Rick McCann

There’s a reason why most insurance companies that underwrite policies for the private security industry no longer provide coverage for nightclubs, strip clubs, after-hour clubs, adult clubs, bars, or locations that serve alcohol.

It has been proven, year, after, year, that these locations are dangerous, violent, and account for the majority of security officer injuries and deaths.

Each year, when our office, (Private Officer International) look at the statistical data of the cities, states, and business type where security officers are most often assaulted, stabbed, shot, or killed, nightclubs always rank in the top three.

And these attacks on security continue to climb each year.

Analyzing the data from just the last five years has given some further insight into the possible reasons why.

1.     Many of these establishments nationwide use unarmed staff who are often not licensed, and, in many cases, they are not required to be licensed because the state regulatory agency does not oversee “proprietary” security personnel including bouncers.

2.     Some businesses employ either armed in-house or contract security personnel without doing proper background checks, requiring additional training, or having any oversight on those carrying guns. This leads to the security staff being left to operate in a manner that allows them to make and enforce rules without guidance, supervision, or experience.

3.     While many clubs and bars have security staff using portable metal detectors to wand customers for firearms, just as many do not. Others opt for a quick frisk, a check of purses or packages, but others make no attempt to stop guns from entering even though, in many states, it’s a crime to carry a firearm into an establishment that serves alcohol.

4.     During the past five years, more than half of the shootings at these businesses occurred after a confrontation with security, where the person was ejected from the property and either went to their vehicle and retrieved a firearm and began firing into the business or later returned to the property with a firearm and began shooting into the business.

5.     During the past ten years, many law enforcement agencies who once allowed off-duty officers to work as security for these businesses, no longer do so and those agencies who still allow officers to be security at clubs restrict them from entering the club except to respond to an incident such as a fight or trespasser. The rule for them is to remain outside and be alert and assist club security when requested.

Of the 29 security officer homicides so far this year, at least 11 were at nightclubs. Another 43 have been shot and survived their injuries.

In 2021, 19 security officers were killed while on duty at nightclubs. 88 others were shot and had no-life-threatening injuries.

Violence is inevitable in places where alcohol and weapons often come together in places that many times have crowded, dark conditions. Tempers fly, people feel bullet-proof, and commonsense is no place to be found.

Add uniformed officers dulling out authority, trying to keep the peace, and wearing guns of their own, and it’s a recipe for violence.

And consider this, between 2000 and April 2022, at least 137 club security personnel have been arrested on charges ranging from assault, unlawful possession of firearms, narcotics, and murder.

Many of these stories are highlighted daily on our news blog (www.privateofficerbreakingnews.blogspot.com)

Contract security companies who contract their services with any business that serves alcohol increases their liability and the probability that their employees might be injured, assaulted, shot, or killed.

Do the risks outweigh the gains? Statistically, the answer is yes.