More and more apartment properties are touting “courtesy officers” as an amenity on their property. It sounds impressive to have a police officer living in your neighborhood. The presence of that patrol car will scare away criminals, right?
What is a Courtesy Officer?
A courtesy officer is a local law enforcement officer that gets to live in your community for a reduced rental rate. In exchange they are expected to respond to problems while they are at home. If your neighbor’s tv is too loud or if there are kids misbehaving at the pool, you can call them. They also probably walk the property once each night and lock up the pool or game room at closing time.
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A Courtesy Officer is NOT as effective as a Security Guard
First, Courtesy Officers are only on duty while they are at home. They have a full-time job working in the community as a law enforcement officer, so they are not at home during those hours. If they get called to work overtime for their department, they are not home then either. If they volunteer for overtime hours at community events, they are not home. Also, these officers have a life, they enjoy going to dinner and a movie with friends, etc and they are not on the apartment community property then either. Courtesy Officers also need to sleep, so while they may be at home, they are not observing what is happening in the apartment community during that time. If that Courtesy Officer is sleeping when you call about the loud fight next door, you’re going to be waiting for them to get up, get dressed and come over to your building.
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A Police Car Will Not Scare Away Bad Guys
Criminals are smart. They see that police car, but they know that that Courtesy Officer is probably distracted or even in the bed asleep. That police car parked in a space in the parking lot has minimal deterrent value.
A Security Guard Is Focused on Your Safety
A Security Officer on duty in your apartment community is focused on safety. They are not fixing dinner, watching tv or sleeping. That Security Officer is patrolling the community, looking for signs of problems, people that don’t belong or hazards in the community. While on duty that Security Officer won’t get called away if something major happens in town that requires more off-duty police to report. That private Security Officer will be dedicated to your apartment community’s safety.
Remote Guards Are More Effective Than Security Guards and Courtesy Officers
While Security Guards are more effective than Courtesy Officers, a Remote Guarding solution like VirtuGuard™. Remote guarding works by connecting your apartment community’s existing security cameras and other security infrastructure to our remote Command Centers. If your property is not already equipped with security cameras, we work with your team and connect you with third party integrators to design the best technology and equipment for your property.
Remote Guards Can See Your Entire Property Quickly: By conducting proactive virtual patrols, similar to a Security Guard’s foot patrols, Remote Guards can detect suspicious activity that a Security Guard or Courtesy Officer would not be able to see with their eyes alone. For additional proactivity, our Command Centers use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other advanced video analytics to trigger instant alarms for Remote Guards to review in real-time. When an object, like a vehicle or person, comes into camera view, Guards can determine whether it is normal activity or suspicious, determining how best to proceed.
If a Remote Guard confirms an alarm, they can work in tandem with onsite Courtesy Officers or Security Guards to address the abnormal activity. However, VirtuGuard™ can effectively resolve issues on its own or by contacting local law enforcement when appropriate.
Using two-way audio speakers installed throughout your apartment community, Remote Guards can directly engage with trespassers or other suspicious individuals. The Guard might warn them that they are trespassing and instruct them to leave the property. In most instances, an audio deterrent is enough to resolve a trespass.
Remote Guarding is a fraction the cost of a human security guard and much more reliable. Remote guarding is always on-time and never falls asleep.
VirtuGuard™ remote guarding keeps your apartment community secure and your residents safe. To learn more about what we can do for your property, complete the contact form at the bottom of the page.
Interested in private security for your apartment community in the United States? Call BOS Security for more information on how we have helped other communities like yours.