Guarding the Gates

In this comprehensive guidebook, Ellis Amdur and William Cooper equip security guards with essential strategies for safely managing encounters with individuals exhibiting psychiatric or substance use disorders. The book first outlines the security guard's critical role in de-escalating distressing behaviors and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a safety mindset and tactical planning. Subsequent sections enhance the reader’s intuition and promote a state of integrity and calm necessary for crisis situations, while also detailing specific behaviors and motivations behind aggression. The authors provide practical de-escalation techniques tailored to different forms of aggression, enabling security professionals to respond effectively and professionally in challenging scenarios.