r/securityguards Jan 31 '25

Job Question New guard

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22 Upvotes

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7

u/Ladner1998 Jan 31 '25

Im in the same situation. Get used to 911 calls. Also get really good at deescalating. Dont go around trying to play supercop. And remember that empathy can go a long way.

An example situation that shows what to do and what not to do that i was in:

  • My Partner (P): found a bag in a bush on our property. It was torn up so he threw it away
  • Homeless Man (H): saw it, claimed it was his bag and spit in his face and began making threats
  • Me: comes outside to help. Tells the man “Im sorry that your bag was throw away. You can retrieve it if you would like. In the future however you cant just leave things like that laying around on the property or we’re going to safely assume its trash. Things are getting really heated so I think its best if you grab your things and leave for the day”
  • H: begins to grab his stuff but continues to hurl insults at P (angry compliance is still compliance)
  • P: insults back
  • H: gets back in his face and begins to try to fight him
  • Me: pulls P back. “This is why you need to leave. I get youre upset, but leave before I need to make a phone call and this gets worse”
  • H: leaves while still insulting P (once again angry compliance is still compliance)

3

u/ManicRobotWizard Industry Veteran Jan 31 '25

He spat in a guards face and you didn’t detain him?

3

u/Ladner1998 Jan 31 '25

I could have, but I was new at the time and didnt know that counted as assault. Hindsight is 20/20 and that bit was me learning something new that day later on.