Security Track: Patrol, Access Control, Evidence and Emergency Response · Module 1 of 4 · about 15 min
Patrol and the report
Most states license private security officers. In California, for example, the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) requires a guard registration, often called a guard card, which includes a background check and set training hours. Check your own state's rules before you take a post.
Patrol is about being seen and noticing what is wrong. Vary your routes and times so nobody can plan around you. Know what normal looks like: which doors should be locked, which lights should be on, which vehicles belong. Anything different gets checked and written down.
The report is the product. Write what you saw, heard and did, in order, with times and locations. Stick to facts, separate them from opinion, and quote people exactly when it matters. Write it as soon as you can, because memory fades and details get mixed up.
Security officers are not police. Your powers to detain or use force depend on state law and your employer's policy, and they are usually close to those of any private citizen. Observe, report and call law enforcement is the default.
Sources
Module quiz
5 questions, 4 correct to pass. You'll see what you missed and why, and you can retake it.