Graduation Safety and Security

 

Graduations are a milestone for students, families, and friends. When students graduate, commencement is a celebration of hard work and dedication. As our nation continues to face active shooter tragedies on school campuses, the need for hiring private security guards for graduation ceremonies becomes a reality. Private security officers with experience working at large events manage crowd control and can serve in multiple capacities to ensure the safety of graduates, guests of honor, and attendees. Skilled in emergency response, crowd overwatch, and active shooter scenarios, the best security guards protect school campuses and large celebratory events. In the next several months, high schools and colleges nationwide will face the decision to invest in greater certainty of safety during these momentous events.

Planning for Security Before the Event

Event planners must face the fact that graduates, faculty, and guests deserve to feel safe and enjoy their student's special day. Finding room in the budget will be necessary so extra hands are on deck to be on-site even before the event begins. Exceptional security officers can do risk assessments and help school event planners identify vulnerabilities and problematic entry points that can be addressed before the setup even begins. Private security guards are crucial to a successful and safe graduation event. Trained to work with local law enforcement, emergency services, and event planners, there is no better investment in the security of a graduation ceremony.

Vendor Traffic and Parking

The number of additional people on a school campus for commencement can exceed parking availability. All schools try to accommodate the extra guests, but rarely is there enough space for all the vendors and guests arriving on the event day. Event planners do an incredible job of delegating and working to give everyone access that they need, but having some security officers in uniform helps direct and ensure vendors are where they are supposed to be. That parking doesn't become a nightmare is something schools should consider. Even if private security guards aren't in the picture, now is the time to consider it and call for a quote. Companies like Off Duty Officers, Inc., understand that last-minute needs arise when planning large events, especially following a tragic news story on a school campus.

Access Monitoring and Control

One of the most challenging things all schools face when planning graduation events is crowd control, which includes preventing unauthorized access. A limited number of tickets and public settings increase the risk of large-scale commencement events. When there are multiple ways to access seating and the stage, hiring trained private security officers is the only way to monitor various locations to ensure only those with tickets or authorization access can enter the event. Although event planners take measures to block off certain areas, without a person there to enforce the perimeter, people take bold steps to get access. Whether a family member without a ticket, a passerby who wants a closer look, or someone with malicious intent, security officers can handle these interruptions quietly, discreetly, and professionally so that only good memories are made on these special days.

Emergency Response Coordination

Emergencies can occur at large gatherings, like graduation ceremonies. Calling 9-1-1 is often the first action taken when an emergency does happen, but then the wait begins. Highly trained security guards are the first responders at significant events like graduations. Exceptional private security providers only dispatch those with experience in these events and have worked with emergency services and local law enforcement. Communication and coordination are critical in emergencies.

The best way to give your graduates and their guests the best experience is to be prepared. The best way to be prepared is to have additional temporary event staff trained in security. Using the skills and training of experienced security officers to plan, respond to emergencies, and securely close out an event is the best investment that can be made.

Post-Event Security

After all the guests are gone and graduates have tossed their caps, clean-up crews, staff, and vendors benefit from a security overwatch to deter theft, vandalism, and unauthorized access. Event staff have their tasks and impressively manage unexpected occurrences, but having designated security guards to watch over the event breakdown is vital to the overall success of an event. We have never had a customer say they didn’t think it was the best investment they made to secure their event and give attendees peace of mind. Uniformed security officers, armed or unarmed, deter bad behavior and crimes and are ready to act in emergencies.

Whether you have finished planning your graduation event or are still finishing up, Off Duty Officers, Inc. wants to keep your event memorable for all the right reasons. Offer top-level protection and security for your students, faculty, families, and friends, and send off your graduates with a safe and secure sendoff! Contact Off Duty Officers, Inc. today by calling 844-285-6401 for a hassle-free quote for affordable and quality event security services.