Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. 1 Cerberus Security & Patrol holds California BSIS Private Patrol Operator license PPO 121682. All officers hold valid BSIS guard cards, and armed officers hold current BSIS Firearms Qualification Cards. We carry full general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Certificates of insurance are available on request.

Every officer completes a DOJ and FBI fingerprint background check, a BSIS guard card application review, reference verification, and employment history validation. Armed officers also complete a psychological evaluation, firearms qualification, and an expanded background investigation. K-12 campus officers also clear the Child Abuse Central Index under the California Education Code.

All officers complete our internal training program. It covers de-escalation, customer service standards, emergency response, digital reporting, and site-specific post orders. Specialized assignments add more. Healthcare adds HIPAA awareness and clinical workflow. Hotels add hospitality standards. Maritime adds MARSEC and MTSA compliance. Education adds FERPA, Title IX, and Clery awareness. Banking adds BSA and AML physical security. Executive protection adds certified close protection training.

We serve clients throughout California from six offices. Our headquarters is in the San Francisco Bay Area at 1160 Battery St STE 100. We also have offices in Los Angeles, Lathrop, Sacramento, and San Jose. Officers deploy from the nearest office. If your property is outside these metro areas, contact us and we will confirm whether we can support it from the closest office.

Yes. We schedule coverage around your operations. This includes overnight shifts, weekend coverage, and holiday staffing. Many clients use daytime fixed posts with overnight mobile patrol. Others choose 24/7 coverage for high-risk sites. Holiday rates apply on observed federal holidays.

Standard deployment takes 48 to 72 hours after signing for posted sites. Emergency deployments can start within 4 to 24 hours for mobile patrol or fixed posts, based on officer availability and location. Executive protection advance teams deploy 48 to 72 hours ahead of the principal's movement.

Yes. We provide 24/7 fixed-post guarding and GPS-tracked mobile patrol across California. Call 1 (800) 460-8571 to arrange overnight, weekend, or holiday coverage.

Pricing varies by service type, number of officers, hours of coverage, and shift timing. It also varies by location, site complexity, and contract length. We do not publish rate cards because every site is different. Contact us with your property details, hours, and coverage needs for a customized quote, usually within 24 business hours.

To give you an accurate quote, we need your property address and type, your desired coverage hours and days, and the number of access points. We also need any known security concerns or incident history, your preferred service type, and any regulatory or insurance requirements. A free site walk-through produces the most accurate scope and pricing.

No. We offer month-to-month agreements, project-based contracts for construction and events, and multi-year agreements with rate locks. Minimum commitments vary by service. Mobile patrol and fire watch can start at one week. Fixed posts usually start at 30 days. Executive protection engagements also usually start at 30 days.

The right service depends on your risk profile, not preference. As general guidance, unarmed security fits fixed-post access control, lobby reception, visitor management, and visible deterrence. Armed security fits high-cash or high-value sites, documented violent threats, and regulatory mandates. Mobile patrol fits multi-site perimeter checks and after-hours deterrence. Fire watch is required by code when fire systems are impaired. Executive protection covers individuals with elevated risk. Contact us for a site assessment and a written recommendation.

Unarmed security means one officer at one property for the full shift. It fits lobby reception, gate credentialing, continuous access control, and immediate incident response. Mobile patrol means one officer in a marked vehicle visiting multiple sites on a randomized schedule. It fits perimeter verification, after-hours deterrence, multi-site coverage, and alarm response. Many clients combine both, with a daytime lobby officer and overnight patrol.

Armed security fits situations where a threat assessment identifies high-cash operations, such as banks, dispensaries, and check-cashing stores. It also fits high-value portable inventory like jewelry, metals, electronics, and cannabis. It applies to documented armed robbery or credible violent threats and to regulatory requirements. We do not deploy armed officers on preference alone. A written risk justification is required.

Yes. We provide NFPA 601-compliant fire watch when fire alarm, sprinkler, or suppression systems are impaired. Officers patrol at intervals set by the authority having jurisdiction, keep official fire watch logs, verify egress paths, and call 911 at the first sign of fire. Common triggers include system repairs, construction or renovation, hot work, and a fire marshal order. We coordinate with your fire protection contractor and the local fire marshal.

Yes. Executive protection, also called close protection, provides discreet personal security for people facing elevated risk. This includes corporate executives, high-net-worth individuals, dignitaries, and public figures. Services include advance venue surveys 48 to 72 hours ahead, route planning with alternates, a close protection detail, and secure transportation. They also include residential and estate security and domestic or international travel coordination. Agents come from law enforcement protective details, military special operations, or federal protective service backgrounds.

Look for a licensed California agency with a verified BSIS PPO license, insured and trained officers, and clear written post orders. 1 Cerberus is BSIS-licensed (PPO 121682) and can be reached at 1 (800) 460-8571.

Armed guards carry a firearm under a BSIS firearms permit and suit high-cash or high-risk sites. Unarmed guards focus on access control, visible deterrence, and customer service without a firearm.

We use several quality controls. Hiring includes expanded background checks, psychological screening for armed, campus, and executive roles, and reference verification. Training includes quarterly de-escalation and annual firearms requalification for armed officers, plus specialized modules per assignment. Field supervisors make unannounced site visits weekly, and our command center monitors GPS and radio compliance 24/7. Every shift produces a digital report with timestamps and photos. We also hold quarterly client reviews with incident trend analysis and corrective action tracking.

Every shift generates a digital report delivered to your inbox. It includes timestamped officer activities, perimeter checks, access control logs, and any incidents with photos and witness statements. It also includes maintenance and safety observations and an officer shift summary. Fire watch logs follow the NFPA 601 format with timestamps, officer signatures, and hazard notes. Executive protection provides daily advance sheets and movement logs. Reports are available by email or client portal.

Yes. Depending on the assignment, our personnel work alongside in-house security, property management, facilities teams, or other designated staff. Before deployment, we agree on a responsibility matrix, communication channels, reporting expectations, and any joint training. Many clients use us to support existing teams during peak periods, special events, or staffing gaps.

Every post has a written emergency action plan. It covers fire with evacuation routes and assembly areas, medical with EMS coordination and AED locations, active threats using Run-Hide-Fight with law enforcement liaison, and severe weather with shelter and evacuation routes. Officers are trained to secure the scene, protect life first, notify the command center and designated contacts, preserve evidence, and document the timeline and actions. After an incident, we deliver a written report within 24 hours with the timeline, actions, communications, and improvement recommendations.

Contact our 24/7 command center at 1 (800) 460-8571 or email Info@patrol-security.com. We log every concern, investigate it with a field supervisor, and respond in writing within 2 business days. Performance issues trigger an immediate supervisory review, a corrective action plan such as retraining, reassignment, or removal, and client follow-up. We track all concerns in our quality management system for trend analysis.