Officer Named Security Guard of the Year

Christchurch Patrol Officer Named Security Guard of the Year

An ADT Armourguard Patrol Officer in Christchurch has been named Security Guard of the Year.

The Award which is presented by the NZ Security Association to the country’s top security guard was given to Paul Berry at an awards ceremony held in Auckland last night (Thursday 16 September).

For Paul, the accolade could not have come at a better time when he, along with other Cantabrians, are getting to grips with the aftermath of the earthquake.

“The Award is great recognition for the work that I’ve done over the years in protecting people and property in the Christchurch region,” he said.

“It also serves as a timely reminder and motivator to keep my sights firmly fixed on dealing with the problem before us and helping local businesses and residents to get through these challenging times.”

When the earthquake hit, Paul was kept very busy as his patrol area is located right in the heart of the Christchurch CBD.

“Many of the buildings that I patrol were condemned. Fortunately, the Police allowed me in to the area so that I could provide one-to-one contact and relay updates to affected customers.”

While the aftershocks have continued, Paul has spent much of his time rechecking buildings and reassuring clients that their property and electronic security systems are still intact and operational.

ADT Armourguard General Manager, Ian Anderson, said Paul was highly deserving of the Award for the enthusiasm and dedication he always brings to the job

“Paul’s conscientiousness is not solely confined to his work for ADT Armourguard customers. He often goes above and beyond the call of duty even apprehending intruders that he spots at other non customer sites.”

For Paul, work typically involves anything from spotting taggers and handling noise control complaints through to dealing with serious offenders.

Over the last two years while working for ADT Armourguard, he has aided Police in around 60 arrests of people committing various crimes.

He said one of the scariest incidents involved an escaped inmate from a psychiatric hospital.

Responding to a panic alarm in late August, Paul arrived at a Christchurch liquor outlet to find four security people hanging on to a highly agitated man.

“To make matters worse, the man was bleeding from a wound on his neck, had weeping ulcers on his legs and was shouting, swearing and spitting at everyone around him.”

Paul immediately told everyone to put gloves on then restrained the man until the Police arrived. His quick thinking and calm action may have saved lives, as it turned out the man was HIV positive and hepatitis.

“It really rattled me afterwards but I’d do it all again, if I was faced with a similar situation in future.”

In another incident, while carrying out a routine site check in Fitzgerald Ave he became suspicious of a man driving a black car.

“After I drove away from his view, I saw him scale a retail store that sold European motorbikes.”

Paul immediately called the Police who arrested the man as he was preparing to burgle the property.

For Paul, effective teamwork lies at the heart of much of what he does.

“Whether it’s working with the Police or my fellow colleagues, we’re strong with the knowledge that someone is always there to back you up.

“In some situations, there have been as many as nine offenders on a property. That can be daunting but when you’re well versed in safety protocols and follow the correct procedures, the good guys do triumph.” ENDS

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