Security pros hail new Private Security Officer Training & Selection Guideline

In this era of global terrorism and crime, the need for trained security professionals has never been greater. While government agencies and local police departments find they must reduce staffs and budgets, corporations, institutions and health care facilities are finding a greater need for trained and experienced security personnel.

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Unfortunately, contract security agencies -- forced to compete in bidding wars over contracts -- must keep costs down while bringing effectiveness up. The National Association of Security Companies yesterday announced its support for the 2010 Private Security Officer Training and Selection Guideline created by the American Society for Industrial Security International. The Guideline provides minimum recommendations that can be used to assist in the selection and training of private security officers as well as elements that should be considered by any governmental entity proposing to exercise controls over the providers of private security. ASIS International is the largest organization worldwide promoting the interests of security professionals and the Guideline, now in its second edition, was developed through the work of a Guideline Committee made up of representatives from the private security industry including NASCO members. One of ASIS International's programs is its certification program for security professionals. Those police commanders and security managers who complete the program for the Certified Protection Professional designation including its six-hour written examination -- including this writer -- are certified as CPPs. NASCO has long worked to increase standards and professionalism in the private security industry. At all levels of government, NASCO has advocated for legislation and government action to provide for better licensing, regulation, screening and training for officers, and for effective regulatory oversight of the industry. "Private security officers play a critical and ever-increasing role in protecting public safety, critical infrastructure, and property in the United States," said NASCO Executive Director Jeff Flint. "NASCO and its members are the nation's leading advocates for increased standards, professionalism and sufficient regulation of private security and the ASIS Private Security Officer Guideline represents a clear and comprehensive step in this direction," said Flint. While, as the Guideline states, it is "not intended to cover all aspects of selection and training for private security officers," NASCO supports the Guideline's purpose to "provide minimum qualifications in order to improve performance of private security officers and the quality of security services." "NASCO members do more than just talk about private security professionalism," Flint continued. "Our member companies exceed the minimum recommendations in the Guideline for security officer selection and training and we've been the leading voice nationwide in advocating for states to adopt higher standards. More so, in those states with little or no private security regulation, we've worked to get regulations enacted." "At the federal level we have fought for greater access to FBI records to screen officers and for higher standards in federal security contracts. NASCO will continue to be at the forefront of a variety of efforts to ensure that when the public sees private security officers on duty, they can be confident those officers have undergone thorough background checks and received the best possible training. The ASIS PSO Guideline is one such important effort," said Flint.