At the behest of the IFPO's Chris Hertig, I have decided to start -- and complete -- the Certified Protection Officer course.
My first job in the industry was as a student security officer at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire somewhere around 1989. Outfitted with IDs, hats and flashlights, we were the eyes and ears of the campus' small security force. In the summers between school, I worked as a traffic enforcement officer for the Newport, RI Police Department and as a park ranger for the RI Department of Parks and Recreation.
Once I graduated, I took on a number of security jobs, guarding UPS trucks, a uninhabited Italian villa caught in a divorce, and, from '93-'96, as a guard at Rhode Island Hospital.
I look back on those years as some of the most formative, where I learned a lot about myself and also the security industry.
Back then, I wasn't aware of anything like the IFPO certification process, nor were any of the major companies pushing for such a distinction.
The CPO course demands a level of dedication and intelligence not found in all individuals, so passing can serve as one of many barometers that could determine a successful employee.
As I say in the video, I will periodically update viewers on my progress. It should be fun and educational.
IFPO offers an on-line version of the Certified Protection Officer (CPO) course. The CPO 8th Edition program provides graduates internationally recognized protection officer certification. This self-paced course offers access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The CPO 8th Edition provides comprehensive, up-to-date information that improves protection officers’ skills and enhances their efficiency. Our delivery system tracks student achievements and maintains data necessary to provide seamless continuation of learning.
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