The term “Security Guard” has become misleading over the past few years. Homeowners in Associations believe a security guards responsibility is to protect their personal being as well as the property of the Association. This is not the case. Why? Because of the liability of a security guard using undue force and causing injury to the other person. Yes, an intruder or a trespasser that is planning to commit a crime is protected by the law.

The Board at Kihei Villages has approved a new name for our security guards. They will be called “Property Watch”. This is becoming a term more used with many homeowner’s associations, as they realize Property Watch officers are used to make sure owners, renters, guests, and contractors are following the governing documents of the association. The Property Watch officer’s main purpose is to focus on being visible. Which will help deter criminals who are intent on committing theft, vandalism, sabotage, or physical violence.  If the Property Watch officer witnesses a crime, someone acting very suspicious or an emergency he/she will call the police, fire department and/or an ambulance.

The reality of our guards here at Kihei Villages is to observe, report and address rule violations. We don’t expect them to confront someone stealing a car, walking between cars, and looking into them, hiding in a dark area breaking into a condo unit. Why you say? Because we don’t want any of our guards running into someone trained in hand-to-hand combat, having a gun or a knife and we don’t want our guards to have a physical battle with someone on drugs. We would expect them to call the police! We don’t want any of our officers coming to work with the possibility of not returning home at the end of their shift.

                
The guards we hire don’t carry a gun, knife or expected to be trained in self-defense. In fact, we don’t even require them to be physical fit. The main requirement is, do they have experience at other locations doing security work and do they have their State of Hawaii certification as a security guard.