Emergency.Blog

Private Security: Homeland Security's Weakest Link?

Tue, May. 29, 2007

AP IMPACT: Private security guards: homeland security weak link

By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON --Richard Bergendahl fights the war on terrorism in Los Angeles for $19,000 a year, one of the legions of ill-trained, low-paid private security guards protecting tempting terrorist targets. One of them is the skyscraper down the block, identified by President Bush as a building chosen for a Sept. 11-style airplane attack.

Bergendahl, 55, says he often thinks: "Well, what am I doing here? These people are paying me minimum wage."

The security guard industry found itself involuntarily transformed after September 2001 from an army of "rent-a-cops" to protectors of the homeland. Yet many security officers are paid little more than restaurant cooks or janitors.

And the industry is governed by a maze of conflicting state rules, according to a nationwide survey by The Associated Press. Wide chasms exist among states in requirements for training and background checks. Tens of thousands of guard applicants were found to have criminal backgrounds.

"A security officer is ... not trained to be a G.I. Joe," said Paul Maniscalco, a senior research scientist at George Washington University.

More than five years after the 9/11 terror attacks, Maniscalco is helping to change the security guard culture. He recently developed an anti-terrorism computer course for shopping mall guards, who are being taught that they now have more concerns than rowdy teenagers and shoplifters.

The middle ground pay for security officers in 2006 was $23,620, according to a Labor Department survey. The low pay reflects cutthroat competition among security firms, who submit the lowest possible bids to win contracts. Lowball contracts also mean lower profit margins and less money for training and background checks for guards...

Article continues at: http://www.sunherald.com/306/story/64642.html

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ERRI/EmergencyNet News References:

1. ERRI counter-terrorism analysts previously addressed this issue on several occasions, most recently in: February 13, 2007, 21:07 PM EST -- "Shopping Malls Another Vulnerable Target of Terrorism? Malls Emerge as Another Front in Terror War," which can be found on this blog at: http://www.emergency.com/archive/2007/02/entry_112.htm

2. Additionally, private security guard issues were covered in: 24 Apr 2002 - 11:00CDT - 24 Apr 2002, "Another Unconfirmed Zubaydah Statement Provokes Concerns At Shopping Malls," which is on the net at: http://www.emergency.com/2001/ter-advsry-sum.htm

3. ERRI's Clark Staten first (and most specifically) addressed this issue in regard to private security guards/screeners at aviation facilities at 23:30CDT on 07/23/96, in an article entitled: "Airport Safety and Security; "Minimal Acceptable Standards." That file is also available for review at: http://www.emergency.com/airprtsc.htm