In 2004 the NJ Legislature signed the Security Officer Registration Act (SORA) into law (PL 2004, c134). It updated the 1934 private investigator certification statute to accommodate today’s security needs.

Gateway has taken a leadership a role in New Jersey
The Bush Administration’s 2003 National Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets indicated that security guards are “an important source of protection for critical facilities.” The November 12, 2004 CRS Report for Congress – Guarding America: Security Guards and U.S. Critical Infrastructure Protection – states that 87% of the nation’s security guards are in the private sector making federal funding a challenge. It also lists better pay and training as critical for the private guard force, however there are no federal guidelines for guard training. The state governments have stepped in, but nationwide training requirements are uneven.

Our commitment to high standards led Gateway to work closely with the State of New Jersey to revise the New Jersey Security Officer Registration Act (SORA) making certification for NJ security officers among the most rigorous and comprehensive in the country. We are proud to be the first security company certified in New Jersey holding license number 1001.

The new legislation was commended by the New Jersey Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force in its 2004/2005 Progress Report as legislation that augments its efforts. Indeed, the training provides for 24 hours of training that covers terrorism, gangs, suicide bombers, emergency response and incident command, basic first aid and more.

There are more than 2,200 private security companies in NJ providing security guards and many private corporations who hire their own security personnel directly. All security officers must be trained and be certified by July 1, 2007 or their employers will face stiff criminal penalties.

SORA accomplishes several very important things and will have a direct impact on your business:

  • Private security officers will be trained more comprehensively in how to identify, understand and handle a wide variety of threats including terrorist threats.
  • All SORA registered officers will be tracked in a statewide database making knowing who can and cannot serve as a private security officer readily available.
  • The value a private security officer delivers to private enterprise will increase, as will training and re-certification costs. Your costs will rise but so will the value of the service delivered.

Traditionally the security guard industry has been forced into fierce bidding wars for clients; in turn lowering security guard wages and forcing security guard companies to keep training to a minimum. The industry also suffers from high turnover rates as a direct result of low wages and lack of career paths.

Gateway Security is a leader in quality training and low turnover:
Gateway Security Inc. differentiates itself through training excellence. Gateway views SORA regulations as a mandatory minimum, going well beyond their requirements. By providing training, career paths, job flexibility and benefits to workers, Gateway Security has minimized turnover and maintained strong client relationships.