For larger facilities, security officers may patrol an area using a golf cart.
The duties of a premises security officer can range from controlling access to the premises to performing routine security checks in certain critical areas of the property. The facility security officer typically has contact with a central command center by radio or telephone. In the event of a security breach, the facility security officer is typically asked to contact a supervisor before taking any action. In many cases, local authorities are also contacted in the event of non-compliance with any security measures.
Security officers are required to perform routine and random checks of a facility every hour.
There are several types of facility security officers, including armed, unarmed, and mobile. In many facilities, security officers are required to perform routine and random area checks every hour. Another type of facility security officer may need to reside in an office and observe monitors directed to different areas of the facility. In any case, one of the duties of the typical security officer is to keep a shift log. In addition to listing routine tasks and checks, the log should also contain any unusual incidents, including a description of the incident, the time it occurred, and the officer’s reaction to the incident.
A facility security officer may or may not receive training on how to handle firearms.
In some facilities, the security officer is responsible for signaling visitors, workers, and others entering the facility. Verification of proper identification, assignment of an access credential, and documentation of the visitor’s destination are included in the shift log. Phone calls and deliveries are also left for the security officer to record, document, and deliver to some facilities. Parking passes are another area typically assigned to a facility security officer.
A facility security officer may or may not be authorized to make arrests.
Most police officers conduct foot patrols on facility grounds routinely during their shift. This is done to eliminate the opportunity for a would-be intruder to time the officer’s habits and come up with a plan to gain unauthorized access to the property. Some facilities are so large that a dedicated officer is assigned to patrol the many buildings and gates by car, golf cart or bicycle, in an effort to save not only time but also some of the wear and tear on the security officer. In the event of an actual emergency, the facility security officer is commonly asked to check with a supervisor and inform the individual of the incident before taking any action to correct it. After an incident, the facility security officer is often required to make a report detailing the entire event,