SECURITY GUARDS, P.2

What they should not do, especially if they are unarmed, is to walk into potentially dangerous situations without calling proper authorities.  Security guards at co-ops and condos are not police officers. They're not hired to be heroes — they're hired to be visible, roaming deterrents. If a crime is occurring, or if a fire alarm proves to be a real emergency, their first reaction should be to call the police or fire departments, not to rush in to battle in a heroic frenzy.

If you view your security guards and gatehouse guards for what they really are — hospitality greeters, access-control assistants and extra eyes on the ground — you'll be much better prepared to analyze their performance accurately and create reasonable expectations for shareholders and unit-owners.

Ryan Poliakoff is vice president of The Ocean Palms Association, Inc. and the co-author of New Neighborhoods: The Consumer's Guide to Condominium, Co-op and HOA Living, available through New Neighborhood Publishing. He blogs at Ryan Poliakoff on Condo & HOA Living,  from which this was adapted. 

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