Considerable controversy exists surrounding recent efforts by certain unions to become involved in the security industry, such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) which primarily represents janitors, trash collectors, and other building service employees.
Security Officers are often trained to perform arrest and control procedures (including handcuffing and restraints), operate emergency equipment, perform first aid, CPR, take accurate notes and write effective reports, and perform other tasks as required by the property they are protecting.Security officers are not normally required to make arrests (but have the authority to make a citizens arrest) or otherwise act as police officers, except in some (notably United States) jurisdictions in which the security officer is invested with arrest powers like those of a county sheriff.