Use of force sensitive issue for security guards: Bates

While the Brandon Police Service is called to assist security guards with arrests on a weekly basis, an issue involving guards using excessive force to detain people “comes up periodically,” Chief Tyler Bates says.

Security guards regularly arrest shoplifters or people who are breaching the peace at businesses in Brandon and are required to turn that individual over to police as soon as possible, Bates said.

Under the Criminal Code, security guards are “only allowed to use as much force as is reasonably necessary to take that person into custody,” Bates said, adding that any amount of force used depends on the circumstance.

On Saturday, a video circulating on social media showed a security guard beating an alleged shoplifter with what Winnipeg police say were brass knuckles — a prohibited weapon.

A 23-year-old security guard allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill a 46-year-old man, who was attempting to leave Dollarama on Portage Avenue near Main Street in Winnipeg with $95 worth of merchandise, police news release said.

The alleged shoplifter also assaulted and threatened to kill the guard, police said. The man faces charges of robbery and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

The security guard faces charges of assault with a weapon, possessing a prohibited weapon and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, police said.

Both have been released on an undertaking and will appear in court at a later date.

Unlike police officers, security guards don’t have the same authorized weapons or tools at their disposal, which can pose safety risks to guards during an intervention, Bates said.

“There’s a whole lot of risk, and there’s a whole lot of legal ramifications surrounding the use of force,” he said.

“It’s important for people to understand those parameters … and how they can engage in these types of instances in a manner that’s lawful, respectful, empathetic and considerate of the circumstances.”

The incident has led to protests outside the Dollarama store in Winnipeg and calls for the provincial government to update its regulations for security guards.

A provincial spokesperson said the government is in the process of modernizing its security guard training program, including a newly developed code of conduct and units on Indigenous awareness.

Assiniboine College is one of 24 approved security guard training program providers in Manitoba that’s listed on the provincial website.

Former Winnipeg police chief Jack Ewatski, now academic chair for the Public Safety Institute at Assiniboine College, said people must submit an application to be a security guard to the province, which includes criminal background and child abuse registry checks, and pass a 40-hour mandatory training course.

The college’s training program covers topics outlined in the nearly 400-page Manitoba security guard training manual. Those taking the course need a minimum of 75 per cent to pass, Ewatski said.

“Then it’s up to the province to decide whether or not they meet all the qualifications and then issue them with a security guard licence,” he said.

During the 2024-25 year, the province issued a total of 8,992 security guard licences, which included 161 temporary licences that are only valid for six months, a spokesperson said.

Temporary licences can’t be renewed or extended and are issued when the registrar is fully satisfied that there are no “security concerns.”

“They are granted only in exceptional circumstances and are intended for hard-to-fill positions where a company is in immediate need of security guards,” the provincial spokesperson said.

The security guard facing multiple charges in Winnipeg had a regular licence, which was suspended by the registrar as the investigation of the incident continues.

Ewatski said any use of force by security guards should be a “last resort” because they aren’t equipped or trained at the same level as police.

“Their prime function is to be a deterrent for any type of unauthorized behaviour or any criminal activity depending on where they’re working at,” he said, adding that training programs focus on de-escalation strategies.

When asked whether 40 hours is enough time to effectively train security guards in the program, Ewatski questioned whether any job involved with public safety has enough training.

He said it comes back to reviewing the training curriculum to see if any improvements can be made.

Assiniboine College operates through an applied learning model where people taking the security guard course run through possible scenarios and are evaluated by their response, but not all provincial training programs are offered in-person, Ewatski said.

The college’s program is offered based on interest. Enrolment is open for the March 23-27 dates this year.

» tadamski@brandonsun.com