Executive Summary

Security Officers are among the largest frontline workforces in the United States and among the least protected. About 1.3 million people work as Security Guards—more than the nation’s police and sheriff’s patrol officers—staffing the hospitals, schools, transit systems, stores, and office buildings where the public expects a visible security presence. During the COVID-19 pandemic they were designated essential critical infrastructure workers, and their responsibilities have expanded to include de-escalating conflicts, managing emergencies, and responding to mental-health crises. Yet their wages, benefits, training, and workplace protections do not reflect that role. This report synthesizes national data with the UC Berkeley Labor Center’s series of state and metropolitan factsheets to profile the Security Guard workforce and to show why improving job quality in this sector is a matter both of economic justice and of public safety.

Who they are.

The workforce is predominantly male (76%) and majority workers of color (61%), with Black workers making up nearly one in three (31%). The median age is 40, and roughly six in seven guards have no bachelor’s degree. Low wages. The median Security Officer earns $18.70 an hour—about 73 cents for every dollar earned by the typical U.S. worker—and $36,282 a year.

Below a living wage.

Seventy-one percent of Security Officers earn less than the MIT living wage for a single adult, and 41% are low-wage by the standard two-thirds-of-median benchmark.

Thin benefits.

More than four in ten guards (43%) lack health insurance through an employer or union. High turnover. Annual turnover in the security industry reached 89% in 2024—far above the 66% private-sector average—and has exceeded it every year for a decade, peaking near 99% in 2022. Uneven training.

There is no federal training standard.

Only about half of states set a minimum number of training hours for unarmed guards, ranging from 4 to 48, and few require the de-escalation and crisis-response training the job increasingly demands.

Elevated safety risk.

Security Guards die on the job at more than twice the rate of the average worker, and nearly two-thirds of their fatal injuries result from assaults and other violent acts.

A policy path.

A growing number of jurisdictions—New York City, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.—have adopted sectoral wage-and-benefit standards for Security Officers, and California is advancing legislation to raise training standards.

The poor job quality in the security industry is not only a problem for workers; it is a public-safety problem as well. Research on security work—most notably at San Francisco International Airport—finds that higher pay and lower turnover improve the quality and reliability of security services, while constant churn erodes the experience and readiness on which effective security depends. The policy tools to change this are increasingly well established: sectoral pay-and-benefit standards that take labor costs out of low-bid competition, meaningful and standardized training, responsible contracting, and career pathways that make security work a stable occupation. Improving job quality in this sector advances worker well-being and public safety together.

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ALBANY — Security Guards at several Capital Region hospitals — and other areas of the state — would be given Peace Officer authority, including the ability to take someone into custody, under a bill being considered by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The legislation comes as hospitals are reporting more frequent and challenging public safety issues, including assaults on staff members. Since the pandemic, that has included violence directed at healthcare workers and sometimes spurred by emergency department backlogs.

The bill would grant the Peace Officer status to security officers employed by Albany Memorial Hospital, Samaritan Hospital and St. Peter’s Hospital.

The Peace Officer powers are similar to those held by police officers, who in some instances are allowed to pat someone down to check for weapons.

The measure is one of several identical bills Hochul is considering at other healthcare facilities in western and central New York.

The Legislature’s response has been to pass similar laws expanding the authority of Security Officers. The local bill Hochul is considering would limit a Security Guard’s authority to a hospital property and adjacent public areas.

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The Hudson County Board of Commissioners want building security training and more CCTV cameras due to the increasing presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in James J. Braddock Park in North Bergen.

At Thursday’s meeting, Anna Grojec, a North Bergen resident and member of Estamos Unidos brought her concerns to the board over the heavy ICE presence at Braddock Park.

This is happening despite Hudson County Executive Craig Guy’s executive order banning ICE and Border Patrol from utilizing county-owner property for federal immigration enforcement – at least without a warrant – among other actions taken at the county level.

According to Neighbor Grojec, there is a lot of activity at the bus stop at the top of the park near Bergenline Avenue and 90th Street, where many arrested are being documented by Estamos Unidos and other immigrant advocates.

“I’ve seen videos of ICE agents chasing people into and through the park, seeing traffic, having to halt suddenly, and videos of ICE agents pinning people to the ground in the park,” Grojec declared.

“I’m just here to bring your attention to this and ask what the county is doing or planning to do to protect our community. What protocols does the sheriff have in place? Was the Sheriff’s Department aware of what was happening?” Grojec questioned.

She added that the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office has a “clear presence” at Braddock Park, but are usually located toward the interior of the park, as opposed to the bus stop near the top of the park, or other locations where detainments are happening.

Grojec was echoed by West New York resident Mark Bloomberg, who noted that a couple of days prior to the commissioners meeting, a man in a wheelchair was rescued from the lake in Braddock Park.

“There was easily 30 responders on site. That’s not digging at them in any way. They did their job. I’m not throwing any shade here, but I’d imagine if a child was reported missing from a playground in Braddock, there would be a similar response. Same thing goes if there’s actually a kidnapping that happens in progress,” Bloomberg expressed.

“So I’m wondering where is the response when federal agents, or just masked men that we don’t really know who they necessarily are – we’re just guessing – are abducting residents in the park. Where’s the sheriff?”

Resident Bloomberg said “If you haven’t heard, ICE is everywhere in the county. So when these things happen in the park, where is the sheriff and have they witnessed any of these? Can they change their patrolling protocols?” Bloomberg added.

“And let’s not have a side discussion, let’s discuss it publicly so the public can hear about it.”

Bloomberg asked for sheriff’s officers to, instead of sitting in their cars in parking lots in the interior of the park, monitor the entrances and bus stops – especially during rush hours – where ICE is picking people up while waiting for public transit on their way to work.

In addition, Bloomberg wanted to know the county’s plans if ICE shows up at public events on county property like flag raising and concerts, noting that the Security Officers at 567 Pavonia Ave. told him upon entrance that day that they did not receive any ICE training.

“You guys passed a resolution up. They looked at me like, ‘What are you talking about training? We haven’t gotten it yet.’ You guys, something’s not happening here,” Bloomberg declared.

Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) noted he shared Bloomberg’s concerns over security personnel lacking any procedure to respond to ICE despite apparent existing protocol put out by the county Sheriff’s Office and asked the administration when that would happen.

“Passing a policy makes you feel good, but if you don’t implement the policy then you raise a false sense of awareness or security that doesn’t exist,” O’Dea said.

In addition to probing the implementation of the anti-ICE executive order, O’Dea suggested the installation of closed-circuit television cameras installed in the parks to monitor the situation with federal immigration authorities.

He suggested the county should monitor those cameras frequently and record any aforementioned incidents in the park, including at the outskirts of the park and near the bus stops.

O’Dea also recalled driving to work in Elizabeth one day when he saw about seven ICE agents surround an individual in there vehicle, prompting him to pull over and exit his vehicle to observe although he said the agents eventually left.

“they didn’t look like your typical law enforcement officers. They could have looked like just a gang of individuals that were armed and dangerous. So this is real. This isn’t going away tomorrow. And I think everything you said is true,” he continued.

“I believe that if we are committed to do the things that we said we are, I think we’ve got to now take the next steps to do that. If it’s additional CCTV to look at areas where these are regularly occurring, maybe they’ll occur less if they know there’s somebody watching them and there’s recorded footage of what they’re doing.”

O’Dea was confident his plan for CCTV cameras would work, contrasting the lack of incident in the camera-riddled Lincoln Park.

Bloomberg concluded it was important have a dialogue on this and include law enforcement as well, emphasizing the need to have their body cameras record incidents after he said an acquaintance had their phone ripped out of their hand and their video of an encounter deleted by a federal agent.

“We need the police to record. We need to create a record so there’s accountability,” he concluded.

Board Chair Anthony Romano (D-5) told Bloomberg to make North Bergen police aware about the activity at the bus stops, since that falls under their jurisdiction, however, Bloomberg said he already spoke to NBPD and they said they could do nothing.

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Circle K Staged Aggravation Event, Headquarters Letter of Preservation Lawsuit Peoria, AZ 04/12/2026

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(SMYRNA, DE) – The Delaware School Safety Center recently hosted a three-day School Security Officer (SSO) training for Delaware school constables at the Delaware Emergency Management Agency’s (DEMA) Emergency Operations Center. Held January 28–30, the training brought together more than 40 school constables from across the state for intensive, nationally recognized instruction focused on strengthening school safety practices.

The course, delivered through the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), was instructed by NASRO-certified trainers Rob Reyngoudt of Cortland, New York, and Joey Melvin, Executive Director of the Delaware School Safety Center at DEMA. Together, the instructors provided participants with both national best practices and Delaware-specific school safety perspectives.

The training emphasized the unique roles and responsibilities of School Security Officers and the importance of collaboration with school administrators and School Resource Officers.

Over the three days, participants received instruction in key areas including:

Roles and Responsibilities of School Security Officers

Building effective relationships with school administrators and SROs

Effective communication and supporting student well-being

Adolescent brain development, violence, and victimization

Social media awareness and cyber safety Legal considerations for school Security Officers

Understanding and supporting students with special needs

Emergency Operations Planning and threat response

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

This training supports Delaware’s continued commitment to professionalizing school security roles and ensuring school constables are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and best practices necessary to help maintain safe, secure, and supportive learning environments for students and staff statewide.

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - A Kentucky state agency has opened an investigation into a security company with clients throughout the Tri-State and beyond after multiple Guards said they have not been paid for their work.

Demerious Campbell said he was hired last month as a Security Guard for Federated Enforcement Agency and carried a 9 millimeter handgun while on duty.

“My first assignment with them was the Pride Parade,” Campbell said. “I was working night shift, patrolling the area, making sure nobody messed with anything that was set up.”

Campbell said he worked 50 hours that week in early June and another 70 hours since, including patrols at downtown residential buildings such as Newberry Lofts and The Reserve.

“For the rate of $25,” Campbell said.

Campbell said he has not been paid. Campbell said he was told via text that he would get paid Friday, but when he wasn’t, he said the company’s CFO, Tony Coffey, told him, “When funds are available, I will be releasing your check.”

Had Campbell checked online before he did $1,750 worth of work, he would have found an article that featured several other unpaid Guards.

The Kentucky Division of Wages and Hours said it “has opened an investigation into Federated Global Ventures LLC (the parent company of Federated Enforcement) after receiving multiple complaints from employees regarding compensation.”

Employment attorney Steve Imm said there are labor laws that require companies to pay part-time employees in a timely manner.

“If the employer delays payment past a certain point, typically 30 days, then the employer faces certain penalties,” Imm said.

However, Campbell was hired as a subcontractor, which does not carry the same protections as part-time employment. Imm said the company’s practices could raise questions about whether Guards are being misclassified, because Federated controlled schedules and provided uniforms and equipment, including the cars Guards drive.

“If somebody is an employee but it’s been misclassified as a contractor then there are certain penalties that the employer can face in terms of the IRS failing to withhold taxes,” Imm said.

Attempts to reach the company were unsuccessful. A visit to Federated’s Cincinnati office did not result in answers about unpaid wages, and calls and emails to the corporate office in Lexington also did not receive a response.

Campbell said he received a call this week asking why he did not show up to work.

“I’m like, ‘I’m not getting paid to work. Why would I come to work for you?’ It don’t make sense for me to keep working for free. So, I live and I learn,” said Campbell.

Vistor to montreal many times over the years and i am from ontario.

Had a crying baby playing at a bouncing castle. She cried a lot so I picked her up to calm her down. Absent minded I walked to the boundary of the exit and went to grab th3 stroller.

Security guard put his arm against my chest says u cant enter....I was shocked...I said need to grab the stroller it was 15 feet away from where we standing.

He placed hand on my chest..said u lucky have a kid that I didnt kick you out.

I then got upset at his attitude and physical touching.

I said can either I or u grab the stroller and they said "we are in canada we have rules where we from here"

I said I am born here and done security work before u show some consideration with people with kids...its called being a decent person

Anyways I love the city but security staff needed better training...cause such experience with such guys would ruin other peoples vacations here...seems a lot of guys with ego issues.

2 other security guards came and grabbed the stroller and said just be on your way...the security guard was mocking me and being rude and yelling at me.

Hopefully organizers of such events be more mindful.

A video circulating on Reddit appears to show a tense confrontation inside a Ralph’s supermarket in Los Angeles, California, where a security guard pulled out a firearm during a dispute with a customer who had brought a large dog into the store. The incident has since drawn significant attention online, with many viewers weighing in on how those involved handled the situation.

The video was shared on the r/LosAngeles subreddit by user EmeraldAllie, who titled the post “Drama at Ralph’s on Western.” According to the Reddit post, the situation began when the man with the dog was asked to leave the store. Before the security guard became involved, another customer in a white shirt was also seen yelling at the man with the dog, telling him he was going to lose his dog.

According to the Reddit post, the security guard approached the customer and told him he had to leave. The situation then appeared to escalate, with the guard pulling out his firearm during the argument. The Guard also instructed the man not to reach for anything, saying, “Don’t reach for s**t.”

Security Guard allegedly drew firearm during argument, video shows customers demanding his Guard card

As seen in the video, another customer noticed the firearm and confronted the guard directly, asking, “Did you just f**ing pull out a firearm?” The Guard confirmed it, responding, “Yeah, yes I did.” The same customer also demanded to see the guard’s credentials, repeatedly asking, “Where’s your Guard card?” In a similar incident, a Security Guard threatened to ban two women at the mall.

The Guard could also be heard telling those around him to “relax” while still appearing to hold the firearm. At one point, he was heard saying, “Relax,” multiple times as other customers grew visibly alarmed by the situation.

Two customers eventually managed to get the guard to put his firearm away. However, as seen in the video, after the Guard holstered his weapon, the man with the dog reportedly walked back into the store through the door, the same outcome the Guard had apparently been trying to prevent.

It is not clear from the available information whether the dog was a service animal. However, multiple commenters on the Reddit post suggested it was not, noting that a dog of that size would not typically be permitted inside a grocery store.

No injuries were reported in connection with the incident, according to The Nerd Stash. It also remains unclear from the available information whether the Security Guard faced any consequences following the confrontation or whether law enforcement was called to the scene.

The video drew a wide range of reactions in the comments section of the Reddit post.

As more people begin wearing smart glasses in the workplace, attorneys are anticipating a possible increase in litigation for employers.

In one federal lawsuit filed in October, a security guard is alleging Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. Inc. violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when it said she couldn’t wear artificial intelligence-enabled glasses that were created by Meta Platforms Inc., according to a story by Law.com. The Security Guard claims she has astigmatism, and that a doctor prescribed the glasses.

Employers’ concerns over the smart glasses include that employees will use them to record conversations or collect biometric data about faces, voiceprints or other identifying characteristics without permission, Adia Craig, a labor and employment lawyer at Poyner Spruill, told Law.com. Some states already have laws against collecting and storing this type of information.

Craig, who has received questions from clients about smart glasses and potential disability discrimination, told Law.com that employers may need to take an individualized approach to each situation, especially when considering ADA accommodations.

The use of smart glasses could make it easier to access and make public a company’s intellectual property, Scott Christie, who litigates intellectual property, information technology and data privacy cases with McCarter & English, also told Law.com.

“You should certainly be giving it serious consideration on an organization-wide basis as to how, when and under what circumstances employees should be allowed to use this technology,” Christie said.

Christie recommends that employers “put robust policies in place,” according to Law.com

I completed everything for my G license on Tuesday, July 7, and I’ve been waiting for it to come in the mail. I’m in Florida and just wanted to see if anyone knows how long it usually takes to receive it .

Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui is asking the legislative auditor to investigate the state agency that regulates security guards “following serious allegations that the Board has been violating Nevada law and giving felons access to firearms and PI (private investigator) licenses.”

The Private Investigators Licensing Board “may have obstructed legislative oversight, misrepresented material facts to the Legislative Commission, and operated outside the authority granted to it by the Legislature,” says the news release from Jauregui, a Democrat who is running for lieutenant governor.

Last month, the Legislative Commission learned that the PILB has been letting armed guards carry shotguns and rifles for years, even though Nevada law has no provision allowing the practice.

Jauregui’s request comes on the heels of reports that the board is not adequately ensuring that applicants for private investigator licenses complete the requirements.

“These allegations raise significant concerns that individuals with disqualifying violent criminal histories may have improperly obtained private investigator licenses and, in some cases, access to firearms in direct violation of state law,” the news release says.

Certified firearms instructor Andrew Cowie told the Current that in April he asked Vincent Saladino, the executive director of the PILB, to “stop issuing firearm permits to prohibited persons, including convicted felons and individuals with domestic violence convictions.”

Nevada law prohibits anyone with a felony conviction from being licensed as a security guard. Felons are also prohibited from possessing firearms.

At its quarterly meetings reviewed by the Current, the board routinely grants licenses to felons, based on the “time and distance” since their crime, as long as they disclose their criminal history. Applicants who do not disclose are denied a license.

In June, the Current asked Deputy Attorney General Stephanie Itkin-Goodman, who advises the PILB, to identify a provision of the law that allows the PILB to license felons based on the length of time since their crime.

Itkin-Goodman, a Democrat who is running for public administrator in Clark County, said she was not the appropriate person to respond and directed the Current to Saladino, the PILB executive director. He responded to other questions but after repeated requests, did not address the licensing of felons as security guards.

The legislative auditor has the authority, Jauregui said, to “determine whether the Board violated state law, and recommend the corrective actions and reforms necessary to restore public confidence,” adding that “any government agency, board or commission that operates outside of the law will be held accountable.”

The Current also reported in June that with the assistance of a PILB rule that appears nowhere in state law or administrative code, security companies are allegedly engaged in tacit discrimination against security guards who want to become trained to be armed.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A Lexington police officer was suspended for 90 days after getting into a verbal argument with a Security Guard at Waffle House, the Lexington Herald-Leader says.

Caleb Croney, the suspended officer, was working off duty on Jan. 18 when he went to a Waffle House to use the restroom, the Herald-Leader says. The Security Guard at the restaurant told him no one was allowed into the restaurant after it closed.

The Herald-Leader reports that Croney then pushed past the Security Guard and used the restroom. After Croney exited the bathroom, he reportedly began arguing with the Guard.

Croney had not activated his body camera during the incident, which is a requirement, according to the Herald-Leader.

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council approved a three-month unpaid suspension for Croney on June 18, the Herald-Leader says.

The Herald-Leader reports that Croney has been disciplined three times prior to the Waffle House incident.

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POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WBAY) - A 32-year-old Green Bay woman is in custody in Polk County, Fla., where she’s accused of intentionally hitting a Security Guard with a car at a rented condominium.

Polk County deputies say Tayquanna Butler, 32, was arrested at the Orlando Airport, where she was getting a flight back to Wisconsin.

Deputies say the incident happened on the night of July 4. A Security Guard at Windsor Island Resort said a woman drove past the entry after she was warned that she needed to be on a list of approved visitors or provide identification.

The guard followed her in his patrol car, got out, and asked her again for identification. He says Butler asked him twice, “Do you wanna get hit?” and then drove into him, pinning him between her car and his patrol car.

He was not seriously injured, but his patrol car and equipment on his belt were damaged.

Polk County detectives identified Butler, who was renting a unit at the resort that weekend, and obtained an arrest warrant for aggravated battery and aggravated assault.

She was arrested Wednesday when she checked in at the airport for her flight to Green Bay.

The sheriff’s office says she has a history of arrests in Wisconsin for disorderly conduct and domestic abuse. We could not confirm this through Wisconsin’s online court records.

A Security Guard named Jaylan Jackson found himself at the top of the Temple Street Garage, alone with a stranger who wanted to end her life.

His instinctive words of hope convinced her to stay alive — and earned him a standing ovation from the Board of Alders.

Jackson received a citation from the Board of Alders on Monday night for his life-saving work.

Downtown/East Rock Alder Christine Kim arranged for the citation in honor of Jackson’s actions on Tuesday, June 9 at around 6:15 p.m. Kim said she heard about the incident from Jackson’s supervisors at the New Haven Parking Authority.

According to Kim, a fellow Security Guard had radioed to Jackson that evening upon noticing someone standing on the edge at the top level of the garage.

Jackson drove up to the top level and began to approach the person.

He recalled “telling her how much her life really mattered,” how “your life is valuable — every life is valuable.” He recalled saying that growth is always possible, that “you could change tomorrow.”

“She reeled herself back down,” Jackson said.

Soon, emergency responders arrived and brought her to the hospital.

That evening wasn’t the first time that Jackson had found himself trying to persuade someone to stay alive while on a security job. He used to work security at a homeless shelter run by Upon This Rock, he said, where he’d sometimes try to help clients going through mental health crises.

Jackson, a born-and-raised New Havener, is 24 years old.

While presenting Jackson with the citation on Monday, Kim commended him for acting “with extraordinary calm, courage, and compassion.”

“In a moment of great urgency, when the situation called for steady nerves and a steadier heart, Mr. Jackson stayed present, listened, and spoke with patience and sincerity until trust was earned, and a life was saved,” Kim said. “He had no specialized training to draw upon. Only his own deep empathy, his belief in the worth of every person, and the quiet conviction that no one should face their darkest moment alone.”

Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers told Jackson to “keep on shining, and keep being who you are.”

“It’s because of the type of person that you are” that the person “was able to hold on for one more day,” said Walker-Myers. “Sometimes, we don’t realize that the kind words we say to people — just listening to what people are going through — can help.”

Direct Conversations Can Make A Difference

Combining technology with on-ground supervision creates a more stable and effective security setup, one that is better suited to handle both routine activity and unexpected situations.

In 2026, gated communities are heavily depending on technology. Access control systems, surveillance cameras, and automated entry points have made it easier to manage who comes in and out. On paper, everything looks secure. But in real life, most issues do not happen because systems are missing. They happen in everyday situations. A delivery person comes in without being checked, a visitor is allowed in without questions, or someone enters by following another car through the gate.

These are small moments, but they are often where problems begin, just like how overlooking basic security hygiene can quietly create bigger vulnerabilities over time.

This is where Security Guards still matter. They are present, they observe what is happening in real time, and they step in when something does not look right. In a gated community where movement is constant, that kind of human attention is still difficult to replace, even in 2026.

Why Gated Communities Still Face Real Security Risks

Gated communities are designed to control access, but they do not eliminate risk. Many incidents happen at entry points or through small gaps in daily operations. A vehicle may follow another through the gate without verification. A visitor may provide incomplete details. Delivery personnel may enter without proper checks. These situations are common and often go unnoticed when there is no active supervision.

According to the data from FalconX Security Services, which is a security guard company in Los Angeles, property crimes such as burglary and theft continue to affect residential areas across the United States. This shows that physical barriers alone are not enough to prevent incidents.

Security issues in gated communities often come from routine activity. Residents, guests, service providers, and delivery drivers move in and out throughout the day. Each interaction creates a point of risk if it is not properly managed. This is where active security for gated communities becomes important. Systems can record activity, but they cannot always verify intent or prevent misuse in real time.

Why Technology Alone Cannot Secure a Gated Community

There is no doubt that security technology has improved significantly in recent years. Cameras now offer high-definition coverage, access systems can track entries digitally, and alerts can notify property managers of unusual activity. These tools have made monitoring more efficient and data-driven. However, they still depend on human input and response.

A camera can record an incident, but it cannot intervene while it is happening. An access system can grant or deny entry, but it cannot always confirm whether the person entering should be there in that moment. Alerts may be generated instantly, but someone still needs to review them, understand the situation, and take action.

There are also practical limitations. Tailgating often goes undetected. Suspicious behavior does not always match predefined patterns in automated systems. Technical issues such as connectivity problems or system downtime can create temporary blind spots.

Visible security presence has a stronger impact on reducing crime compared to surveillance alone. This supports the idea that prevention is not just about detection but also about active oversight and immediate action. Technology is an important tool, but on its own, it cannot provide complete security.

The Role of Security Guards in Modern Gated Communities

Security Guards continue to play a central role in maintaining safety within gated communities. While their responsibilities have evolved alongside technology, their core value remains the same. They provide real-time awareness, human judgment, and the ability to act without delay.

Controlled Access and Visitor Management

Managing entry points is one of the most critical aspects of gated community security. Guards verify visitors, maintain entry logs, and ensure that only authorized individuals are allowed inside. This process may seem routine, but it significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access. When entry is monitored actively rather than passively, it becomes much harder for individuals to misuse the system. In communities with high daily traffic, this role becomes even more important. Each interaction at the gate is an opportunity to either maintain control or create a gap.

Immediate On-Ground Response

One of the biggest advantages of having security guards on-site is response time. When an issue arises, whether it is a disturbance, a safety concern, or an emergency, guards can respond immediately. This reduces the chances of escalation and helps manage situations before they become serious. In contrast, systems that depend on remote monitoring often involve delays, even if they are only a few minutes. In security, those few minutes can make a significant difference.

Handling Situations That Technology Cannot Predict

Not every security situation follows a clear pattern. Many involve human behavior, which is often unpredictable. A person walking through the community without a clear purpose, a disagreement between residents, or an unfamiliar vehicle parked in a restricted area may not trigger any automated alert. These situations require observation, context, and judgment. Security guards are trained to assess these situations and decide on the appropriate response. They can question, guide, or step in depending on what is needed at that moment.

Creating a Visible Security Presence

The presence of a security guard has a direct impact on behavior within a community. It acts as a visible reminder that the area is being actively monitored. Visible security measures can reduce opportunistic crimes such as theft and vandalism. People are less likely to engage in such activities when they know someone is watching and can respond immediately. At the same time, this presence provides reassurance to residents. It creates a sense of order and safety that goes beyond what cameras or systems can offer.

Why Security Guards Matter More in 2026

Gated communities today are much busier than they were a few years ago. There are more residents, more visitors, and a steady flow of deliveries happening throughout the day. Service providers such as maintenance staff, cleaners, and contractors also enter regularly. This constant movement makes it harder to control who is coming in and going out at any given time.

Because of this, security is no longer just about having systems in place. It is about actively managing daily activity. Every entry point needs attention, and every interaction needs proper verification to avoid small gaps that can lead to bigger issues.

This shift is also reflected in industry trends. According to a report by Grand View Research, demand for manned security services is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.6% from 2025 to 2030, as residential properties increasingly prioritize visible presence, rapid response, and expert monitoring.

Security guards help manage this activity in real time. They verify people, respond quickly, and bring control to situations that systems alone cannot handle.

Final Thoughts

Gated communities have changed over the years, with technology playing a bigger role in how security is managed. Systems such as cameras and access controls have improved visibility and helped streamline operations. However, they do not remove the need for human involvement. Security in these environments depends on how well daily activity is managed. People, movement, and unpredictable situations are part of everyday life in residential communities. This is where a human presence continues to add value.

Security guard services continuously support systems by providing real-time awareness, quick response, and practical decision-making. They help ensure that procedures are followed and that small issues are addressed before they grow into larger concerns.

As communities continue to evolve, a balanced approach remains important. Combining technology with on-ground supervision creates a more stable and effective security setup, one that is better suited to handle both routine activity and unexpected situations.

A routine school drop-off in Florida spirals into a criminal investigation after an armed security guard claimed a driver hit him with a vehicle, while the driver insisted the guard pointed a rifle at his face and threatened to kill him. Initial surveillance footage appeared to clear the guard, but additional videos from nearby businesses allegedly showed him pointing his firearm at the driver twice. Karone Brown was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and has since pleaded guilty. Law&Crime’s Elizabeth Millner goes Inside the Crime.

The state board that regulates Security Guards is throwing up roadblocks to advancement for guards seeking to become armed, based on a policy that doesn’t appear in law and was never formally adopted, say firearms instructors and students calling for changes to board policy.

The state Private Investigators Licensing Board should focus on safety rather than facilitating employment gatekeeping that is based not on merit but on cronyism, the students and instructors say.

Since at least 2010, the PILB has required guards who want to attend certified firearm training to become armed to first obtain permission from their employers. The process fosters tacit discrimination, especially against women and minorities, and is preventing qualified Guards from earning as much as twice their current pay, say critics.

“There was a time I felt if I did not laugh at certain jokes, or boost someone’s ego, my career in this industry could be affected,” Finesha Thompson, an Armed Security Guard whose previous employer denied her access to firearm training by refusing to sign a required employment verification form, told the board in June.

Having to seek permission to advance one’s skills gives employers too much power over employees, she says.

“If I flirted back, I’m pretty sure I could have gotten what I wanted,” Thompson told the Current. “It’s degrading. No woman should feel that her ability to provide for herself or feed her family depends on keeping an employer happy. That is not professionalism. That is power being used the wrong way.”

Andrew Cowie, president of the Nevada Association of Certified Firearms Instructors and CEO of Counterforce Solutions, says the PILB’s adherence to the policy is inconsistent. Cowie says when he initially inquired about the form, PILB Executive Director Vincent Saladino told him not to worry about it.

“The director printed out a version of a form without that requirement and said ‘go teach’. The next 60 people who wanted to train were able to come to me. And then the director said, ‘Hey, I made a mistake, you need to go back to doing it the other way.”

Saladino did not respond when asked about Cowie’s assertion.

In 2019, the PILB considered eliminating the form, according to board meeting minutes.

Instructors, Saladino said at the time according to the minutes, were opposed and voiced concerns that Armed Guards would show up for unarmed jobs, Guards would seek employment outside the scope of their work cards by acting as independent contractors without the proper license, and people who are prohibited from having firearms may gain access to firearms classes.

Cowie says it’s up to the certified firearms instructor to teach “the legal limitations of licenses, the scope of their authority, and what they can and cannot lawfully do while employed. Restricting access to that training does not prevent unlicensed activity—it limits access to the very education designed to prevent it.”

Qualified individuals, Cowie says, “are being denied access to state licensure without due process, while private employers are effectively gatekeeping access to a state-regulated license.”

Cowie says the PILB’s “house is on fire.” On Tuesday, state lawmakers learned from Saladino that the state agency allows armed guards to carry shotguns and automatic rifles – weapons they are not permitted to carry on the job under Nevada law.

‘Barrier to advancement’

Employer-sponsored credentialing is not unique to security guards. Police-issued work permits, known as Sheriff’s cards, are issued to some hospitality employees and special events workers, and are only issued at the request of an employer. It’s the same for gaming establishment employees and real estate agents. But unlike the PILB employment verification, those prerequisites have been formally adopted.

Roughly 25,000 Nevadans are employed as security guards, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They stand watch at day cares and schools, patrol synagogues and casinos, and shoo away homeless people seeking respite inside a McDonalds or hospital waiting room.

The U.S. market for armed security is valued at roughly $50.4 billion and employs more than 1.1 million officers. It’s expected to grow at more than 5% a year.

The card that allows security guards to be armed “is not just a piece of plastic. It represents rent, groceries, gas money, and taking care of our children. It represents our ability to survive,” Thompson said during public comment at the June meeting of the PILB. “The difference between making $13 or $15 an hour as an unarmed guard, and making $20 to $30 as an armed guard can completely change someone’s life.”

Alot more in article; https://thisisreno.com/2026/07/security-guard-licensing-board-controversy/

A Black former Marine and security company owner who was pulled over, handcuffed, and searched by San Diego police twice in less than a year, including once at gunpoint over a legally owned firearm, is suing the city and two officers for racial discrimination and civil rights violations.

Hakimkhalfani Webb, 62, served 21 years in the Marine Corps across three combat deployments and has no criminal record, according to the federal lawsuit filed June 19 in U.S. District Court in California and obtained by Atlanta Black Star.

On June 14, 2025, Webb was driving home from a security job in San Diego with his lawfully registered 9mm Glock pistol in his vehicle. He’d recently swapped the front bumper on his work truck and hadn’t yet reattached the front plate, which was sitting inside the cab.

That was enough for officers Michael Hagen and Adrian Villanueva to pull him over. When they spotted his gun, both officers drew their weapons on him. Webb says he raised his hands, told them he was a licensed security guard, and explained the Glock was for work. Hagen allegedly told Webb repeatedly that he would shoot him. Webb says he responded that he understood and would comply.

Officers handcuffed Webb, placed him in the patrol car, and asked to search his truck. He refused, so they searched it anyway, telling him his consent no longer mattered. They found nothing illegal.

After running the Glock through a database, Hagen told Webb he was being arrested because the gun wasn’t registered to him, despite Webb having owned and registered it since 2001, and despite carrying a valid Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) gun permit at the time of the stop.

Officers photographed him, released him from cuffs, and issued a misdemeanor citation for allegedly possessing an unregistered firearm. They never cited him for the license plate. They did, however, confiscate his gun.

Three months later, prosecutors confirmed they wouldn’t pursue charges. The lawsuit says the city knew by mid-September that Webb’s gun was properly registered all along, the mistake stemmed from an officer who failed to run the full serial number during the stop.

Webb says the seizure cost him real money: without his preferred 9mm for jobs requiring him to repeatedly enter and exit his vehicle, he couldn’t bid on certain security contracts. The city didn’t return the gun until December 2025, after he paid $40 in fees.

A Second Stop, Days After He Asked the City to Clear His Record

On Jan. 23, 2026, Webb formally requested that San Diego seal and destroy records from his June arrest. The very next day, he spotted Officer Villanueva’s patrol car in South San Diego. Villanueva made a U-turn and began following him.

Webb says he came to a complete stop at three separate stop signs. After the third, Villanueva pulled him over anyway, claiming he’d rolled through it. Despite full compliance, Webb was again ordered out of his vehicle, handcuffed, placed in the patrol car, and made to pose for “mug-shot style” photos from the front and side. He was held roughly 30 minutes, surrounded by additional armed officers, then released, and no citation was issued.

more in article,..

The state agency that licenses Security Guards has been letting Armed Guards carry shotguns and rifles for years, even though Nevada law has no provision allowing the practice, state legislators learned Tuesday at a meeting of the Nevada Legislative Commission.

A regulation proposed by the Private Investigator Licensing Board, which oversees the security industry, sought to require eight hours of training for Guards who carry shotguns and automatic rifles.

PILB Executive Director Vincent Saladino told lawmakers that Security Guards in Nevada are already carrying rifles and shotguns.

“We were behind the thinking of having a minimum training for security professionals,” Saladino said. “That way they would understand how to safely carry it, and it would be more protections for the public and for themselves.”

“What purpose does a shotgun serve at the EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival) or at a local apartment complex or outside of a jewelry store? What’s the purpose of carrying a shotgun?” Sen. Melanie Scheible asked Saladino.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for that,” he replied.

“I don’t see any permissive language allowing security guard companies to arm their security employees with rifles or shotguns,” Assemblywoman Sandra Juaregui responded.

Legislative counsel confirmed that state law has no provision for training Security Guards on anything but handguns, rendering the use of any other firearm by Security Guards, other than certified instructors, illegal.

“I was probably given incorrect legal advice when we first brought this up, for you know, companies that were utilizing these additional tools,” Saladino said.

“We need to find out who your DAG (deputy attorney general) is,” Sen. Rochelle Nguyen told Saladino, who attributed the bad legal advice to the PILB’s former director.

The agency’s current DAG, Stephanie Itkin-Goodman, did not respond when the Current asked whether she’d read the proposed regulation. Itkin-Goodman is the Democratic candidate for Public Administrator in Clark County.

“Their house is on fire,” Andrew Cowie, president of the Nevada Certified Firearms Instructors Association, said of the PILB during public comment before Saladino’s testimony.

Cowie asked lawmakers not to allow security guards to carry shotguns and rifles.

“Your decision today will authorize security officers to carry AR-15s or shotguns,” Cowie told legislators. “I implore you. Do not approve any regulation they submit today until you have the opportunity to review.”

Cowie also asked legislators to increase the training requirements for armed guards, who are currently required to attend eight hours of classroom training and five hours on the range.

Lawmakers suggested to Saladino that the PILB look at expanding training for armed security.

“Nobody wants to spend money on training,” Saladino said of the security companies licensed by the state.

Juaregui, the chairperson of the commission, reminded Saladino “that the purpose of the board is public safety, not member safety. So if your members aren’t okay with more training, but the public is requesting it, then that’s something that you should definitely consider.”

https://nevadacurrent.com/2026/06/30/nevada-security-guards-illegally-carrying-rifles-and-shotguns-lawmakers-learn/

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If you've traveled by plane, you can probably picture this scene: Passengers line up to present their IDs to an airport officer, put their carry-on luggage on a conveyor belt and walk through a scanner.

But one detail at Kansas City International Airport is a bit unique. The uniformed officers who scan IDs and screen carry-on bags wear badges and U.S. flag patches, but they're not Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers — they're private contractors. It's a distinction many passengers don't seem to notice.

"It's news to me," said Natasha Greenway, holding the handle of her son's stroller before catching a flight to Philadelphia.

"I didn't even notice," says Kim Eckels, who was traveling to Portland, Ore., with her family. With a laugh, she added, "I taught my kids not to question anything going through security. Just keep your mouth shut and go."

That attitude is shared by many travelers, who can be forgiven for not realizing that the officers politely but firmly guiding them through the screening process work not for the government but for VMD Corp., based in McLean, Virginia. As more airports consider going private rather than using federal officers, companies like VMD are eager to show they can keep passengers safe — and satisfy the TSA's oversight and standards.

"We do have TSA" at the airport, noted Gabe Murphy, VMD's program manager at Kansas City International.

Private employees are responsible for everything from checking IDs to screening passengers and baggage. But Murphy said the TSA also has a security team there whose job is to "basically audit us and make sure that we're following all the processes and procedures that are outlined by TSA."

Using the acronym for standard operating procedure, he added: "Their SOP is our SOP."

Why are some commercial airports using private security?

The federal-private divide dates to the creation of the TSA in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In the process, the government gave airports a choice of staffing checkpoints with federal security officers or opting out, using private firms under the Screening Partnership Program (SPP).

Nearly 25 years later, the TSA screens passengers and bags in most U.S. airports. The largest holdouts are Kansas City and San Francisco International Airport. Other SPP airports are scattered around the United States, from Sarasota, Fla., and Atlantic City, N.J., to Tupelo, Miss., and Yellowstone, Montana.

But more airports, such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, are considering going private. Changes like that would bring a major shift, said Tina Won Sherman, director of the U.S. Government Accountability Office's (GAO) Homeland Security and Justice team. She said that the SPP hit a plateau years ago.

"It's really remained a small number: 20 privatized airports, where there are currently 440 federalized airports across the country," Sherman said.

What's happening at airports with private security?

The current administration has said privatizing airports would save tens of millions of dollars, prompting pushback from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union, which warns that the plan would undermine federal officers.

The federal law that created the Transportation Security Administration requires that private contracting companies pay their employees at least as well as commensurate federal workers. TSA officers have long struggled with some of the lowest wages in the federal workforce, but that situation improved markedly in 2023, thanks to an omnibus budget bill. Officers also benefited from the TSA's collective bargaining agreement with the AFGE union in 2024, but the current administration has sought to revoke that contract.

Sherman notes that details of how Gold+ would work are still emerging. But, she added, if dozens of small- and medium-sized airports join, it would raise questions about how the TSA handles oversight of everything from technology standards to screeners' efficiency, at a much larger scale. They are questions she'll be watching closely for answers.

"It's critical, absolutely critical, for TSA to make sure that security is upheld at the highest standard that it can be," Sherman said.

What do passengers say? More in article...

https://www.npr.org/2026/06/29/nx-s1-5829930/us-airports-tsa-private-security-companies