Making the Transition: Security Guard to Police Officer

How a Security Officer prepared himself for his new career in the RCMP

Transitioning from a private security firm to law enforcement is a common career path for many in the field. The two industries are a natural fit and typically have a large volume of people flowing from one path to the other.

Working as security guard is one of the best ways to boost an application and gain valuable experience, but what are the steps to make the transition from a security guard to law enforcement? There are many ways that you can make your application more attractive to recruiters, and several ways to prepare yourself for the field.

We caught up with recent RCMP recruit, Clyton Fernandes, who previously worked with Paladin for six years. Fernandes pursued a career with Paladin to specifically get experience that would improve his application for law enforcement. When Clyton was asked what experiences were viewed as the most impressive in his application, he replied that “[in his role, he was] interacting with law enforcement, gaining experience with footage review, assisting RCMP, investigating certain files, and keeping track of crime trends on the property. You’re building relationships with certain RCMP members.”

Working first hand with RCMP and other law enforcement officers gives you a unique snapshot into the position’s duties and responsibilities and opens up opportunities for mentorship.

Clyton went on to talk about some great opportunities his role at Paladin has provided. One of which included a ride-along with the RCMP members who he frequently interacted with at his site.

I had an RCMP officer offer to do a ride along. It’s something that is only open for applicants of law enforcement. I had built a relationship with them to be comfortable enough to approach me to do a ride along.

Working from our Vancouver branch, Clyton was able to take advantage of the formal and informal partnerships Paladin has with local law enforcement. Paladin offers partnered and tactical training, which can include hosting private information sessions for Paladin employees only, with organizations like the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).

Being exposed to the demands of a job in law enforcement helped Clyton understand what skills were going to be key to his success as an Officer. Paladin’s ongoing training programs provide many courses that not only assist with a security officer’s duties, but also prepare you for the duties of a law enforcement officer. Clyton noted that his first aid, advanced security training, and proper report writing courses will be extremely helpful in his new career.

Proper report writing is going to be a big skill to have for law enforcement. With report writing you get to know how to do liability reports and theft reports. It helps being really detailed with your note taking.

Attention to detail and leadership skills are some of the main areas that Paladin’s culture places emphasis on. In addition to our extensive course catalogue, Paladin offers hands on training and a strong promotion from within culture, which Clyton has taken advantage of. Holding various positions within the company, Clyton had many opportunities in supervisory roles and managing junior staff.

Clyton joins the growing number of Paladin people that have advanced into roles with the RCMP, local law enforcement, the military, and CBSA. You can read the many success stories from our people on our Officer Testimonials page.

How do you make the transition from a security guard to law enforcement? There are a few things you can do to help make your transition easier:

1. Develop the right skills: Attention to detail and leadership skills are some of the many transferable skills from a security guard to a law enforcement officer. Developing these skills through training and experience will make your transition smoother.
2. Networking and mentorship: Being exposed to people currently working in law enforcement provides invaluable insight into the demands of the job and the best way to prepare yourself.
3. Be proactive: Actively seek opportunities to advance your career, both in private security and law enforcement. Taking more advanced training courses, attending information sessions, and applying for promotions will open you up to new possibilities to continually improve your skills.

Paladin prides itself on supporting our employees with extensive training, advancement opportunities, and partnerships with law enforcement. If you are interested in gaining related experience to boost your application, or simply interested in getting involved in a career that can make a difference, we are currently hiring for positions at our branches across Canada. View our open positions here.

Want more resources for your law enforcement application? Get tips, testimonials, and see current Paladin postings at paladinsecurity.com/law-enforcement.

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