8.3 Working with Police, Fire & EMS

8.3 Working with Police, Fire & EMS

Quick Answer: A BC security guard is a support resource to police, fire, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS), not a peer. The guard observes, secures the scene, reports, and hands over to the responding agency. The BST exam tests what to say when calling 911, how to meet and guide responders, how to turn over an arrested person under s.494(3), and how to maintain a scene until police release it.

Why This Matters on the Exam

The BST Assessment treats the guard as one actor in a larger emergency-response system. Candidates who answer as if the guard investigates, arrests, and prosecutes independently fail the question. The exam tests the handoff — the moment a guard turns a scene, an arrested person, or a patient over to a peace officer, firefighter, or paramedic — and the communication skills that make that handoff safe and effective. A guard who cannot clearly brief a responding officer slows the response and weakens the case.

The Guard's Relationship to Emergency Services

A security guard is a private citizen licensed under the Security Services Act (SBC 2007, c.30). A guard has no police powers — no investigative detention authority, no power to arrest outside Criminal Code s.494, no power to lay charges. A guard's relationship to emergency responders is therefore:

• Support, not lead. Police, fire, and EMS are the lead agencies; the guard supports them.
• First on scene, last to leave. The guard is often first to identify the problem and is expected to hold the scene until the lead agency arrives and releases it.
• Eyes and ears, not enforcer. The guard observes and reports; responders act on the guard's information.
• No interference. Once police, fire, or EMS take command, the guard follows their instructions within the guard's authority.

This is the same principle as the rest of the BST course: a guard performs the function safely, legally, and effectively by knowing the limits of authority.

Calling 911 — What to Tell the Call-Taker

When the guard calls 911, the call-taker needs specific, structured information. The guard should be prepared to give:

The call-taker may give instructions (start CPR, evacuate, stay outside); the guard follows them within their training and authority.

A 911 Call Checklist

A reliable 911 call follows this order:

1. Location — give the exact address first. If the call drops, dispatch still knows where to send help.
2. Nature — one short sentence: 'I am a security guard reporting a break-in in progress at…' or 'I have an injured person at…'
3. Persons — how many, descriptions, injuries.
4. Weapons — say 'no weapons visible' if so, or describe what is visible.
5. Access — where the guard will meet responders; gate codes, locked doors.
6. Stay on the line — the call-taker may have more questions or instructions.

Meeting and Guiding Responders

Responders lose time finding the right door. The guard's job is to meet and guide:

• Position a guard (or a posted colleague) at the agreed access point.
• Wave responders in, direct them to parking, and lead them to the scene.
• Brief them on the way: what happened, where, who is involved, where the hazards are, what has been done so far.
• Identify the person in charge of the scene for the responding agency (the first arriving officer).

For a fire call, the guard meets fire trucks at the closest hydrant or building entrance and reports the alarm zone and evacuation status. For a medical call, the guard meets EMS at the door and guides them to the patient. For a police call, the guard identifies the suspect's last known location and any weapons.

Turning Over an Arrested Person (s.494(3) Handoff)

When a guard has made a citizen's arrest under s.494(2), s.494(3) requires the arrested person be delivered forthwith to a peace officer. The handoff has three parts:

1. Call police immediately when the arrest is made. State that a citizen's arrest has been made under s.494, give the location, the arrested person's description, and any safety concerns (weapons, medical, combative behaviour).
2. Brief the officer when they arrive: the offence, what the guard personally witnessed ('finds committing'), the grounds for arrest, the time of arrest, and any statements made by the arrested person. Hand over any evidence (recovered merchandise, a dropped tool) without contaminating it.
3. Document the handoff — the officer's name and badge number, the time of handoff, and what was turned over. The guard may be asked to provide a written statement and attend court as a witness.

The guard does not interrogate, does not require a confession, and does not delay the handoff. Once the officer takes custody, the guard's arrest authority for that person ends.

Maintaining the Scene Until Released by Police

Police take command of a crime scene when they arrive. The guard:

• Continues to secure the perimeter as directed by police.
• Does not re-enter the scene unless the officer in charge authorizes it.
• Does not allow bystanders, staff, or media to enter.
• Asks the officer in charge when the scene may be released and notes the time and the officer's name.
• Continues normal duties only after the scene is released.

Until release, the scene belongs to the police. A guard who crosses the line or 'cleans up' after police arrive can contaminate evidence and weaken the case.

BC-Specific Emergency Numbers and Evacuation Support

In British Columbia, 911 is the universal emergency number for police, fire, and ambulance across the province. Where 911 is not available (some remote areas), the guard should know the local seven-digit emergency numbers posted at the site. Non-emergency police lines exist in many BC municipalities for incidents that are not immediate threats.

For evacuation support, the guard's role is to:

• Initiate evacuation when fire alarm, directive, or site policy requires it.
• Sweep assigned zones and confirm they are clear, noting any persons who refuse to leave.
• Direct evacuees to the designated assembly point, keeping routes clear.
• Assist persons with mobility, sensory, or cognitive needs as trained and as far as safety allows.
• Account for occupants at the assembly point and report missing persons to fire or police.
• Hold the assembly point and prevent re-entry until the fire department or police authorizes return.

A guard is not a firefighter and does not re-enter a building to fight fire; the guard supports evacuation and hands the building over to the fire department.

Confidentiality and Statement-Giving

A guard's incident information is confidential outside the official process. The guard:

• Gives a statement to police, the supervisor, and the client as required by post orders.
• Does not discuss the incident with media, bystanders, family, or on social media.
• Does not release CCTV or witness information to anyone other than the lead agency or as law and policy require.
• May be required to attend court as a witness; the guard tells the truth, sticks to what was personally observed, and does not speculate.

A clear, factual statement focuses on what the guard saw, heard, smelled, and did — not on conclusions or assumptions. The statement should match the incident report; discrepancies are exploited in court.

Responder Handoff Responsibilities

Key Takeaways

• A guard is a support resource to police, fire, and EMS — never a peer; the guard observes, secures, reports, and hands over.
• A 911 call gives location, nature, persons, weapons, access, and identity — location first, in case the call drops.
• The guard meets and guides responders to the scene; the first minutes matter.
• A guard who arrests must turn the person over forthwith under s.494(3) and brief the officer on the grounds and evidence.
• The guard maintains the scene until released by police, gives a factual statement, and keeps incident information confidential outside the official process.