Learn this and learn this WELL: Observe and Report == You are on your own.
A story from SecurityInfoWatch, entitled Observe and Report: Security Guard Fired after Subduing Robber at Credit Union, illustrates something that I have known for awhile.
When you look at the security guard(s) at your mall, or other large place, and you notice they're wearing nothing on their belts, except maybe a cell phone or a radio, know that they are completely and utterly worthless as far as protecting you from physical danger. Is this because they're incapable of it? No, it is because their employer forbids them to become involved with any incident or disorder. Their job is to "observe and report." What do they observe, and who do they report it to?
They observe various things, and report it not to law enforcement or EMS, but to their employer or client, who will then decide if EMS or law enforcement intervention is required - weighing in the liability that the client calling the police or fire department has vs. not calling them. The guard's job is not to call the police for you, or to protect you, but merely to inform the client who will decide what the client wants to do with the problem. Sometimes, its nothing at all.
This employee, in the story, took on a bank robber. He won. He was then fired for violating the new company policy of "non-intervention." A mall worker asked a wonderful question: If I'm attacked in the parking lot, is he just supposed to stand there and watch? Yes, he is. Then make a detailed report to it to his client, who will decide on what measures to take to deal with the incident.
This is the same line of thinking that puts a security guard on a post with a revolver and six bullets, no other equipment. Why? Because the contract calls for armed, which the states REQUIRE a loaded gun (That's actually in most law books, because the companies were sending unloaded/toy guns to armed contracts!), but no other equipment. When you see someone with a gun and nothing else... Know that they will probally just kill you if you screw with them. That's all they can do, shoot you. :)
I am still amazed of the blatant stupidity in the behaviors of major security companies, who have large enough legal defense teams to simply ignore all threats, take hits on their insurance policy against actually protecting their clients, and then claim that they have 'superior guard services."
When you look at the security guard(s) at your mall, or other large place, and you notice they're wearing nothing on their belts, except maybe a cell phone or a radio, know that they are completely and utterly worthless as far as protecting you from physical danger. Is this because they're incapable of it? No, it is because their employer forbids them to become involved with any incident or disorder. Their job is to "observe and report." What do they observe, and who do they report it to?
They observe various things, and report it not to law enforcement or EMS, but to their employer or client, who will then decide if EMS or law enforcement intervention is required - weighing in the liability that the client calling the police or fire department has vs. not calling them. The guard's job is not to call the police for you, or to protect you, but merely to inform the client who will decide what the client wants to do with the problem. Sometimes, its nothing at all.
This employee, in the story, took on a bank robber. He won. He was then fired for violating the new company policy of "non-intervention." A mall worker asked a wonderful question: If I'm attacked in the parking lot, is he just supposed to stand there and watch? Yes, he is. Then make a detailed report to it to his client, who will decide on what measures to take to deal with the incident.
This is the same line of thinking that puts a security guard on a post with a revolver and six bullets, no other equipment. Why? Because the contract calls for armed, which the states REQUIRE a loaded gun (That's actually in most law books, because the companies were sending unloaded/toy guns to armed contracts!), but no other equipment. When you see someone with a gun and nothing else... Know that they will probally just kill you if you screw with them. That's all they can do, shoot you. :)
I am still amazed of the blatant stupidity in the behaviors of major security companies, who have large enough legal defense teams to simply ignore all threats, take hits on their insurance policy against actually protecting their clients, and then claim that they have 'superior guard services."