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Armed Security · Licensed & Accountable
Armed protection, deployed to the threat — not the brochure
Licensed, vetted armed officers for the situations that actually warrant a firearm — standing site posts, live events, and executive details. We build the coverage around your real risk profile, then hold every officer to written post orders and documented accountability.
Book a security consultation → Talk to our teamWhere armed coverage fits
What we protect
Armed security isn’t a default — it’s a decision. We recommend it only where the threat, the environment, or the value at risk genuinely calls for an armed presence, and we deploy officers who are licensed and range-qualified to carry. Below are the situations where an armed posture most often earns its place.
Commercial & corporate sites
Standing armed posts for facilities, warehouses, retail, and campuses where cash, inventory, or people face a real and ongoing threat.
Site coverage →Executive & dignitary details
Close-protection officers for executives, dignitaries, and high-net-worth principals — armed where the threat assessment supports it, coordinated with secure transport.
Protection details →Events & large venues
Armed and unarmed layered coverage for concerts, conferences, and large gatherings — access control, crowd posts, and a visible deterrent presence.
Event security →High-risk terminations / RIFs
On-site officers for volatile terminations and reductions in force, where an employee separation carries a credible risk of escalation.
Termination coverage →Residential & estate posts
Armed posts for private residences and estates facing a specific, documented threat — standing guard, gate control, and property patrol.
Estate posts →Standing & mobile patrol
Fixed armed posts and marked mobile patrol routes — scheduled checks, alarm response, and a documented presence across your property.
Patrol coverage →How we run armed coverage
Licensed officers, real accountability
Every armed officer we deploy is licensed under Arizona’s private security guard law (ARS Title 32) and carries the state armed-guard certification the assignment requires. Licensing is the floor, not the finish line — our officers are background-checked and range-qualified before they ever stand a post for you.
We deploy armed only where the risk profile justifies it. Not every site needs a firearm on it, and putting one where it isn’t warranted creates liability rather than safety. Before we recommend armed coverage, we assess the actual threat, the environment, and the exposure — then match the posture to it.
Your coverage doesn’t operate in a vacuum. We coordinate with your existing security, facilities, and leadership so posts, radios, and escalation paths line up instead of colliding. And every assignment runs on written post orders — who stands where, what they do, who they call, and how it’s documented — so accountability is built in, not improvised.
Because we’re a veteran-led, service-disabled veteran-owned firm, the discipline you’d expect from a military background carries into how we plan, brief, and supervise a detail. When a post changes hands or an incident unfolds, it’s recorded — not left to memory — so you have a clear record of what happened and when.
Armed security FAQ
What clients ask before they hire armed
When do I need armed versus unarmed officers?
Armed coverage is warranted when there’s a credible threat of violence, when high-value assets or cash are exposed, or when a specific situation — a volatile termination, a threatened principal — raises the stakes. For general deterrence, access control, and observe-and-report posts, unarmed officers are usually the right call. We’ll assess your situation honestly and recommend the posture that fits, not the most expensive one.
Are your officers licensed and insured?
Yes. Every armed officer is licensed under the applicable private security guard law and carries the state armed certification the role requires, and our operations are insured. Officers are background-checked and range-qualified before deployment — we can walk you through our credentialing during the consultation.
Can you cover a one-time event?
Absolutely. We staff single events — concerts, conferences, private gatherings, and one-off high-risk situations — with the right mix of armed and unarmed officers, access control, and a clear command structure for the day. Give us the venue, the crowd size, and the concerns, and we’ll build the plan.
How fast can you deploy?
For urgent situations — a sudden threat, an emergency post, a termination that can’t wait — we move quickly and can often stand up coverage on short notice. Standing contracts and events are planned in advance so posts, post orders, and coordination are locked before day one. Call our 24/7 intake and we’ll tell you straight what we can turn around.
Authority and force
What an armed officer can and cannot do
A firearm changes the stakes of a post, but it does not change the officer’s legal authority. Armed security officers in Arizona are private citizens with a license and training, not law enforcement, and a responsible program is built around that fact.
The firearm is carried to protect life, not to recover merchandise or enforce a policy. Our officers are trained to de-escalate, create distance, observe and report, and involve police. Drawing a weapon is reserved for situations where the law permits force to defend against a threat to life or serious injury. This is a general description, not legal advice; the specific limits are set by Arizona law and the facts of each situation. Our article on the authority limits of Arizona security guards goes into more detail.
What they do
Control access under your authority, deter by visible presence, respond to incidents, protect people from immediate harm, preserve a scene and document what happened in detail.
What they do not do
Chase shoplifters for property, search people without lawful basis, use a firearm to back up a verbal instruction, or act as though they hold police powers.
After any use of force
Immediate notification to police and to you, scene preservation, a written statement and supervisor review. Any display or use of a firearm is treated as a reportable event.
Post orders for armed posts
What goes into the written orders for an armed assignment
Armed posts need more in writing than a standard observe-and-report post, because every ambiguity about the weapon becomes a liability question later.
- Weapon carry and retention. How the firearm is carried on this post, holster and retention requirements, and whether the post calls for a visible or low-profile presence.
- Shift handover. How the post is relieved without leaving it uncovered, and what is checked and logged at each change.
- Restricted areas. Places on or near your property where firearms are prohibited by law or by your policy, and how the officer handles them.
- Escalation ladder. Which situations call for a verbal warning, a call to a supervisor, a call to police, or a withdrawal, spelled out in order.
- Client contacts. Who on your side is called, in what sequence, and for which events, including after hours.
- Reporting standard. What must appear in an incident report, the time frame for submitting it and who reviews it before it reaches you.
Choosing a provider
How to evaluate any armed security company
Armed coverage magnifies the difference between a disciplined provider and a careless one. Whoever you hire, ask for straight answers on the points below.
- Verify licensing. Confirm the agency license and ask how the company tracks each officer’s individual license and armed certification so nobody stands a post on an expired credential. The Arizona Department of Public Safety handles security guard licensing.
- Ask about qualification. Find out how often officers qualify with the firearm they carry on duty and what happens if an officer does not qualify.
- Read the use-of-force policy. A serious provider has a written policy and will show it to you. Vague answers here are a warning sign.
- Confirm insurance. Request a certificate of insurance that reflects armed operations, and ask whether your organization can be added as an additional insured if your contracts require it.
- Check who is actually on the post. Ask whether officers are the company’s own supervised employees or subcontracted day labor, and how supervisors check on them.
For a broader checklist, see our guide on how to choose a security guard company in Arizona.
More armed security questions
Details buyers ask about once the decision is made
Will armed officers detain someone who steals from us?
Our default is observe, document and involve police rather than physically intervene over property. Detaining people carries real legal and physical risk, and a firearm raises it further. We set the rules for your post in writing so there is no confusion in the moment.
Do we need to tell our landlord or insurer about armed coverage?
Often it is wise. Leases, property management rules and insurance policies sometimes address armed personnel. Check your agreements and confirm with your broker or counsel before the start date.
Can we choose the firearm our officers carry?
You can state preferences, and we will discuss them, but officers carry only firearms they are qualified on and that our policy approves for the post.
Can we start armed and step down to unarmed later?
Yes. Armed coverage is frequently the right answer for a defined period, such as after a specific threat or during a high-risk transition. We review the posture with you as conditions change and recommend stepping down when the risk no longer supports it. Our comparison of armed versus unarmed security guards covers the trade-offs.
To discuss whether armed coverage fits your site, call 602-725-2818 or request a confidential consultation.
Get armed coverage matched to your actual risk
Tell us the site, the situation, and what you’re worried about. We’ll tell you straight whether armed coverage is warranted, what it takes, and what it costs — no pressure, no upsell.
Book a security consultation →HONEYBADGER SOLUTIONS LLC · Arizona · Licensed AZ armed security (ARS Title 32) · SDVOSB · Veteran-owned
Armed & unarmed security — sites · events · executive protection · standing & mobile patrol