The Courtesy Patrol | Campground Conversations
Nicknamed “The Courtesy Patrol” by Mr. Jackson, our Security Team is always around to help in any situation in the campground whenever you need them.
Here is what Cedric had to say on Ocean Lakes Security |
Ocean Lakes Security | The Ocean Lakes Security Team strives to provide a safe and enjoyable vacation destination for all families to enjoy. We want you to have fun and create memories that will last a lifetime. However, we expect that fun to be within our policies and guidelines. Yes, we do have a lot of policies in place, and each of those policies are in place for a reason. Keep in mind, we are a large campground and on any given day during Summertime, there is anywhere from 25,000 to 35,000 people in the campground. Imagine the chaos if we did not have policies in place!
As Mr. Jackson used to say, “We really only have one rule, conduct yourselves like Ladies and Gentlemen.” That still stands true today.
What Do We Look For? | I look for candidates that are friendly and understand the value of guest interaction. If it is a position of Patrol or a Supervisor, public service experience is greatly appreciated: military, police, fire, EMS, etc. However, this is not required because we spend lots of time doing on the job training.
Capabilities and Training | Most Security Teammate is SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) Certified, which is renewed annually. This means they have the rights of a Deputy Sheriff on the property that they have been hired to protect.
We offer SLED Training (ethics, professionalism, situational awareness, law enforcement relations, report writing, dealing with difficult people, reasonable suspicion, probable cause, handcuffing), Pepper Spray Certification, Taser Certification, and Defensive Tactic Training. We can do up to detaining (with handcuffs) and make an arrest, depending on the situation. Our Offices are trained in less lethal methods, like Pepper Spray and Taser usage.
Our training process takes approximately 2-3 weeks and is continual. We do re-certifications annually or every 2 years, depending on what is required by law.
Frequently Asked Questions |
Q: Why is a 15-year-old allowed drive a car on the road with a driver’s license, but not a golf car?
A: A car is a much bigger and heavier vehicle - most will drive correctly. Golf cars are much smaller, and less intimidating. Younger teenagers are more willing to drive them recklessly. Therefore, the company’s stance is 16 years old with a valid driver’s license.
A: We have undercover officers, a Yeti cooler with a tracker, bike patrol, foot patrol, and vehicular patrol. We suggest that our guests take their valuables in at night. Always be proactive because criminals look for “crimes of convenience.” Lock your vehicles, secure your belongings, just as most people would do at home or work. There are criminals on vacation, as well.
Q: Can I bring my Pitbull or Rottweiler to Ocean Lakes?
A: The biggest responsibility of owning such amazing, intelligent breeds as Rotties or Pit Bulls is training them and understanding how to handle them in public places, as well as being aware of your specific dog's personality and limitations. Unfortunately, many people do not honor this responsibility and we have experienced repeated problems with those specific breeds at Ocean Lakes. There is a perception of those breeds that owners must face in addition to legal liabilities and insurance costs. (If you are honest with your agent, your insurance is generally higher, as you know.) Truthfully, those breeds are much more powerful and harder to regain control of when they misbehave or attack. It is not that we have a pet problem, or breed problem, often it comes down to a people problem. We work very closely with our legal and insurance teams, and we follow recommendations that are in the best interest of the majority of our guests and residents. In addition, we had specific incidents in the past with these breeds, before the decision was made to disallow them.
Q: If I am trespassed, what is the process to eventually be allowed back in Ocean Lakes?
A: The trespassed guest would need to contact the Security Manager to set an appointment to discuss the reason for their trespass in person. If the guest is remorseful and can explain how things will be different going forward, in most cases (but, not all), that trespass will be lifted.
Until Next Time | Stay tuned for the Campground Conversations video segment tomorrow on our social media! You will meet Cedric and learn more on what it takes to be an Ocean Lakes Security Teammate, as well as some reasoning behind a few of our policies.
That’s our Campground Conversation for the week – We will catch ya later, Ocean Lakes!
Comments
Post a Comment