Is contracting right for you?

Jan 1, 1999 12:00 PM, CHRISTOPHER A. HERTIG,CPP, CPO

           

Contracting for guard services makes good management sense when the client cannot perform the service for themselves due to lack of expertise and logistical, cost or legal restrictions. Contracting is also appropriate if, for example, the service is temporary or unusual in nature. Furthermore, if personnel costs (wages, benefits, taxes, etc.) make the service prohibitively expensive for the client organization, contract guard services can be an attractive option.

If contracting makes sense for your organization, here are some advantages and disadvantages to consider.Advantages of contracting guard services include: * Lower cost due to flat billing rate as opposed to incurring wages and attendant labor costs (30 percent above flat wage cost). * Administrative streamlining; the client firm only has to pay the bills and make sure they are getting the required service. * Flexibility of manpower if needs change on a temporary basis. * Ease of removing undesirable employees. * Elimination/preclusion of guard unions. * Ease of rule enforcement due to the outside, independent nature of the security force. * Reduction of liability due to independent contractor rule.Here are some disadvantages of contracting guard services: * Loyalty of personnel to the company may be lower. * Less control due to an additional layer of management via the contract firm. * Law enforcement may respond more readily to proprietary personnel.

Liability protection is almost always absent due to the client directing and ratifying contractor conduct, strict liability, intentional torts and non-delegated duties. Perhaps most important, having a contractor involved creates an additional target for a plaintiff's lawyers. It makes it easy for them to "divide and conquer," a situation in which the contractor and client fight each other in court.

Off-duty police officers can also be hired as contract security. Advantages of this practice include: * Well-trained, experienced officers who are used to handling a diverse range of situations. * Increased investigative capability due to training, experience and access to official databases. * Improved liaison with local law enforcement agencies. * The ability to have armed personnel where prohibited for other contract personnel. * Possible use of public resources such as vehicles, radios and investigative equipment. * Police arrest authority can aid in dealing with troublemakers. * Greater deterrent to crime.Disadvantages of hiring off-duty police officers include: * Conflict of interest between public and private role in crime control. * Conflict of interest regarding restricted information. * Costs may be high. * Need to navigate tax laws, private detective statutes, etc.

The author of this month's column, Christopher A. Hertig, teaches in the Behaviorial Sciences Department of York College of Pennsylvania. He serves as director of education for the Professional Security Television Network and director of accreditation for the International Foundation for Protection Officers. Hertig writes a monthly column on educational issues titled "A Few Words" on the PTSN Web site, www.pstn.pwpl.com.The column was adapted from a chapter in a forthcoming book tentatively titled "Security Supervisor Handbook." The book, to be published by Butterworth-Heinemann, is part of the Security Supervisor Program administered by the International Foundation for Protection Officers.

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This month in Access Control

• Opening Up About Door Closers
• An Enterprise Approach
• The Framework For Open Systems
• On A Higher Plane
• More from April's issue