Armed Security Guard Services
A visible, state-certified deterrent, on post when you need it.
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An armed security guard is a licensed officer who carries a firearm on duty to protect people and property, at a fixed post or on patrol. In Texas that officer is a Level III commissioned security officer registered with the Department of Public Safety. Price Protection Security has staffed armed posts since 2019, from its Sugar Land headquarters, for emergencies and for ongoing coverage across Houston and Sugar Land.
Price Protection has been providing armed security guard services since 2019, establishing itself as a leading provider in the industry. We protect residential complexes, construction sites, retail locations, and commercial properties across Houston and Sugar Land.
Our guards are trained, experienced, and state-certified to effectively safeguard personnel and property. Whether you need armed guards for emergencies or ongoing coverage, we ensure quick response times and a skilled security team.
What makes a guard armed in Texas
The state decides who may work armed, not the security company. A Level III commissioned officer completes a 45-hour course that includes firearms proficiency, clears a background check and is registered with the Texas Department of Public Safety before carrying a firearm on duty. A Level II officer completes a 30-hour course and works unarmed. Both levels come from Texas Occupations Code chapter 1702, which the DPS Private Security program administers.
The company carries its own license too. Price Protection holds Texas DPS security company license #B09430601, a Class B security contractor license, and every armed officer we post is state-certified. Our licensing page shows the license and how to verify it.
What an armed officer does on post
Most of an armed shift is ordinary security work done well. The officer holds a visible position or walks a route, checks who comes through a gate or a lobby, watches your cameras where the site has them, and writes down what happened. The firearm is a deterrent. The job is still to deter, observe and report.
Post orders are written with you before the first shift, so the officer knows the entrances, the hours and who to call. You receive a written report every day and an incident report whenever something happens, and officer performance is reviewed and documented daily.
Where the property calls for it, an armed post also covers access control at gates and lobbies, vehicle patrol and real-time monitoring of your camera systems.
Authority and the use of force
An armed security officer has the same legal authority as any private person in Texas, and no more. Code of Criminal Procedure article 14.01 lets a private person arrest for a felony or a breach of the peace committed in their presence, and Penal Code chapter 9 sets out when force may be used, including self-defense under section 9.31.
On post, our officers follow the post orders, call the police for enforcement and hand off when they arrive. This is a summary, not legal advice. The answer on whether security guards may use force in Texas goes through it in more detail.
Choosing between armed and unarmed coverage
Armed coverage fits where the risk is higher: an area where crime rates are high, a site holding expensive inventory, or a large event. Those are the properties where an unarmed presence may not be enough of a deterrent.
Where the work is access control, patrol and a welcoming presence, unarmed security guards are usually the right level. If you are unsure, armed or unarmed: which do I need sets out how to decide.
Armed security from Sugar Land
Our headquarters is at 77 Sugar Creek Center Boulevard, Suite 600, in Sugar Land, and armed officers are staffed and supervised from there. We cover Sugar Land, Houston and the rest of Greater Houston, and serve clients across Texas. Dispatch answers 24 hours a day on (281) 326-9189.
Why
Why hire armed guards?
Organizations have different security needs based on their specific risks. In areas where crime rates are high, unarmed guards may not be enough. Using trained, armed security guards provides several benefits:
- Effective deterrence. Armed security personnel discourage crime because people are less likely to act when they see someone who can use a firearm.
- Enhanced safety. Incidents are resolved quickly on-site in the event of an emergency.
- Assurance. Having armed security officers creates a safer environment for employees and customers.
When to call
When should you hire armed security guards?
Many businesses face serious security problems that require armed security guards to protect their people and valuable assets. If your business deals with high crime rates, manages expensive inventory, or holds large events, having a strong security presence is essential to keep everyone safe.
Venues, warehouses, and healthcare facilities often need armed guards urgently. By partnering with Price Protection, you can avoid last-minute issues and ensure your operations run smoothly and safely. Don't leave safety to chance; make security and peace of mind a priority today.
Where it is used
Where armed officers are posted.
Apartment and residential communities
Gates, leasing offices and parking areas are where a residential property is exposed after dark. An armed officer at the entrance or on patrol gives residents and staff a visible deterrent through the evening and overnight hours.
Construction sites
Materials, tools and equipment sit in the open once the crews leave for the day. An armed post at the gate or on the site covers the nights and weekends when nobody else is there.
Retail stores and venues
Stores carrying expensive inventory and venues holding large events need a strong, visible presence at the doors. Armed officers stand where customers, guests and staff can see them.
Warehouses and healthcare facilities
These sites often need armed coverage urgently, and many of them run around the clock. We staff armed officers for an emergency start and keep them on as ongoing coverage.
- The address of the property and what kind of property it is
- What has been happening there, and whether a specific person or threat is involved
- The hours and days to cover, and whether the post starts tonight or on a set date
- The gates, doors or areas that matter most to you
- A contact who can be reached by phone while the officer is on post
Are your armed guards licensed?
Yes. Our armed guards are trained, experienced, and state-certified. Price Protection holds Texas DPS security company license #B09430601.
Where do you provide armed security?
We protect residential complexes, construction sites, retail locations, and commercial properties across Houston and Sugar Land, and serve clients across Texas.
Can you provide armed guards on short notice?
Yes. Venues, warehouses, and healthcare facilities often need armed guards urgently, and we provide armed guards for emergencies as well as ongoing coverage.
How long has Price Protection provided armed security?
Price Protection has been providing armed security guard services since 2019.
Do armed guards also handle access control and patrol?
Yes. Where the site calls for it, an armed post includes access control at gates and lobbies, vehicle patrol, real-time monitoring of your camera systems and detailed incident reporting. The duties match an unarmed post and are carried out by a commissioned officer.
Do you provide armed security guards in Sugar Land?
Yes. Price Protection is headquartered at 77 Sugar Creek Center Boulevard in Sugar Land, and armed officers are staffed from there for Sugar Land, Houston and the surrounding area.
What is in the post orders for an armed post?
Post orders are written with you before the first shift. They set out the entrances and hours to cover, who the officer reports to and who to call, so the officer works from your instructions and the daily report can be read against them.
Related pages
Industries we serve
Insights
Answers
Where we are
Armed security guards across Greater Houston.
Every area below is staffed and supervised from our Sugar Land headquarters. Open an area to see the property types, neighborhoods and questions we hear there.
24-hour dispatch
(281) 326-9189Fort Bend County
Sugar Land and its neighbors, closest to our headquarters.
Houston
Neighborhoods and business districts inside the city.
North and west
Katy and Cypress up to The Woodlands and Conroe.
South and east
Pearland and Clear Lake across to Pasadena and Baytown.
Request a proposal
Request a proposal for armed coverage.
Two short steps. Dispatch reviews every request and calls you back about coverage. For urgent unarmed coverage we can typically staff most sites within hours.
24-hour dispatch
(281) 326-9189