Mandatory training proposed for security guards

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By ZHAO PENG
Capital News Service
LANSING — The Michigan Contract Security Association is pushing to establish the first statewide training requirements for security guards.
There are 23,960 security guards serving at hospitals, schools, local governments facilities, retail stores and other locations in Michigan, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They are responsible for preventing theft, violence and other misconduct.
However, there are currently no unified training standards or even compulsory training for security guards in Michigan, according to the association.

“There are no training requirements at all,” said Larry Julian, the executive director of the association. “That’s why we are establishing the minimum training requirements to be a security guard agency or to be a security guard in Michigan.”
Sen. Darwin Booher said, “Presently, we understand the rules affecting those security businesses are outdated and flawed with respects to the public safety, trust and duties that security guards and agencies are required to perform.”
The Republican from Evart sponsored pending legislation that would update regulations for security guards.
Booher’s bills passed the senate and are pending in the House Regulation Reform Committee.
“We have developed the training we thought someone should have in order to be a security guard and have us feel comfortable they are qualified,” said Booher.
The bills would add some minimum requirements to be a qualified security guard, such as 16 hours of classroom training, eight hours of defensive techniques and two hours regarding emergency preparedness such as CPR.
If a security guard is armed, he or she would need10 more hours training. And every two years, security guards would have to complete four hours of continuing classroom training.
Security agencies, which have training standards and curricula, are under the oversight of the Department of Licensing and Regulation. But individual guards are not.
However, Michigan has some unlicensed security guard agencies, according to Carl Berry, a member of the Michigan Contract Security Association’s board of directors and the chief of security for the Detroit Auto Dealers Association.
“The enforcement is not that good,” said Berry. “We are proposing that all agencies should be licensed. We are looking into the enhancement of the enforcement and encourage the training of security guards.”

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