Hiring Security Guard Services in Orlando? Write the Post Orders First

Hiring security guard services in Orlando? The short answer: before you compare companies or sign anything, write down what the officer is supposed to do on your property. Those written instructions are called post orders, and they decide almost everything about how a guard post works: the hours, the access rules, the patrol path, who gets called, and whether the officer is armed. A company that can't help you write clear post orders will have a hard time delivering a post you're happy with.

What are security post orders?

Post orders are the written instructions for one specific security post. At Angels Protective Services, officers work from written post orders for that site: hours, uniform, access rules, patrol path, and who to call. They are the difference between a guard who stands near the door and a guard who knows exactly which door matters, who is allowed through it, and what to do when someone isn't.

Think of them as the job description for the post, not the person. If an officer is out sick and a relief officer covers the shift, the post orders are what let that person do the same job the same way. See our Security Guards service for how posted officers work.

Why should you write post orders before hiring a guard company?

Because you can't compare quotes for a post you haven't defined. Two companies can both say "security guard, overnight" and mean very different things. One might picture an officer seated at a lobby desk. The other might picture walking tours of a parking area every hour. Neither is wrong, but only one matches what your property needs.

Writing a rough draft first gives you three advantages:

• You get quotes for the same scope, so the comparison is fair.
• You find out quickly which companies ask good questions about your site.
• You avoid paying for coverage you don't need, or discovering a gap after something goes wrong.

You don't need perfect wording. A one-page outline is enough to start a useful conversation, and a good security company will help you tighten it.

What should Orlando property owners put in post orders?

Start with the problem, then work out the details. A post order outline usually covers:

• The reason for the post. What keeps going wrong, or what you're trying to prevent? Trespass after hours, unchecked contractors, loitering in a lot, or a lobby that can't be left alone.
• Hours and days. When the post is staffed, including weekends, holidays, and events.
• Where the officer stands or walks. A gate, lobby, parking area, construction entrance, or interior post, plus the route for any walking tours.
• Access rules. Who may enter, when, and how they prove it. This is where access control procedures live, such as visitor and vendor check-in.
• What to watch for. Open doors, propped gates, hazards, vehicles in the wrong place, or anything specific to your property.
• Who to call, and when. Your on-site contact, an after-hours manager, and when to involve public safety. Escalation should follow the post orders, not guesswork.
• Reporting. What gets written down, how incidents are reported, and how you receive those reports.
• Uniform and appearance. Visible and recognizable, or lower profile, depending on the site.
• Armed or unarmed. Decide this on purpose, not by default.

Should your security guard be armed or unarmed?

This is a site decision, and it belongs in the post orders. At Angels Protective Services, armed and unarmed posts are assigned according to the site, the client's written instructions, and Florida licensing rules, and the post order states which officers are armed.

Florida law sets the licensing side. It says licensees permitted to bear a firearm must also have a Class "G" license, and that "No employee shall carry or be furnished a weapon or firearm unless the carrying of a weapon or firearm is required by her or his duties" (Florida Statutes 493.6115). In practice, that means the duties you write down matter. Talk through the risks on your property with your security provider and your own advisers, and let the post orders reflect the decision.

Many posts, such as lobby desks, visitor check-in, and parking lot tours, are written as unarmed. Others call for armed officers. There isn't one right answer for every Orlando property.

How do you know the guard is following the post orders?

Ask every company you interview how it proves a post was covered. At Angels Protective Services, officers carry personal GPS devices to confirm officer vigilance, time, and location, and officers and patrol cars are equipped with cameras to record patrol activity. Incident and tour reports are produced for the client according to the site agreement. Our How We Work page explains how that reporting fits together.

Then read the reports. If a report doesn't line up with what the post orders say should happen, that's the moment to ask questions, not months later.

When should you update post orders?

Post orders aren't a one-time document. Revisit them when something changes on the property:

• A new tenant, vendor, or construction project changes who comes and goes.
• An incident shows a gap the original orders didn't cover.
• Your hours, events, or seasonal traffic change.
• You add or remove other layers, such as mobile patrol checks or surveillance cameras.

A short review with your security provider keeps the post matched to the property you have now, not the one you had when you signed.

What should you ask a security guard company in Orlando?

Bring your draft post orders and ask:

• How would you staff this post, and who covers it if the regular officer is out?
• What would you change in these post orders, and why?
• How do you confirm the officer was on post and completed the tours?
• What do your reports look like, and how often will I get them?
• Which licenses do you hold?

Angels Protective Services holds Florida security agency license B3100246 and is headquartered in Altamonte Springs, with primary operations in Orlando and Central Florida. Posts elsewhere in Florida are scheduled by site and available staffing. Learn more about our Orlando security services.

Ready to talk through your post?

Send us the site address, the hours, and the problem you need covered, even if your post orders are just a few rough notes. We'll help turn them into a post that fits your property. Request a consultation.