As enterprises are forced to cut budgets and adapt to leaner times, proprietary security forces are often one of the first things to shrink. They are often replaced by contracted security officers through larger firms, which frequently shoulder the burdens of hiring and training officers. However, bringing in outside forces can create a rift between in-company staff and the new security team. How can the enterprise security leader reach out to bridge the gap and take ownership of an outsourced security officer program?

At Columbia College, a 16-building private liberal arts college in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood, Bob Koverman, the associate vice president of campus safety and security, says there is no silo or separation between the 70-75 contracted security officers and supervisors and the in-house security staff on campus.