Commercial Property Security

By Mark Schneider | Patrol Guard Security Services

Commercial property owners spend thousands of dollars every year on surveillance cameras, alarm systems, access control, and other security measures. Yet when it comes to hiring a security company, some businesses make their decision almost entirely based on price.

I understand that security is an expense. Property managers have budgets, and nobody wants to spend more money than necessary. However, there is a significant difference between hiring a security company that provides professional protection and hiring one that simply puts someone in a uniform to fill a shift.

I’ve worked in the private security industry long enough to see the difference firsthand.

A security guard who isn’t properly trained, doesn’t understand the assignment, or spends most of the shift looking at a phone isn’t providing much value to the property owner. Unfortunately, these problems are more common in the industry than many people realize.

Not All Security Companies Operate the Same Way

One of the biggest misconceptions about private security is that all security companies provide essentially the same service.

They don’t.

Some companies invest heavily in training, supervision, equipment, and recruiting qualified guards. Others focus on winning contracts by offering the lowest possible hourly rate.

The problem with competing entirely on price is that something usually has to give. In many cases, that means lower wages, less training, inadequate supervision, or difficulty keeping reliable personnel.

I’ve seen situations where companies are more concerned about filling an open shift than making sure the person assigned to that shift is qualified to perform the job.

That’s a problem, especially when the guard is responsible for protecting employees, customers, valuable property, or facilities that operate around the clock.

Security companies need to understand that their responsibility doesn’t end when someone clocks in. They need to make sure their guards know what they’re doing and have the training and resources necessary to handle the assignment.

Commercial Properties Have Different Security Needs

A warehouse, office building, retail center, and construction site may all need security, but the assignments are completely different.

For example, a warehouse may need guards to monitor loading docks, check incoming vehicles, conduct exterior patrols, and prevent unauthorized access after hours.

A retail property may deal with shoplifting, trespassing, disorderly conduct, and confrontations involving customers or employees.

Office buildings often need access control, parking garage patrols, visitor management, and someone who can respond when an employee reports a suspicious person or threatening behavior.

Construction sites have their own problems, particularly after business hours when expensive tools, equipment, and building materials are left unattended.

The point is that security coverage should be based on the property and its actual risks.

Simply assigning a guard to stand near the front entrance doesn’t automatically mean the property is secure.

Before recommending coverage, a security company should understand the layout of the property, previous incidents, operating hours, access points, and what the client expects the guards to accomplish.

Armed Security Has an Important Role in Commercial Property Protection

I’m a strong believer in properly trained armed security guards, particularly at commercial properties where there is a legitimate concern about violent crime.

That doesn’t mean every business needs an armed guard. It means property owners should seriously evaluate whether armed security is appropriate instead of automatically choosing unarmed coverage because it’s cheaper.

Businesses that have experienced violent incidents, facilities that handle valuable merchandise, properties with repeated threats, and certain overnight operations may have good reasons to consider armed security.

A properly trained armed guard provides a level of protective capability that an unarmed guard simply cannot provide in the event of an immediate deadly threat.

However, carrying a firearm comes with substantial responsibility.

An armed guard must understand the laws governing the use of force, recognize when deadly force may be legally justified, and have the judgment to avoid unnecessary confrontations.

I’ve spent considerable time working in firearms instruction, defensive tactics, de-escalation, and security guard training. One thing I emphasize is that carrying a firearm doesn’t make someone a qualified security professional.

Training, judgment, communication, and the ability to recognize a developing threat are just as important.

An armed guard should be there to deter crime, protect people, and respond appropriately when necessary. The goal is to prevent an incident, not create one.

Security Guard Training Should Be Taken Seriously

Training is one of the areas where I believe the private security industry needs to improve.

Depending on the jurisdiction, the minimum training required to obtain a security guard license may not adequately prepare someone for the situations they encounter on the job.

Meeting the minimum licensing requirements is important, but it shouldn’t be the end of a guard’s professional development.

Security guards regularly deal with situations involving upset customers, trespassers, suspicious individuals, medical emergencies, and sometimes violent confrontations.

A guard who doesn’t understand how to communicate effectively can turn a relatively minor disagreement into a much bigger problem.

That’s why I place so much emphasis on de-escalation, situational awareness, defensive tactics, and understanding the legal limitations of private security personnel.

Guards also need to know how to write a proper incident report.

That may sound like a minor detail, but documentation matters. If a business experiences a serious incident, an incomplete or poorly written report can create problems for management, insurance carriers, investigators, and attorneys.

A professional guard should be able to explain what happened, what actions were taken, who was involved, and what information was provided to responding law enforcement.

These are basic responsibilities, but they require training and accountability.

Paying Security Guards Better Makes a Difference

Another issue that doesn’t receive enough attention is how much security guards are paid.

The private security industry has a reputation for relatively low wages, and in many cases, that reputation is deserved.

Companies want experienced, reliable, professional guards, but some aren’t willing to pay wages that attract those applicants.

You can’t expect to consistently recruit experienced security personnel while offering compensation that is barely competitive with entry-level jobs in other industries.

At Patrol Guard Security Services, our goal is to offer armed guard wages in the $28 to $30 per hour range, depending on the assignment and qualifications.

That approach is intentional.

I’d rather invest more in qualified personnel than constantly deal with turnover, unreliable staffing, and guards who aren’t prepared for their assignments.

Higher wages alone don’t guarantee a better guard. A company still needs to screen applicants, provide training, establish expectations, and supervise its employees.

However, competitive compensation gives a security company a better opportunity to attract people who take the profession seriously.

Property owners should ask security companies about their hiring standards, training, and employee retention rather than focusing exclusively on the hourly contract rate.

A cheaper security contract isn’t necessarily a better deal if the quality of service suffers.

Security Cameras Are Useful, but They Have Limitations

Surveillance technology has improved considerably over the years.

Commercial properties can now use high-resolution cameras, remote monitoring systems, motion detection, automated alerts, and sophisticated access control systems.

These are valuable tools, and I believe they should be part of a well-designed security program.

However, a camera cannot replace everything a trained security guard does.

A surveillance system may record someone breaking into a vehicle, but it cannot approach a suspicious person, provide immediate assistance to an employee, conduct a physical patrol, or help direct emergency responders.

A guard can observe conditions that a camera may miss, recognize unusual behavior, and communicate with people on the property.

Of course, guards have limitations too. One person cannot monitor every part of a large commercial property at the same time.

That’s why security personnel and technology should work together.

Cameras help with monitoring and documentation. Guards provide a physical presence and the ability to assess and respond to situations within their authority.

Property Managers Need to Hold Their Security Companies Accountable

Hiring a security company shouldn’t mean that the property manager never has to think about security again.

Clients should expect regular communication, accurate reports, reliable staffing, and guards who follow the established post orders.

If the contract requires hourly patrols, those patrols should actually be completed.

If guards are supposed to monitor access points, they should be doing that instead of sitting in their vehicles or using personal phones.

When an incident occurs, the client should receive a report explaining what happened and how the guard responded.

Supervisors should also be checking on their personnel, reviewing reports, and addressing performance problems.

These expectations aren’t unreasonable. They’re part of what a commercial property owner is paying for.

A security company should be able to explain how it supervises its guards, verifies patrol activity, handles call-offs, and responds to complaints.

If a company can’t provide clear answers to those questions, that’s something the property owner should consider before signing a contract.

Why I Started Patrol Guard Security Services

After working in security operations, training, and compliance, I decided to build a security company around the standards I believe the industry should be following.

That’s why I established Patrol Guard Security Services, a Colorado-based private security company focused on armed security, commercial property protection, mobile patrols, and other security services.

My approach is fairly straightforward.

I want guards who are properly trained, understand their assignments, communicate professionally, and take their responsibilities seriously.

I also believe security companies should be realistic about what they can provide. Taking on a contract means accepting responsibility for delivering the service the client was promised.

That includes staffing the assignment, maintaining supervision, and making sure guards have the necessary training and equipment.

I’m not interested in building a company that competes solely by being the cheapest option.

There will always be someone willing to offer a lower hourly rate. The question is whether they can consistently provide the level of service the property actually needs.