Security ambassador program expands into downtown Santa Monica
SANTA MONICA, CA April 1 2021 — Downtown Santa Monica is expanding its Ambassador Program to include safety-related services, including hospitality, cleaning and homeless outreach.
Beginning April 1, specially trained Safety Ambassadors will patrol throughout Downtown Santa Monica on bike, segway, foot and vehicle addressing quality-of-life offenses, acting as a deterrent to unwanted behavior and activity, responding to incidents called in by businesses and patrons, in addition to providing information, assistance and directions to downtown workers, residents and visitors.
The Safety Ambassadors will respond to quality-of-life offenses and will relay urgent public safety information to DTSM Command Center Dispatchers who will triage and place emergency or non-emergency calls to the Santa Monica Police and Fire departments as appropriate. In the event of an active emergency, Safety Ambassadors will remain on site until emergency responders arrive.
“The health and well-being of our community continues to be of paramount importance. It is Downtown Santa Monica’s highest priority to provide a clean, safe and welcoming public environment for our residents, businesses and visitors,” DTSM, Inc. CEO Kathleen Rawson said in a statement.
“Based on feedback from our community, we are expanding our Ambassador deployment to further focus on and enhance public safety in the district,” Rawson said.
All Safety Ambassadors have unique uniforms and carry a valid “Guard Card” issued by the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Service — a certification which requires a minimum of 40 hours of state-mandated training and 16 hours per year of continual professional training. Safety Ambassadors will be first aid and CPR certified within the first 30 days of their employment.
With the addition of Safety Ambassadors, DTSM will expand its Downtown Safety Escort Service. Employees and patrons can call or text the DTSM Ambassador Dispatch Center at 310-877-7731 to request an escort to their vehicle or other desired destination within the downtown.
All Ambassadors are trained in ‘situational protocol’ to appropriately handle situations in a firm, yet courteous, manner, DTSM, Inc. told Patch.
“All Ambassadors are aware of the programs and services available in Santa Monica for those who are unhoused and are instructed to direct these individuals to service providers and/or work closely with City and County partners to connect them with the most vulnerable who are experiencing homelessness,” DTSM, Inc. said.
All ambassadors are paid by their employer Block by Block, which DTSM, Inc. contracts with to provide ambassador services, according to the company.
“Block by Block is a leader in the industry, with ambassador programs in downtowns across the United States,” the company said.
People who are interested in applying to join the program can email ambassadors@downtownsm.com.
For more information on the Ambassador Program and scope of services, visithttps://downtownsm.com/ambassador-contact-information-and-services.
