• Patrolling and monitoring activities on City premises regularly to:

  • Prevent and detect unauthorized intrusion;

  • Ensure security of doors, windows, and gates;

  • Prevent and discourage criminal activity and ensure the environment is safe and secure;

• Enforce the laws, rules and policies of the site they are assigned to;

• De-escalate volatile situations;

• Evicting trespassers and violators and detaining perpetrators while following legal protocols before police arrive to take over;

• Controlling the entrance and departure of employees, visitors, vendors and vehicles according to protocols of a given site;

• Monitoring  surveillance cameras to watch for any disruptions or unlawful activities;

• Respond to intrusion and duress alarms;

• Call police, fire or ambulance departments in cases of emergency

• Providing detailed reports on daily activities and any incidents that may have occurred;

• Arming, monitoring and testing of security systems.

While there are varying combinations of contracted vs in-house security guard combinations, it is recommended to have a core team of in-house security guards, and contract out the rest. Should Council choose to approve a limited number of guards, the priority location for in-house guards would be at the City Hall campus. Guards at the City Hall campus are present at each of the two building around the clock, seven days a week. To staff only the City Hall campus 24/7/365 year round would require at least eight Regular Full Time Security Guards, plus an additional two Regular Part Time Security Guards to cover sick and vacation time. The minimum would be three guards to cover the day shift on weekdays when the most activity is experienced.

If all regular guard posts were filled with in-house staff, at least 20 more RFT Security Guards and 8 RPT Security Guards would need to be hired in addition to the guards required at City Hall campus.

It should be noted that the rate for in-house security guards will be more costly than contract security guards, and will cost a premium of over $30,000 per guard per year based on a 40 hour/week schedule at current contract rates.

Phasing

Recognizing that the operating budget required to implement a fully staffed security division would be overwhelming all at one time, a phased approach can be used, allowing council to increase the scope and size over a number of years. Below is an option for phasing in a corporate security division.