Hired any good security guards lately? Unless you’re a really big business, the answer to that question is probably, “No.”
Most small companies don’t hire security guards. Instead they contract with a security company to provide guard services. And that can be dangerous.
According to Bill Whitmore, President and CEO, AlliedBarton Security Services, quoted in Chief Engineer: “Our country has no national background check system to ensure all private security officer personnel can be quickly vetted and screened.”
Did that surprise you? The very people you’re counting on to protect your property might be people you have to worry about.
Whitmore didn’t mean that his company didn’t have access to any background check services. He does, just like you do. He was pointing out that federal records are closed to him.
There’s legislation on the way to fix the problem, supported by key security industry groups. In the meantime, though, you should think about checking any contract you have with a firm that provides you with guard services.
Ask your guard company how they screen the people they’re sending to your premises. Get your answer in writing.
Review your contract. Better yet, have your attorney review it. Find out what recourse you have if one of the contract security people is involved in criminal activities that cause you to suffer a loss.