly force is directly associated with the presence of imminent bodily harm or damage, or death, to yourself or to someone else,” he adds. “That’s the difference between the two. Law enforcement still has that requirement, but beyond that they can use weapons to enforce the law—certain levels of the law. Then you have to go back to the force continuum, which dictates how an officer—whether it’s contract security or whether it’s law enforcement—what level of force they can use.”
Private security officers also have an assignment, often a post location, to protect a customer and that customer’s property. This differs greatly from law enforcement, which can move more freely within their jurisdiction to pursue threats or use force.
In the security arena, the ability to use deadly force is directly associated with the presence of imminent bodily harm or damage, or death, to yourself or to someone else.
Additionally, when incidents occur police officers or sheriff’s deputies can call their colleagues for backup. Security officers, however, rely on law enforcement to be their backup.
“To be effective with both armed security and law enforcement, you have to bridge the gap in that relationship because both of us are partners, both of us have common goals, and both of us have responsibilities and can assist each other,” Sanders says.
Training and Firearms
In most cases, armed security officers are issued handguns—typically a semi-automatic 9mm or .40 caliber.
Security officers who transport high-value assets, such as jewelry or cash in an armored vehicle, might be issued shotguns. Sanders adds that private security officers who work in corrections facilities or transport inmates might also be issued shotguns.
“A lot of times in those environments, you would see the need for a shotgun because it is a weapon of choice when you’re in close proximity to the potential threat or you have concerns with the impact to your surroundings,” Sanders says. “If you’re in an area where there’s a number of personnel, you would seek something like a shotgun versus a handgun simply because it’s more of a short-range type of weapon.”
These are powerful and lethal tools that security practitioners may use in the course of their work. For Sanders, the most important thing is understanding the weapon that you’re using and your responsibility for it.
“You have to recognize the risk and the responsibility of [carrying a firearm],” he adds. “I think the first order of business in any weapons training is getting familiar with the weapon—the nomenclature of that weapon, understanding its components, how it works, and understanding the safety piece of it.”
The safety aspect is paramount. Not every firearm operates in the same way. Safety mechanisms are likely to be different, along with loading and discharging.
“If you have a revolver, it’s completely different than when you have a semi-auto,” Sanders says. “I think the number one thing for me is safety because you’re responsible for every person around you.”
Additionally, security officers should be familiar with how to break down their service weapon and clean it safely.
“All guns are different. Some guns are cleaned differently than others. Some require less oil for lubrication. Some require more,” Sanders says. “At all times, when you’re cleaning a weapon, there’s never rounds in the area where you’re cleaning the weapon. The weapon is separated. It’s clearly broken down.”
After security officers are familiarized with how the firearm works and its safety mechanisms, next up is becoming proficient with handling and firing it. This includes the basics of sight alignment, trigger squeeze, and all the components that go into using the weapon accurately, Sanders adds.
This should be followed by education on the use-of-force continuum and understanding how security officers can use force both legally and ethically, along with the ramifications of using that force. The use-of-force continuum, for instance, begins with the mere presence of the officer, escalating to less-than-lethal tactics and then lethal tactics in certain situations. Officers should be educated on this continuum and then undergo scenario training so that when they are out on the job and a situation arises, they’re prepared to properly handle that incident with the appropriate use of force.
Law enforcement and armed security personnel are asked to make split-second decisions that are life-altering, so Sanders says it is imperative to understand the use-of-force continuum and be trained, repeatedly, so they make good decisions.
“You’re trained in that situation. You know that situation, so you know how to respond,” he adds.
One technology that is assisting with this type of training is simulation training. Many law enforcement agencies already use simulators to train officers, and Sanders says that DSI has used it at a local training center for law enforcement.
“In a simulation, your targets are different. They change. Then you have to quickly discern if that target is a threat or not a threat,” Sanders explains. “If the target is a threat, is it presenting a lethal threat—deadly force to you? Then, how do you properly respond to it?”
Sanders adds that it is essential to assess the mental health and psychological condition of the officer who is carrying a weapon.
“A lot of states right now—especially where we operate in armed security—have requirements that before the state will issue that armed security officer a license to carry a weapon, they have gone through that mental health evaluation and been approved and fit for duty,” Sanders says. “That’s typically how we are able to vet our potential candidates for armed services.”
Total training requirements for armed security officers will vary by jurisdiction. But most U.S. states require personnel to go through refresher training, sometimes called requalification, within 12 months of being certified and every 12 months after that with the firearm that they are issued.
Twenty-eight U.S. states and the District of Columbia have specific training requirements for armed security officers, compared to 23 and the District of Columbia for unarmed security officers, according to a 2021 white paper from the National Association of Security Companies (NASCO).
On average, the initial training requirement for armed security officers is about 40 hours. Twenty-three states also require continuing education and range qualifications each year for them to maintain their license.
At DSI, for instance, the company has both on-staff and contracted instructors that work to train personnel, typically every six months and no less than every 12 months, he adds.
“And not just on the caliber weapon that they’re carrying, not just the brand—whether it be Glock, Beretta, or Smith & Wesson—but they are actually training and certifying with the weapon that they are going to be carrying in their holster,” Sanders says.
One state that maintains a high level of training requirements for armed security officers is Florida. It has an online platform that provides guidance on certifications and their validity, and indicates whether administrative actions are being taken against a certification holder.
“They have what Florida calls D license for unarmed personnel and G license for armed personnel,” Sanders says. “They communicate with us frequently on any administrative action that might take place. Then, when renewals are coming up, they clearly articulate the training that needs to be done—the range and scores that have to be met.”
Off-Duty Storage
Armed security personnel should carry their assigned weapons only when they’re on duty and assigned to their post. Sanders says DSI requires its officers to use a Level 2 and above holster for their service firearms. This means that there is a level of retention to the holster that requires two means to get access to the weapon.
“They have to be able to press a button that releases the weapon and then pull that weapon out,” Sanders explains. “Some Level 3s have a finger release—a thumb release—and then you have to pull the weapon out.
When preparing to come on duty, officers are responsible for making sure their weapon is ready for duty. This could include charging the weapon, checking for rounds, and loading it.
Once their shift is over, Sanders says officers are instructed to store their firearm in the trunk of their vehicle, where it cannot be accessed by the driver until he or she returns home. He recommends using a vehicle gun safe or gun box to store the firearm. Once home, that weapon is required to be stored in a safe—preferably a biometric safe—and, when possible, where the rounds are securely separated from the weapon itself.
“Our primary concern is if an officer, for some reason, needs to store the weapon that they have the means by which to unload that weapon properly,” he adds. “In places that we have armed services—at a site—and the weapons are retained at the site, the weapons do not go home.”
In these situations, there needs to be proper weapons storage that includes a safe and clearing barrels where weapons can be cleared securely, Sanders says.
“One of the best ways to control or to safely manage a weapon is to always control that weapon,” explains Sanders. He has heard stories of officers in the industry taking off their duty belt with their firearm attached when using the restroom and then forgetting to pick it back up again.
“It’s happened both in the law enforcement arena and security arena,” he says. “It’s really about making sure they understand just the severity and the responsibility they have in control of that weapon, and always attending to that weapon at all times.”
Providing Support
Carrying a firearm as a security officer is a significant responsibility. If an officer needs to use that firearm in the course of their work, Sanders adds that it is imperative there is a process in place to debrief that officer and then provide him or her with support.
At DSI, for instance, the protocol for post-incident response involves gathering as much information as possible about what happened and ensuring that there is an independent investigation into the incident. This is sometimes handled by law enforcement or a state official. At the same time, the officer involved should be isolated to make sure he or she is physically okay and can provide a statement. DSI will then work with law enforcement to ensure the officer is supported while the investigation continues into what occurred.
I think the number one thing for me is safety because you’re responsible for every person around you.
“Once law enforcement has cleared it, we will typically put our officer on leave with pay to make sure that it was a justified situation,” Sanders says.
After that justification threshold is met, DSI also ensures the officer is made aware of employee assistance program benefits so he or she can get any necessary therapy support. Sanders says it’s important to encourage the officer to talk about the situation as best he or she can and to support the individual.
“If it’s an event that was justified and their actions save lives, everybody’s going to be thanking them, recognizing them for what they did, but at some point, that starts to dwindle,” Sanders explains. “Then you have the employee left with the event that just took place and whatever action they had to take.”
In the aftermath, Sanders adds that it’s important in this moment to use your HR resources to provide support to the officer.
At DSI “HR takes the lead on that and through our different means of employee assistance, we get them the help they may need to be able to process what happened,” Sanders says.
For more information on trauma and security officers, revisit our series on Mental Health for Security Professionals.
Megan Gates is editor-in-chief of Security Technology. Connect with her at [email protected] or on LinkedIn.
