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ASSIST Professional Standards Committee
By Dave Parker
ASSIST has established a Standards Committee to develop educational and training concepts for leading our profession into the future. The committee members are Professor Frank Torres, Texas State Technical College, and Dave Parker as co-chair, Don McGray, with Aramco Services, and Mike Mallon, Houston Region President, with Terrace Security.
Professor Torres, with TSTC, has developed a number of on-line courses for security professionals and officers including:
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Homeland Security
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Sexual Harassment
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Special Topics
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Use of Force
Security is a profession. Officers entering the field should be afforded a career path so that as they learn, develop credentials, and gain experience, the rewards of a career are there for them.
The Standards Committee has discussed establishing a recommended rank structure for the profession�s consideration. We believe there is merit to the idea that if you observe an officer with Captain�s bars, or Sergeant�s stripes, the public should have confidence that the officer has a certain level of training and experience. Law enforcement officers or clients should also expect this.
Other professions require continuing education, and we have discussed expanding this requirement beyond investigations licensees in the security profession. The public should be confident that our managers are competent in security issues, and abreast of the effects of the latest technology in security.
We recommend that all security professionals become CPP�s, PSP�s, or obtain other professional credentials.
We recommend that the State increase requirement for General Liability insurance, to a minimum of $750,000.00 or $1,000,000.00.
Large companies often make employment verifications difficult, or charge a fee. We recommend that the Private Security Board require all licensees to provide local phone or fax numbers for verifications without fee.
Other areas for consideration are officer-training issues. How much orientation training should be required? How much entry-level training should we recommend? How much pre-assignment training should officers have? Should officers be required to train annually for a minimum number of hours?
The committee discussions are all open to members for input, and further consideration. At a later date, when we have all had time to consider the concepts, and conduct some �fine tuning� we will propose resolutions to the ASSIST Board of Directors, and/or request membership vote on those we can agree upon. It is important that ASSIST take the leadership role in the future. The other option is to wait until the legislature, or the government in some way decides to impose these or other concepts upon us.
All members with input are requested to call any of the committee members, or contact me at 713-229-0200, or
[email protected].
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