"There is no secret. We attract quality people because of our pay, benefits and reputation. Those few candidates who make it through the background investigation and employment assessment process most often turn out to be solid people. However, it is what happens during the initial training and education phase that makes or breaks an officer."
One standout example: Within the first three months of employment, all officers must complete the International Foundation for Protection Officers IFPO (Naples, Fla.) certification process as a Certified Protection Officer (CPO). "When an officer is awarded a CPO, you can literally see professional esteem bolster. It’s as if, in that moment, an internal paradigm shift occurs within that officer. Suddenly, they realize that they really have earned the right of being called a professional security officer and not a guard," he adds.
In the Lehman Security Industry Annual Report 2004, Kessler states that, although the security services market is expected to grow 6–8 percent per year in the future, this sector remains highly fragmented.