Standards for private security guards

The shooting death of a young woman employed at a Coralville mall serves as a stark example to Iowans that state rules governing private security guards have not kept pace with public safety needs.

The case of 22-year-old Alexander Kozak - the former security guard at Coral Ridge Mall accused of shooting and killing 20-year-old Andrea Farrington at the mall earlier this month - shows the limitations of the state's hands-off approach to security guard selection and training, even as the places they patrol have become more frequent targets of terrorism, crime and violence.

The men and women working with private security firms often are tasked with keeping us safe while we go about our lives - shopping, attending classes or working. As investigative reporter Erin Jordan pointed out in Sunday's Gazette, Iowa's lackluster requirements only require potential security guards to pass a single background check - and employers aren't required to wait for those results before putting new employees to work.

There are no state training requirements for private security guards. For reference, Iowa's cosmetologists must complete 2,100 hours of training before they can legally charge for a haircut. Emergency medical technicians must complete 150 hours of training.

Thus, Iowans have no assurance that private security guards know how to defuse volatile situations. Nor are there safeguards to monitor behavioral or mental health issues that may surface once a guard clears that initial background check.

There are no core training or policy requirements to ensure all security personnel are working from a basic, shared foundation of knowledge and procedure. There is nothing within state policy to encourage or require cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.

It is in security companies' long-term best interests to run efficient, effective and professional operations. Businesses, clients and customers expect them to provide a consistent and safe environment.

But more is needed to ensure the companies and their employees are prepared for emergency situations, and that security guards continue to be mentally and physically suited to the job.

Venues and security companies should review security policies and procedures to ensure the public's safety. State lawmakers should waste no time considering stricter standards for private security personnel.

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