"Security"

A little history before I begin...



In the mid-80's I, the high school grad but failing college guy that I was, scanned the want ads of the local paper and came across one that seemed acceptable. It was a Security Guard position but it didn't specify where or what I would be guarding. After a successful interview, I started as a uniformed security guard at a women's clothing store in a strip mall. I wouldn't be there long because this position was temporary, and I soon found out I would be temporary no matter where I was positioned. First the clothing store. I would pace back and forth amongst the racks watching people as they shopped. Yep, the excitiment level there was just short of watching the paint dry. I welcomed the phone call asking if I would be interested in moving to a different location. Next, I was positioned at a construction site. I was to sit at a desk at the front door of a high rise building, which only had three floors completed, and.... I guess stop anyone wanting to hang out at a construction site...? Mind you, this was an overnight shift. From 11:00pm until 7:00am, I had to sit on the first floor, then each hour, make my rounds. Rounds here consisted of walking the stairs to each of the 16 floors, 13 of which were a cement skeleton, and punch a clock on each floor, proving my rounds were complete. As the night wore on, the temperature on the upper levels dropped. Wind ripped through the unlit cement shell at a hurricane clip. I just couldnt wait to find the clock, punch it and get back to my heated first floor lobby....until the next hour.



So I was at this location for about a week. I was moved to an outside construction site where I sat in my car, between two lanes of a highway and babysat a multi-million dollar crane. My big assignment, as it were, during this time period, was when they needed all available guards at the new shopping mall just opening up downtown. The governor was coming, and a small parade was taking place. Quite the tadoo was unfolding, and they needed all of us uniformed "guards" to report for duty. Of course, the governor had his own security force, and the city had their police department out in full force, but it wasn't complete until we got there with our sharp 8 pointed hats, shiny badges and polyester pants with the blue stripe down the side. Anyway, that lasted most of the day. We lined the mall at predetermined spaces and stood at ...well stood still for as long as we could while dignitaries browsed the mall.



The highlight of my "security" career came when someone accidentally discovered I was a certifed Emergency Medical Technician. My phone rang and it was my boss asking if I could report to the NBA sports arena in town. They were looking for somoene like me there, as he put it. The next night I was entering the stadium I had attended my first Kiss concert at in Junior High, the Springsteen concert, a few pro basketball games and a hockey game.



After meeting with the head of security there, he offered me a position of "House EMT." This would mean I would no longer be a uniformed security guard staring at construction equipment, or racks of clothes. I accepted with little hesitation. I was lead to the "First Aid Office" which was slightly bigger than my bathroom at home. Along one wall was a white paper draped bed, on another was a desk, and the third was a medicine cabinet. Hanging on a hook was a white jacket with Emergency Medical Technician emboidered in script right where the words Neurologist, or Opthamologist are usually found. This would begin my one year career working the medical hot zone for all sporting events and shows touring through this city. Events included Frank Sinatra, Van Halen, and Duran Duran concerts, as well as way too many Ice Capades shows. After the sixth Ice Capades show I didn't have to look to know what song was next and sing along with them. I would be presented with everything from the senior citzen tripping on the stairs during Frank Sinatra to the seizure in the mens room before a hockey game. Took care of the unconscious girl overdosing at Van Halen as well as an Ice Capade skater with a rash on her thigh.



As a result of this move from security to the EMT of the Stars, I left the high paced world of uniformed Security all together to follow the path of the sick and injured. I took a full time position as an Emergency Medical Technician on an ambulance. I turned in my pointy hat and shiny badge and threw a stethoscope around my neck and rubber gloves on my hands instead. My security days were over....or so I thought.



Little did I know, I would end up at another retail store over twenty years later, and become the Loss Prevention Manager...something I think we used to call Security Supervisor. It's an entirely different job these days, and I think I will show you how in these pages as I go forward. Stressful some days, but entertaining most days.



Enjoy.