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msfledermausBeing a security person at a museum has many ups and downs. You get free culture, you meet interesting people, you protect everybody's heritage from theft or damage. You learn a lot about the world and the people who keep it interesting. You help people who are sick or hurt or lost. You have interesting and creative coworkers more often than not.
Of course, the downside is that if some psychotic shows up at your door with a gun, you're the first person in line to be shot...
This morning at the Jade Mines, we all talked about the 11 million dollar theft of Picasso sketches from a Paris museum. It's the latest in a rash of art thefts this year, and I was worried about it a little. Then in the afternoon I checked things online and saw the news about the Holocaust museum shooting. I called over a couple of coworkers, and for the rest of the day most of us were just quietly stunned, especially reading about the security guard who died. There's always this feeling when you read about something bad happening at another museum where you're thinking, "Whew, sure glad that didn't happen here!"
That didn't happen this time--the feeling was more along the lines of, "That poor guy--that could be me someday..."
Working in security isn't as dangerous as a slew of other jobs I can think of--taxi driver, pizza delivery, construction, convenience-store clerk...the list goes on. Museum security is safer than being a mall cop or a bouncer. But we see a lot of the public, the good and the bad...and when the bad gets bad, it sometimes gets there really fast, without a lot of warning.
And when it happens somewhere else, other guards wince and get quiet and wonder what would happen if it happened where we worked...because we know it can.
My condolences and sympathies go out to the guards at the Holocaust museum...and if it helps at all, know that a lot of other people in polyester shirts and clip-on badges are thinking of you tonight...
Of course, the downside is that if some psychotic shows up at your door with a gun, you're the first person in line to be shot...
This morning at the Jade Mines, we all talked about the 11 million dollar theft of Picasso sketches from a Paris museum. It's the latest in a rash of art thefts this year, and I was worried about it a little. Then in the afternoon I checked things online and saw the news about the Holocaust museum shooting. I called over a couple of coworkers, and for the rest of the day most of us were just quietly stunned, especially reading about the security guard who died. There's always this feeling when you read about something bad happening at another museum where you're thinking, "Whew, sure glad that didn't happen here!"
That didn't happen this time--the feeling was more along the lines of, "That poor guy--that could be me someday..."
Working in security isn't as dangerous as a slew of other jobs I can think of--taxi driver, pizza delivery, construction, convenience-store clerk...the list goes on. Museum security is safer than being a mall cop or a bouncer. But we see a lot of the public, the good and the bad...and when the bad gets bad, it sometimes gets there really fast, without a lot of warning.
And when it happens somewhere else, other guards wince and get quiet and wonder what would happen if it happened where we worked...because we know it can.
My condolences and sympathies go out to the guards at the Holocaust museum...and if it helps at all, know that a lot of other people in polyester shirts and clip-on badges are thinking of you tonight...
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Date: 2009-06-12 12:58 am (UTC)I was still working for the federal government when the Murrow Federal Building was bombed some years ago. I felt so sad for children, etc. but I kept thinking "those are some or ours."
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Date: 2009-06-12 02:07 pm (UTC)It really kills me that they poor guy who got killed was holding the door open for the man who shot him...I'm still getting over that one. I'm just so appalled...
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Date: 2009-06-13 01:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-13 07:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-14 02:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-14 03:11 pm (UTC)And we must be ready.
I will start knitting Kevlar body armor right away...and the union better insist we get cool helmets with visors, tasers, and large scary boots. I'm not letting a little old lady with a bazooka get me without a fight...
no subject
Date: 2009-06-15 02:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-15 01:41 pm (UTC)