Technology Sectors
OPINION // When municipalities outsource contract security
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| Charles Bohenberger |
There was a time when municipalities routinely dismissed the idea of hiring contract security services. Administrators feared that contract security teams would lack training and discipline, they worried that the perception of outsourcing would cause problems among employees and elected-officials, and some rank-and-file police officers viewed contract security as infringing on their turf. Municipalities often rely on local law enforcement to keep their employees and government facilities safe and secure.
One result of the national economic meltdown has been dramatically reduced real estate taxes, a primary source of local government revenue. Additionally, commercial and residential owners rush to get their residences and buildings reassessed, resulting in lower property tax bills and less money rolling into the city coffers. As revenues decline, municipalities are forced to stretch every dollar to the max. Outsourcing contract security can be an effective way to address dwindling budgets, without sacrificing quality service.
Budgets are not the only reason contract security has become a real solution for government agencies and municipalities. The contract security industry has invested in training, management, recruiting and screening best practices that have led to high quality security programs. Additionally, relationships between security officers and law enforcement agencies have developed into mutually respectful partnerships.
Municipalities that hire a contract security company are able to use security officers for routine duties, such as access control and screening, which allows police officers to focus on law enforcement matters. Contract security should be viewed as a partnership with the municipality, where the police have the time and resources to concentrate on the police work while the contract security team can focus on activities that do not warrant the use of sworn police officers. Trained security officers stationed at a courthouse or city hall, for example, can be an effective deterrent, allowing only unarmed people who should be in the courthouse, to enter. Today's municipalities are beginning to realize that they don't need sworn police offers handing out name tags, 'wanding' visitors or manning X-ray machines, when security officers can be trained to do the job effectively and reliably with oversight by the police.
Municipalities are constantly under the scrutiny of the media and the general public. The day-to-day concerns of protecting government facilities demand highly trained, experienced and reliable officers who are accountable and dedicated to their duties. While cost is an issue when hiring contract security, cutting too close to the bone with your budget can limit the caliber of the officers hired.
Quality training, designed specifically for the site, also plays a critical role in an effective security program. I believe it is vital that the contract security company place a premium on the continual training of their officers. The total training program must have the depth to transcend multiple markets and also accommodate site-specific requirements. Top security officer training should include emergency preparedness topics from Day One. These training courses, such as First Aid/CPR/AED, evacuation procedures, terrorism awareness and fire safety are important for all officers regardless of the type of site they protect or where it is located. Basic training lays the groundwork for operational success and helps ensure that officers will act quickly, competently and safely when faced with an emergency.
Every government site is unique. While the training must match the needs of the site, the entire program and the personnel selected must as well. That customization begins in the provider selection phase. Government procurement officials can have wildly different approaches on how to go about selecting a security partner. I have seen a broad disparity of Requests for Proposals from those that are well thought out and ask the right questions to identify a quality provider, to those that fail to disclose necessary information to enable candidates to submit a comprehensive bid.
For example, government agencies should be clear as to how many armed and unarmed security officers will be needed, and for which shifts. Special training requirements, the need for clearances and other recruiting specifications should also be addressed. If the organization preparing the RFP is unsure of what to include, the contending vendors, as well as security industry associations, can provide guidance as to what information should be covered.
If the government agency is unsure of the best solution, they should include site visits in the RFP process, an opportunity for vendors to ask questions, and welcome solutions in the bid process, rather than just ask for bill rates. This opens the door for more strategy and more options that should help uncover the provider that is the best match. If it is important to work with a vendor that is focused on delivering sustainable security solutions, that needs to be identified in the RFP.
We employ skilled people who build relationships with the client to form mutually respectful partnerships. Government security directors want their contract security team to be accountable. An effective collaboration between private security and government demands that everyone involved from management to site officers understand their role in keeping the municipality and its people safe and secure.
Charlie Bohnenberger is Vice President of Government Services at AlliedBarton Security Services, a physical security services firm. He can be reached at:
