Guardsmark was a major provider of security services in North America,

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

and the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. Founded in 1963, Guardsmark was the fourth largest security company and the only major provider privately held by one family. The family-run company employed more than 18,900 people with reported revenues of more than $510,000,000.00 in 2005. It claimed to be one of the largest employers of former FBI agents in the United States as well as one of the most selective employers in its industry. The firm marketed itself as offering more rigorous screening of applicants, including in many states, the requirement that applicants submit to a polygraph examination and a drug screen for illicit and prescription drugs before hiring. The firm also sought to enhance the image of security officers (eschewing the alternative designation, "

security guard A security guard (also known as a security inspector, security officer, or protective agent) is a person employed by a government or private party to protect the employing party's assets (property, people, equipment, money, etc.) from a variety ...

"). Among Guardsmark's distinguishing characteristics were its adoption of a formal

Code of Ethics Ethical codes are adopted by organizations to assist members in understanding the difference between right and wrong and in applying that understanding to their decisions. An ethical code generally implies documents at three levels: codes of b ...

in 1980, and the recognition of President

Ira A. Lipman Ira Ackerman Lipman (November 15, 1940 – September 16, 2019) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was the founder and chairman of Guardsmark, a privately owned security company with a payroll of 17,000 employees and 130 offices in ...

and the company for leadership in the field of

business ethics Business ethics (also known as Corporate Ethics) is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics, that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business c ...

, including receipt of the American Business Ethics Award in 1996. Guardsmark was sold to and absorbed by Universal Protection Service in 2015.

References

External links

* *''Mark Lipman, 88, Investigator Who Founded a Private Agency''. ''The New York Times'' obituary published May 25, 1994

Retrieved April 18, 2015. {{DEFAULTSORT:Guardsmark Security companies of the United States Companies based in Memphis, Tennessee Business services companies established in 1963