How to build ownership of a contracted security officer program

As enterprises are forced to cut budgets and adapt to leaner times, proprietary security forces are often one of the first things to shrink. They are often replaced by contracted security officers through larger firms, which frequently shoulder the burdens of hiring and training officers. However, bringing in outside forces can create a rift between in-company staff and the new security team. At Columbia College, a 16-building private liberal arts college in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood, Bob Koverman, the AVP of campus safety and security, says there is no silo or separation between the 70-75 contracted security officers and supervisors and the in-house security staff on campus. A key part of that lies in the hiring process. With security officer programs, there is no "plug and play" option. Establishing a contract security officer program that runs and reports like a proprietary program takes time, strong direction and good communication, but in the end, it could result in improved security performance, customer service and ROI without an overloaded budget.