An overlook of Cobalt Security’s quality security services, including client responsiveness and outstanding customer services.
Cobalt Security’s Client Response Overview
Client responsiveness and customer service quality are two of the hallmarks of what makes Cobalt Security successful and unique. Cobalt Security is always receptive to our clients who seek to address service need requests, issues, and problems. In addressing these requests, Cobalt Security actively strives to ensure these solutions hold to our company standards and policies, best safety practices, and in alignment with the local crime trends and laws. Education on our part is essential to teach and demonstrate what these best practices are in managing client expectations while actively working towards these best solutions.
In further learning as subject matter experts for our industry, area, and local trends and expertise, we cultivate and maintain relationships with local law enforcement that includes top officials in Ventura County. We consult with these contacts when ongoing or high-profile incidents occur, further bolstering effective client issue solutions. We have a responsibility to communicate these solutions in best setting up our clients for success while not putting ourselves or our clients into potentially compromising situations both physically and legally. Here is the overview of Cobalt’s quality security services points:
- Client Interaction and Education: Cobalt Security focuses on addressing client needs, issues, and education about best practices for effective solutions.
- Collaboration with Law Enforcement: The company maintains relationships with local law enforcement officials to handle incidents effectively.
- Vehicle Patrols: Patrol officers provide property tours, incident reporting, and response calls without carrying weapons.
- Visual Deterrence: Uniformed patrol officers and marked security vehicles act as a strong visual deterrent.
- Private vs. Public Property: Patrol officers serve contracted properties only, reporting incidents on public property to local emergency authorities.
- Reporting and Communication: Officers write incident reports, share information with clients, and follow up on urgent cases.
- Contact and Information Sharing: Officers can contact people on behalf of clients, avoiding confidential information disclosure.
- “Good Witness” Concept: Promptly notifying authorities and providing information during emergencies is stressed.
- Response Calls: Officers respond to calls while adhering to road rules and prioritize safety.
- Apprehension and Arrests: Physical confrontations and arrests are avoided; law enforcement is involved in aggressive incidents.
- Occupied Spaces: Know that with our quality security services in Ventura County our officers do not enter closed residential or business spaces during duties.
- Reporting Off-Property Issues: Officers report off-property issues to emergency authorities as needed.
- Security Memos for Education: Using memos to educate residents and tenants about safety practices and security roles is recommended.
Continue reading to learn more about Cobalt’s quality security services in Ventura County.
Vehicle Patrols
Cobalt Security Aspects
Security Patrol provides snapshots of your property at the point in time they pass through your property. Patrol provides agreed upon contract aspects such as: property tours, parking enforcement, inventory reports, incident reporting, response calls, etc. Property clients can expect to see the results of these reports each morning in their submitted email contacts. What are the aspects of Cobalt Security that help shape these reports, what is Cobalt Security is capable of, and how incidents are handled?
Patrol Unit Make Up
While we provide quality security services in Ventura County, know that it is important to understand that the Cobalt Security Patrol Officers are single person mobile units. Patrol does not carry weapons, wear armor, or have backup readily available to immediately respond for assistance. They do not have police academy training, and typically do not take self-defense classes. They also operate in conditions and locations where there is dramatically less traffic flow that could potentially help if an emergency arose. Due to this and other factors, personal safety is a primary concern of Cobalt Security to effectively conduct routes and carry out client responsibilities. If a situation arises that is beyond their scope or training, they will back off from a situation and contact the local emergency authorities who are trained to handle these incidents in carrying out their jobs.
Visual deterrence
The biggest aspect of hiring security patrol is the visual deterrence of a uniformed patrol officer driving a marked security vehicle. Signs advertising Cobalt Security services can also be placed on property, which are visible 24 hours a day. This visual deterrent goes a long way in potentially deterring crime as criminals typically will seek a softer target with easier potential. The hiring of security will not eliminate crime as it will, and always will, continue to exist. Patrol will help provide quality security services in Ventura County in dealing with these situations when they do arise.
Private versus public property
Patrol Officers are only allowed by California law to service the contracted properties for the security company for which they are employed. They must keep current “Guard Cards” issued and maintained by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, a California government agency. Security patrol is not allowed to conduct services on public property, even in combination with an existing private property account. Patrol can still call, report and make notifications as any regular private citizen could in the event a situation arises on public property, but they cannot address a situation. Situations involving public property is the responsibility of local emergency authorities.
Quality Security Services – Reporting
Patrol is trained in report writing to include required facts in reporting incidents. The reports are to include the basics of who, what, where, when and how if known. Getting police report numbers so follow up can be conducted is stressed as well. Notifications to clients are made real time based upon agreed upon situations, but generally include cases consisting of “fire, flood or blood. Reports can be marked urgent to provide the information to the client right away, and office management will normally follow up with the client the next morning in the event of a major emergency or noteworthy incident such as a request, tow, property damage, etc.
Contacting people and Information sharing
Patrol is allowed to contact people on the behalf of the client. Patrol can impart common knowledge information, rules, directives and other agreed upon information. Patrol is directed never to give out confidential information such as client personal phone numbers, operations and procedures, hours or times they conduct patrol hits, or other confidential information that should not be disseminated for the public to know. In the event a disagreeable person, person with a weapon, large group, etc. is encountered, Patrol has the discretion to break contact or call in law enforcement to help ensure a peaceful interaction in preserving their personal safety.
Good witness
The “good witness” concept is stressed by law enforcement to civilians, including security, as best safety practices. The “good witness” concept says that for a situation that is potentially dangerous, or that requires emergency authority response, the caller should immediately notify authorities of the situation and provide required information. If possible, the caller can remain on the line with Dispatch, and continue to provide valuable “play-by-play” information. Law enforcement prefers this as they are the ones with the experience and training, and want to keep problems from potentially becoming more drastic by involvement of people not prepared or trained to handle them.
Response calls and expectations
Patrol is ready to respond if a call for service comes in during their time on duty. They will evaluate the call when on site, and go through the channels of evaluation, notification and reporting as applicable. It is important to keep in mind that Patrol Officers are to follow the rules of the road. They cannot speed, or respond “lights and siren” to arrive at the property faster. They will finish their duties at the site they are currently servicing, then respond to the call. Depending on their distance away, or if they are currently handling another emergency, this response time can be extended due to these circumstances. If the call is a medical emergency, involving a crime or an “in progress” incident, the caller should notify the local emergency authorities first, then notify security.
In progress crime
It is important once again that people distinguish between the roles of security and law enforcement. Law enforcement functions exactly as it reads. They should be the first ones notified if reporting a crime, crime in progress, medical emergency, vehicle collision, or other emergency that would require their services. Security should then be notified after the proper notifications have been made, so they can also respond and follow up from a property perspective of furthering notifications and reporting aspects.
Apprehension and arrests
Cobalt Security is a “no physical contact” company. While California law allows for citizens arrest, Cobalt Security trains our officers to avoid physical confrontations. Cobalt Security Patrol officers do not chase, pursue, or personally conduct arrests. Incidents involving fights, people with weapons, domestic issues, confrontational or aggressive people, etc., are evaluated with law enforcement being contacted to address these directly as applicable. This is all for the safety of the officer and reduction of liability for both Cobalt and their clients.
Occupied spaces (Commercial and Residential)
It is the policy of Cobalt Security that no personnel are to enter a residential living space, or a business that is closed, during the course of their Patrol duties. In order to provide quality security services in Ventura County, you need to know that this is a liability situation, and one that is left to the emergency authorities, property clients, or property employed staff or contractors, to handle as deemed necessary.
Reporting off property issues
Security Patrol Officers are trained to keep aware of their surroundings. This is also to be aware of potential threats to the property whether on the actual grounds or off property. Patrol will not approach situations occurring off property, but in their discretion can make notifications to emergency authorities depending on the circumstances.
Security Memos available on safety and reporting education for residents and tenants
Education on safety, security and emergencies can never be stressed enough. When the general public, including the residents and tenants at your properties, sees uniformed security, assumptions are sometimes made they are police. If hiring quality security services in Ventura County, especially to service properties never having received service before, it is a good idea to make notifications of the addition. Memos outlining best safety practices, the role of security, and the role of the resident / tenant can be provided to facilitate this education. This helps establish better working relationships and clears up potential confusion.
Conclusion of Quality Security Services and Customer Responsiveness
Every client request, issue, problem and solution is unique and valued. Communication of these issues, and how to solve them, helps to outline how each can be addressed. Cobalt Security and the client will work together in considering local laws and trends, officer safety, and Cobalt Security policies and standards, in ultimately implementing best effective client solutions.