A Guide to Michigan Security ProvidersEverything you need to know about security in Detroit, Southern Michigan and beyond. BackgroundBetween full time college, I worked as a part/full time security guard in the Michigan area. I've spent a lot of shifts talking and absorbing from other guards. I figure it's about time I put these two things together and write something others might be able to use.
I know that to most people, security is security, and we run from security. But if you ever find yourself in a bind, or need to consider whether to press on, knowing your enemy could be important. While I'm definitely no legal expert, and don't condone trespassing in
any way (that would be bad), I'm happy to pass along what I've learned for curiosities sake.
EDIT: I've had this writeup on standby for a while, I didn't want to post it without including as much information I can, but really there's not as much to say about this as I thought when I started. Still, I want to make some of this available in case it helps anyone out) While this isn't every single company in Michigan/Detroit, it covers most of the big names. There's a lot of generic information out there, my goal here is to provide a glut of that information in this localized write-up.
I'm also adding underscores in between random letters of the company names in case a search engine catches these. I'm really not sure if it will matter, or if the underscores make a difference, but it can't hurt. Please let me know if this is an issue.
Types of SecuritySecurity companies split their forces into two categories- Armed and Unarmed. Pretty self explanatory, but an important distinction to make.
Armed Guards, guards who carry a firearm, have lots of rigors to go through, including licensing, state training and performance tests. These are rare in our neck of the woods and tend to be stationed at banks, chemical plants and high profile industrial sites. Some companies refuse to employ armed guards for obvious liability reasons.
"Unarmed Guard" can refer to any uniformed guard who does not carry a firearm. Someone who is unarmed might still carry OC spray, batons or cuffs, but extra licensing and training is required. A lot of the folks we enjoy hiding from carry nothing more than a flashlight they brought from home.
Michigan is a state which allows a company to hold a guard license in the name of anyone over 18. Unless specified, the companies below will hire 18+, so that will tell you a little bit about their standards.
It's safe to assume that all security, especially in a place like Detroit, is contracted. Security providers know that property/business owners need a way to cut down on liability. An extra set of eyes might catch that tripping hazard, or be able to act as a witness if anything serious goes down. Contract security (compared to in-house security) is generally bottom of the barrel in terms of training and seriousness. The following companies are happy to provide peons to roam the halls at a meager price, while simultaneously sucking up the logistics, accounting and liability one must take responsibility for when hiring a new, uniformed employee.
All_ied Un_iversalWho They AreAU is the titan of the security industry. The big box store. Headquartered in California, this company is the ultimate provider of warm bodies. It's also the company I worked for. AU came to be when the two former giants of the industry, Al_lied Bart_on and Uni_versa_l Pro_tection, got married. They deal in large national contracts with companies like GM. To my knowledge, AU
does employ armed guards, but I've never heard of one that's not at a bank. As AU tends to deal with a lot of large scale logistics, I wouldn't count on there being tons of armed fellows out and about. As far as unarmed, we're not allowed to carry cuffs, OC or batons. Maglights are our friends.
The UniformsDue to their size, AU has many different uniforms to fit many different client desires. They can be found in navy blue with black accents, to solid gray, to solid white, all with solid black pants. I personally have the LE style button ups with patches, pockets, a badge, etc. but a lot of guys who work in non-public areas have simple white polos, as they're the cheapest option.
It's important to note that our uniforms in Michigan are provided by Pacific Uniform, a Detroit company. Don't look for the stock photos you see online, ours don't look the same. I think PU provides a lot of Michigan's security uniforms. I see their archetype a lot, just swapped with a different name/logo.
If you ever get close enough, don't depend on the badge number to mean anything. They give them at random out of a box in the corporate office where they keep the uniforms.
The OfficersAU gets its jollys by screwing over employees. I've known guards to be fired for using a certain porta-potty 2 meters outside the official site. Our training is entirely cosmetic. We're expected to complete an online training course within the first 6 months of our employment. It drills in certain lessons, like that
we are not allowed to chase you. We aren't allowed to touch you or detain you. AU Officers can't make an arrest unless it strictly follows the guidelines of a citizens arrest, and then some (property owner has to okay a general arrest policy). Due to worker shortages, we're often asked to work 12-14 hour shifts. Alone. Don't count on an AU Guard to be married to their job.
Familiarity to a job site is also questionable. Anecdotally, I can tell you that I've been sent to places 2 hours away for overnight shifts because some guy in Bay City mysteriously stopped working for the company. I did have my set site for a while, but their opening and closing of contracts is so volatile that it's definitely possible to be more familiar with an abandonment than a guard is.
If you see the white polo shirt, your best bet is to offer the guard a snack.
G_4SWho They AreG4_S is another titan of the industry, with perhaps a bigger international footprint than All_ied Univer_sal. G_4_S specializes in integrated security systems. Their officers tend to see a lot of public spaces or patrol communities. It's likely you won't see them much, unless you infiltrate often.
The Uniforms This company likes to use this sheriff's outfit on their officers, though mileage will vary. I've seen many variations of the G_4S uniform, and the most comprehensive way I can identify them is by this dopey logo, found on their shoulder.
The Officers The company hires as young as 18 and offers about the same as Allied Universal, although from what I've heard they're not quite as bad with turnover. Guards are paid little, but are often aided by video surveillance or alarm/detection equipment. Couple this with the fact that they employ a good amount of armed guards, you may want to be wary of these guys. If you see that squiggly logo, proceed with caution.
Sec_urit_asWho They AreSec. is another international security corporation, run out of Sweden, with an office in Lansing. Regrettably I haven't had any encounters with Sec_uri_tas guards or even heard anything about them. From reading employee ratings and hiring standards,
The UniformsThe logo is very easy to spot; a horizontal line of three red dots. A lot of uniform variations contain red accents on a white or black uniform. Their vehicle fleet (which they're very proud of) is also really easy to spot. They do a lot of work in downtown detroit.
Look for red dots and bankrupt CEOs.
The Officers This is a company which values teamwork and uniformity. Expect a company patrol car to be a phone-call away, but also assume that officers are no more highly trained than G Four S or AU guards. They employ armed guards, but again, you'd have hit the jackpot if you found yourself in a warehouse with one.
D_K Se_curityWho They AreHeadquartered out of Lansing, these guys are the big wigs in Michigan protection. Although they do a lot of event security, they operate mostly in bigger downtown areas of cities like Saginaw, Flint and Detroit, but could pop up anywhere. I was offered an interview with DK but I had already begun the orientation at AU, so I declined, and they went out of their way to personally thank me for my interest. I've heard this company is very professional, and I can attest.
The UniformsWith so many uniforms and logos roaming the corridors out there, it can be tough to remember distinctions between companies. This one is discernible by the big "DK" on the shoulder patch. I have no idea what "DK" stands for, or how many barrels guards tend to stockpile at their posts.
The OfficersAnecdotally, I can tell you that (non-temporary) DK guys can be serious (event security tends to be spontaneous work). These guys are geared towards crowd control, so watch it if you want to have a rave on one of their sites. I'd expect a DK guard to be loyal (or as loyal as a guard can be) to their job, as DK is a local company and also has great management. Don't expect weapons with these guys.
La_ga_rdaWho They AreLag is a small, local company located in Southern Michigan. They offer standard security services, chiefly security guards, with a fleet of company owned patrol vehicles, and a dispatch service through their 24/7 command center.
The Uniform Lag uses 3 different uniforms, one of which is a blazer which you'd be hard pressed to find in a bando. The other two are the liaison and the military style, which is the most common. I'll try and add pics if I remember.
The OfficersLag_arda's unarmed guards, to my knowledge, don't possess any equipment aside from a flashlight. Lag is highly rated by clients and offers plenty of opportunity and recognition to employees. Lag is known for being a friendly company, but assume that a guard's information will reach management's, and the clients ear.
Sc_io_toWho They AreSci is another local company serving the Metropolitan Detroit area. Although known for their retail security services, these guys have been known to occupy sites with little advanced notice. They boast about their 24 hour dispatch just like Lag.
The Uniforms These guys wear all black, often with duty belts. They look very intimidating, the idea is to project an authoritative, police-like appearance. Their logo brings to mind a private militia rather than a security company, imo.
The Officers On this company's website they boast about their guards with police and military backgrounds. This company has decent standards, (for a security company) and likes to fill up those duty belts, so expect OC spray and batons, or at least a radio for backup. While the uniform is an intimidation tactic, assume that these guys are the real deal with solid training and all. If you see the all black uniform, run.
Met_ro Pro_tec_tive Serv_ice_sWho They AreMPS is another Detroit based company with meh standards. Officers experience long shifts and so-so management. This one seems like a localized AU, nothing with any solid distinctions or recommendations. They offer armed services but advertise a wide range of possibilities, meaning an MPS officer isn't trained for anything crazy specific, unless they're stationed at an active hospital or something. Look out for all dark uniforms.
Notice any patterns? I started writing this guide a while ago, and as I wrote I realized how generic all of the things I thought mattered were. SO, a few takeaways, about security in general, and security in Michigan:
-Security guards generally have a really low qualification standard. Lazy guard stereotypes are a bit over-done but the principal isn't a bad one. Contract security is typically very easy. The Sec. Guard reddit motto is "Observe and Report" for a reason. Places like nuclear sites, hospitals, military bases, etc. are exceptions to this rule, and most security in places like these is serious.
-Abandonments are
not* high profile in the grand scheme of a security network. While WE go there, it's easy for a company to assume that these aren't high traffic areas. They aren't pulling out any major stops to militarize these zones, unless places keep getting harassed or dangers appear. Exceptions apply (two train stations about 2 hours away from each other come to mind, as does a certain psychiatric hospital) but by and large, a company treats a low profile abandonment as a warm-body site. They save their big guns for banks, big events, etc.
*Not to say they're not thought about, but there are bigger fish to fry. If a land owner really has that big an issue on their hands, they go to the police, but that's beyond the purview of this write up.
-In Michigan, the farther south you go, the denser the security measures become. It follows the commerce, and isn't a hard concept. As a population becomes more dense, the security "infrastructure" increases due to the large volumes of people, and potential crime, climbs. You can see the density just by searching for sec. job listings in Michigan. There are probably a grand total of 2 in the UP, whereas Detroit has hundreds.
-Security guards makeup a really large chunk of the United States Security infrastructure, outnumbering LEOs.
-The nature of the job, especially with some companies in Michigan, is such that guards aren't often with their site for very long. Flexibility is the nature of contract security.
-Guard work can be boring, especially in a place where you might never see another human being. If you catch a rent-a-cop off guard, play nice and be personable. They're probably just happy to have a friend.
In closing It's important to remember (no matter how many times you've heard it
)that Security Guards are just civilians in uniforms. While they might have emergency authority until first responders arrive, they don't have the power to detain or arrest you unless they've witnessed you commit a felony, or some other extenuating circumstance. Guards do act as a representative of the property owner however, and as the day-to-day authority on the integrity of their site, so keep that in mind. A warning to stay off the property should be taken just as seriously as if the property owner had said it themselves. A good guard will learn their site like and be able to traverse it like clockwork.
Those guards deserve sandwiches.
Edit 1 (1/29): Added underscores
I don't condone or recommend any illegal action, and will not be responsible for any circumstances you put yourself in. Your actions are your own. 
