Pros
Consistent Schedule Usually good cohesion and teamwork with other rank and file security officers Acceptable pay If they are still there, you may have the privilege of working alongside some excellent men and women that deserve more recognition for the work they do. They shine all the brighter in contrast with the incompetence that is the Security department's leadership.
Cons
- incompetent leadership, little more than stubborn children who refuse to see what their actions cost them - lackluster to absolutely pathetic responses to crises, the response that was implemented when the unfortunate incident on December 22nd, 2020 occurred was to request more officers from Metro Watch (a company that was contracted to supplement security officers to the location) the officers would be placed at each access point, wearing a high visibility vest, and nothing else in case 'something else happened', their response was to have unarmed, and unarmored officers at each entrance and thought that it was an adequate solution, it was not, none of the staff, especially the temp. checkers felt very safe - security officers, as far as I am aware, are still unarmored, and not even equipped with Tasers, yet up in Longview at Peace Health St. John's (where the head of security used to work) they have had tasers, and body armor without issue, yet these simpletons can't seem to find a way to justify this, despite the shooting at the 505 building - incredible amount of tension between Metro Watch and Peace Health Southwest, most of the officers that showed up would be okay, but the three stooges seemed to take issue with anything and everything that Metro Watch did at the hospital, throwing officers under the bus for anything, and trying to push all the Metro Watch officers into a corner where they could barely do their job, as individuals that seemed to think they were above the help they hired, they acted like children, incapable of focusing on what was truly important and instead resorting to squabbling and deflecting the blame. - one of the lead security officers is a documented issue, he is egotistical, aggressive, and is in no way qualified to be in leadership, let alone security, when working here, I heard from multiple sources that he was 'a black belt in Krav Maga or some other martial arts' and has military experience, and yet he'll cry wolf and blow any issue he has with other security officers out of proportion, the best days I worked at the hospital were the days he wasn't there, any lessons he may have learned in his military career obviously were never learned, or have been forgotten, and the security team is worse off with his involvement - many security officers from Metro Watch had to be removed from the roster for PHSW specifically because of the fragile ego of the three stooges and any perceived slights recieved in their delusions, - many issues with cameras, lighting and other hardware were documented during my time at Peace Health Southwest, and yet, despite their easy solution, nothing was ever done to address these issues, unless someone was about to get in trouble - some of the medical staff, especially in ED/Triage would gossip about some of the Metro Watch officers that they did not care for, and in at least one instance stood by and watched as this officer struggled with an aggressive individual, despite requesting assistance In short, the rank and file security officers and medical staff, for the most part, are good people, and when things go south, they'll back you up. Many times it was only myself, the ACA officer and Mobile 1 (shift lead) for the entire hospital, and when Code Greys and other issues arose that required standby, there were few moments that felt like I was out of my depth. That said, the security leadership at Peace Health Southwest is about as braindead as they can get, and do more to assuage their egos, than taking responsibility for the safety of the staff and patients. If things continue the way they were when I left, I would not be surprised to hear that things are even worse now.
