Mesa Community College (MCC) Administration of Justice Studies is offering a free, one-day training to earn an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) unarmed security guard license.
The free event will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26 at the college's Southern and Dobson campus, 1833 W. Southern Ave. in Mesa. It's open to students and the public in Room SC11E at the southwest side of the campus. A free catered lunch will be available to participants.
“Anyone who is 18 or older and wants to obtain a ‘guard card’ or needs to take the refresher to maintain a security guard license is invited to the class,” said Bootsie Martinez R., MCC Administration of Justice Studies faculty. Martinez, a DPS-certified trainer who also has a security guard license, is the class instructor.
Arizona DPS electronic fingerprinting service will also be offered onsite.
“Fingerprint clearance cards are required for security guard positions, so this is a convenience we’re offering to participants,” added Martinez. She also points out that a criminal history check is carried out via the fingerprinting process. However, if participants apply to a company with more rigorous requirements, they may be subjected to a separate background check by the company. The cost for the Arizona DPS licensing fee, including fingerprinting, is $80.25. A Visa or Mastercard credit card in the attendee’s name is required to pay the fee to DPS online during the class.
As an added benefit, Martinez says that several recruiters for companies, including Allied-Universal, Anderson Security and IPSA Security Services, will be onsite and prepared to hire on-the-spot.
“The reality is that anyone who applies for a guard card on Saturday can go looking for a job on Monday. Based on past performance, DPS has been processing applications in a matter of days and mailing the licenses out very quickly. It’s a very in-demand credential,” Martinez said, adding that wages for security guards vary by client and the challenge of the job, but that unarmed security officers can easily make well above minimum wage.
Martinez also points out that students might consider taking the class as such jobs come with benefits and often tuition reimbursement that allows them to earn while they learn.
This is the first time MCC is hosting an event of this kind and Martinez hopes to offer the class each semester.
“We want to support our students and the community. Working in security is a terrific training ground for people who are interested in careers in criminal justice,” she said. “Security is more than just standing a foot post. It may include organized retail crime investigations, assignments to transit, utilities, zoos and museums, just to name a few.”
To RSVP for the class, visit tinyurl.com/
