Security Guards Need Training

A Michigan State University study finds security guards aren’t adequately prepared to handle their jobs. The study, conducted by MSU criminologists and published in Security Journal, found security guards were ill prepared to handle troublesome customers, deal with fights and even protect themselves. Private security guards interviewed say they need more training and for that training to be standardized. The number of unarmed security guards has nearly doubled since 1980 — outnumbering police officers. The study found that, despite the dramatic increase in the hiring of security guards, industry regulations haven’t been updated since 1982. Some states don’t even have any training standards forcing companies to provide it. And if they don’t, then employees learn on the job.