I found Observe & Report to be well written and very entertaining. The author was successful in capturing, not only the humor of the situations that security professionals confront on a daily basis, but . . . the intensity of what could potentially be very dangerous and somewhat bizarre situations as well. I commend him for bringing to the reader a greater understanding and respect for those dedicated, unsung heroes who, generally unobserved, keep us and our families safe and secure in our homes and communities.
I believe this book will be of great interest to people in any phase of security work. Those who are involved in it will love the punch and pizazz of the personal stories. Those who are considering it as a career, or just getting started, will find it extremely helpful as they make choices about their training and career paths.
Behind the views of the wise guys, the whores and pimps, the cheating spouses, and the disloyal employees is a close look at the sophisticated career of a highly trained security officer. The tittle-tattle is counter pointed by the serious work of protection. The book made security work seem so exciting, with potential for travel to exotic and romantic locales and providing great scope for advancement and high pay for both men and women.
I just completed reading this book and before I continue with this review I have to be fair and tell all the readers I worked with the author in Kuwait. The Kuwait chapter tells of a time before there was even was a Blackwater, there was a group of men and women at Camp Doha, Kuwait, that was sent half way around the world by a company that went Chapter #7 August of 1997. Many came off the plane in Kuwait and did not have a clue what was expected of them. Mistakes were made and there were even some laughs. To this day many of the men and women that were the rope pullers (grunt guards) at Camp Doha, Kuwait will never forget those days and Mike is to be commended for telling the story.
I worked with Mike Oden in Kuwait during the 1990's. I was the logistician/armorer for the security contract and conducted much of the firearms classroom training and ranges for the security officers.
Mr. Oden's book manages to both reinforce stereotypes and show that the stereotypes don't apply to every security guard. The security field covers a lot of ground. Mr. Oden covers most of the field in Observe and Report--and he has experienced more of the field than I. I was more interested in Chapter Five, Contract Security, than the rest of the book--but it was all useful. One area not covered very whell is the vetting or background check of security guards. All employees should undergo a background check. Yes, it is expensive, and yes, it will cut the need for security professionals because the employee is still the biggest security headache for the company.
These six chapters provide a real-world view of the security business. As a stand-alone volume it is a useful introduction to the field for those contemplating a career in security. It is vital that security professional clients understand the limitations of their security services. Security professionals have to remember that this is only a game--yes, it is an important game, but taking the taunts and insults personally will only ruin your life.
I wasn't able to separate Mike Oden's experiences from the other security officer war stories. Other than that, it was an enjoyable read. I learned things I didn't know.
But remember--stereotypes are based on reality. Even the negative images of the mall security guard are based on reality. Fortunately, the reality of that negative image is becoming increasingly rare as the security profession progresses. The most important progress has to come from outside the security profession, from the management that contract for security services. No matter how professional your uniformed and undercover security officers are, it only takes a 'suit in the back office' to nullify their effectiveness.
I've been in security for eight years and before that I was in the Military. The stories in this book are right on the mark. It's real life, not some fictional make up. The serious stories are real and you can feel it through the words and the funny stories are enough to make you bust a gut in laughter. I've recommended this book to people who have no knowledge of security or it's function in our society, and they loved it. Why? Because it's like you're on patrol with the officers in the book and they make you feel like one of the gang. They open up to you and tell you not only their fears but their hopes and dreams for the future. If you work in security and you do not own this book you should change your career field. It's a must have for anyone involved in Public Safety.