Sandi J Davies, CEO, International Foundation for Protection Officers explains how the security industry is moving toward a more proactive stance.
The International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO) conducted a global research project (2021) based on the roles and responsibilities and job complexities of security officers in the 21st century.
Several findings were determined as a result of this research.
The immediate need for increased educational opportunities was very evident.
As the complexities of the job expand, so does the need for meaningful educational programs.
As our society is transitioning from relying completely on law enforcement to facing alternative solutions, private security is needing to ‘step up to the plate’.
Additionally, as the defunding, recruitment, retention and trust gaps increase within the law enforcement sector, corporations and the public are reaching out more and more to the security industry.
With technology advancing security applications, the need to provide effective training to the officers to best perform their duties is critical.
The image of the ‘night watchman’ or ‘guard’ is evolving to one that encompasses an educational career path which lends to a more professional ‘security officer’ or ‘protection officer’.
As crime increases so does the need for a stronger security presence.
In the past, law enforcement conducted their duties with a reactive mindset.
Today, the need for a preventative mindset is crucial to maintain a safe work or community environment.
In the past, the main focus in most security departments might have been limited to subjects such as patrol techniques, traffic control or physical security, whereas today such subject matters must be part of their overall knowledge.
These include workplace violence, crisis intervention, terrorism, officer safety and use of force, active shooters and mental illness, to name just a few.
More and more high schools and post-secondary educational facilities are now implementing and incorporating security related programs and young people are recognizing the speed at which the security industry is progressing.
Additionally, the opportunities in the security industry for those in the workforce are surpassing that of the law enforcement sector.
Transitioning military personnel are also looking at security as a second career versus law enforcement.
Not only are there greater opportunities, but the renumeration has more appeal.
Our law enforcement officers as first responders have a greater inherited risk as they are responding to an incident whereas a well-versed security department have forecasted the risk and have implemented the necessary precautions to mitigate this certain threats.
Corporations are looking for liability avoidance strategies and therefore a greater presence of security, making better trained security officers a priority.
In summary, the security industry is the center point of protecting people, property and assets like never before.
Sandi began her career in contract security in 1980 with a primary focus on personnel administration. In 1988 she joined the newly formed International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO).
In 1991 she was Elected Executive Director and to date over 160,000 individuals have become certified.
In 2020, by way of Sandi’s direction, an IFPO research project was launched to understand the complexities of security officers in the 21st century.
In 2022, Sandi became the CEO of the IFPO.
This article was originally published in the Special February Influencers Edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.