Training

In any firm employing a large number of people, some employee turnover is experienced. We at Merchants are striving to keep turnover to a bare minimum. Many of our guards have been with us ten, fifteen, twenty years or more. Some guards have progressed to greater responsibility and authority in supervision and management. Your wishes are promptly met if the replacement of a particular guard is desired at any time and for any reason. Quite often, during the early stages of a job, as specified needs become evident, we may make these guard changes ourselves. This ensures you of the best possible security.

Security Officer Qualifications

Merchants Security Service personnel are carefully selected from applicants as the result of interviews aimed at determining if the applicant's background and prior employment are suited to security work. Our personnel specialists receive extensive training enabling them to conduct effective in-depth interviews. References are checked, as part of an extensive background check, with the applicant's former employers. Personal credit checks can optionally be performed, for comparing the applications with an independent source of information. This assures the accuracy of the investigative process. Preference is given to applicants with previous work experience in military, security, or police work. Individuals who desire to establish a career in Private Security are also given preference in the same manner. All applicants must have a good command of the English language and the ability to write a well-prepared report. All Security Officers assigned to your facility will meet or exceed these basic qualifications.

Security Officer Screening

Merchants' standard screening process is designed to be very complete within the contract security business. Prior to becoming a full Merchants Security Officer, all applicants are selected by a process, which includes five checkpoints:

Standards of Employment	Confirms the applicant has no felony record and has phone and transportation to meet Merchants' availability requirements. Also confirms that applicant is willing to meet Merchants' requirements for a professional appearance.
Employment Application	Applicants checked for stable work history. Applicants must have documented ability to meet job responsibilities and maintain their employment for a substantial period of time. Applicants must also have a driver's license and a social security card.
Telephone Reference Checks	Merchants' makes telephone referene checks to all prior employers of the last three years and does not allow any more than 90 day gap in any three year period without being fully investigated.
Police Check	We receive a local police check before hire. All Merchants' guards are fingerprinted and screened by state and federal agencies to affirm they have a clean record and are available to work. They will then receive a state issued green card, which they will carry while on duty.
Probationary Period	The final quality checkpoint is provided by close observation of the new hire during a ninety (90) day probationary period. If the new employee meets Merchants' performance standard during that period, they now qualify to be a full Merchants Security Officer. At any time our client wants a Security Officer replaced, we will do so imediately with a replacement who is acceptable to our client.

Supervision

Merchants Security Service recognizes that the level of service it provides to clients can be NO better than the atention devoted by management to the monitoring and directing of the Security Officer's activities. Accordingly, every assignment we undertake includes provision for Supervisory and Management Staff who continually oversee all aspects of the service we are providing to our clients. This service includes our Managers as well as our Supervisors being vailable twenty-four (24) hours a day to provide assistance to Merchants' Guard Personnel. This is accomplished through a 24-hour manned Central Station in Blue Ash. Our security officers at the Merchant Client location will be supervised on a continuing basis by a full-time, patrol supervisor who will call on the job sites at various hours of the day and night. The Area Patrol Supervisor is responsible for inspection of the security officers for personal appearance, neatness, and condition of uniform, alertness, and knowledge of the general and specific security instructions relating to the operations. Our Patrol Supervisor is trained to analyze your security needs. He will maintain a close contact with our employees who are responsible for security.

Site Supervisor - Captain

Our Security Officer force at your facility will be supervised by a uniformed Site Supervisor whose duties will include, but are not limited to: Inspecting and Supervising Security Officers, Processing and auditing the reports prepared by the Security Officers, Providing liaison between the client's staff, Merchants' Management Staff and the Security Officer force, Maintaining a program of on site training of Security Officers, and Maintaining all correspondents to security contract.