Maryland Requirements:
Maryland is taking a significant step to bridge this gap. Historically, the training requirements were minimal, but new regulations (effective as of January 1, 2025) mandate a more robust foundation:
- Initial Certification: New security guards must complete 12 hours of initial training approved by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (MPCTC).
- Renewal Certification: Guards must complete 8 hours of continuing security training every three years to renew their certification.
This increase recognizes that today’s security professional needs specific knowledge in:
- Legal limitations and use of force.
- De-escalation techniques.
- Appropriate interactions with individuals in crisis or with behavioral health concerns.
This shift is crucial, but it also highlights the challenge: are 12 initial hours enough to prepare someone for crisis-level scenarios? The industry is deep, but the minimum requirements, even when improved; often skim the surface of what’s truly needed.
- The Attitude Barrier: Perception and Professionalism
The challenges of attitude flow in two directions:
- Public/Client Attitudes: Security is often viewed as a commodity—a necessary expense to be acquired at the lowest possible price. This devalues the guard’s role, reinforces the notion that little training is needed, and fosters the idea that a guard is merely a presence, not a highly skilled responder.
- Guard Attitudes: When training is minimal and pay is low, the perceived value of the job drops, contributing to high turnover and a lack of professional investment. The “just do the bare minimum” or “a warm body” attitude becomes a defense mechanism against a lack of proper equipment, support, and recognition.
The new focus on training, particularly in areas like crisis intervention and professional conduct, must be leveraged to combat these perceptions, establishing the security guard as a true professional responder.
- Oversight and Accountability: Closing the Gaps
Effective oversight is vital for enforcement. In Maryland, the Maryland State Police Licensing Division oversees the certification process, which is a rigorous accountability step involving fingerprinting and background checks.
However, the challenge of oversight exists in the day-to-day operations:
- Agency Compliance: It is the responsibility of the security agencies and employers to ensure their guards maintain their renewal training and adhere to standards. Poor oversight can lead to lapsed certifications or guards being placed in positions they are not trained for.
- Equipment Gap: Guards are often the first on-scene, but rarely equipped or supported to the standard of police or fire/EMS. Oversight must ensure security personnel are given the tools (and training) to meet the risks of their environment.
The solution to these security challenges is simple but difficult: Investment. We must invest in better initial training (going beyond the minimum state hours), better continuing education, better resources, and most importantly, a more professional wage that reflects the high-stakes responsibility of a modern security guard.
By demanding better training, supporting rigorous oversight, and changing the attitude towards these essential professionals, we elevate the entire safety profile of our community.
