Hobbesian Security

'Life is nasty, brutish and short' in some urban environments. Some sites are war zones.

Guard forces often are the de facto enforcers of a 'separate peace' in urban housing complexes. This is not the environment for The Smiling Guard style of security services. Instead an Enforcer style of peacekeeper operation is required for the safety of the innocent residents and the security staff.

Smiles there are reserved for the very young and the very old.

In a world of gangs, drug dealers, thieves and innocents, the provision of security guard services requires a wary blend of respect for rights, enforcement of the housing association rules (and the law), precognitive politically correct 20/20 foresight and officer safety.

Many residents are much better armed than you.  AK47 vs. your Smith and Wesson M&P 40. AK47s penetrate your vest very effectively. The criminals sometimes wear bullet proof vests too.

The guard's primary goal is to go home safe at shifts' end.


Tactics require showing very little "niceness" in this environment; as niceness = weakness = victimization.

If someone is being nice to you, it is to gain an advantage, distract, mislead you or set you up for misuse or attack. Otherwise you are seen at best as an irrelevancy or worse as an enemy-an occupying army.

You can be used for protection of an ongoing criminal enterprise, to arrest/harass rivals and enemies, to use as a bludgeon. You do not have friends there. You can however use residents for tactical intelligence. You may be warned if someone is making plans or taking action to attack you; either via getting you fired or a physical attack.

Every action and move you make is being watched for weakness or advantage.

I have seen nice, friendly, smiling guards, fired from these environments by criminals who started by being nice to the guard and eventually making the guard appear to be failing to enforce the rules even-handedly. The goal being to get a scared, stupid or criminally inclined guard to be the replacement. This unfortunately does work.

To be safe as a guard in these environments requires all the skills of a police survival instructor:
Head on a swivel,
check six,
"Give me 5 feet", combat distancing, Tueller rule,
know where you can retreat to with cover, at any location on the site,
bullet "proof" vest, clean gun(s) and extra ammo, Taser, baton, flashlight, etc.
development of human intelligence assets. (do not become their humint asset!)
a feel for the pulse of the site,
show no fear,
respect will get you further than meanness,
careful where you park your car,
never let anyone know where you live,
know when and when not to enforce rules,
do not be alone with any females or children,
not everything is as it first appears,
establish & maintain good relations with the local police,
cynicism and distrust, everyone is lying to you, [but don't be dismissive: listen and glean],
do not be mean,
ignore taunts otherwise be careful with the snappy come-backs,
try not to curse,
everyone is Ma'am or Sir,
never insult their mother,
watch their hands,
respect is life and death there,
never surrender, never give up,
ability to handle stress and
not let it be personal.

That nice little old lady might be an innocent or she might be dealing crack to supplement her social security check. That 10 year old kid might be carrying a Glock. That may or may not be any concern of yours...you are not the DEA or popo. Trying to be a junior tough cop will get you hurt. We are 4-0 not 5-0.


Protect all from violence, including yourself.

Be nice to the gangsters' Moms, it pays off if they say you are a good guy/gal. But it doesn't make you untouchable.
"Dude, I am here to try to protect your Mom, girlfriend or daughter when you are off the premises."

Do not be judge jury and executioner! You do not have the thin blue line to protect you.