National Security Technician Day: Former Firefighter Has Passion for Security
Stone Security technician Luke Goss is proud to do work in his security career that helps others, like he did as a firefighter.
Photo courtesy of Stone Security
Moving from a career as a firefighter to security technician certainly isn’t typical, but it’s the one Luke Goss, 39, chose almost a year ago when he joined Stone Security as a technician after a dozen years putting out fires, rescuing cats from trees and responding to life-threating situations.
In some ways, though, the transition makes a lot of sense, since Goss is still involved in life-saving efforts in a different way. These days, instead of responding to the alarms, he’s installing them himself and letting his former firefighter brothers and sisters handle what happens after the alarms sound.
This is the seventh Q&A in our National Security Technician Day series, continuing the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent’s annual celebration of the men and women who do the most important work in the security industry every day.
We plan to keep them going–with your help. If this story or any of the others in the series resonate with you, please let us know who should be the next security technician in the spotlight.
What’s one installation that’s been particularly memorable or made you proud?
A memorable install that stands out to me is the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. This is a giant performing arts complex spanning two square blocks in the heart of Denver, with numerous stage buildings for Broadway shows, orchestra, opera, ballet, etc.
There are many large outdoor gathering areas that connect the stage buildings, and a massive eight level parking garage along the whole North side of the complex. Stone has installed numerous cameras around the common areas of the complex over the years.
Recently we’ve been tasked by the city with outfitting the entire parking garage with security systems including multiple different types of cameras on all levels for anti-theft purposes, speakers that can be used to alert patrons of important information, and a special radar system on the roof of the garage.
Unfortunately, the top level of the parking garage has been a consistent place in the city for people to take their own lives. We installed a radar system on the roof designed to alert security guards anytime movement is present. It incorporates automatic PTZ and multi sensor camera tracking of the movement.
The goal is to get a security guard up to the person that could potentially be wanting to cause themselves harm as soon as possible, and for a camera and guard to easily have eyes on that person the whole time the incident is taking place.
Being able to install a system like this, a system designed to save human lives, parallels my last career of serving others in need, and again it’s just as fulfilling. I love that I’m still able to serve my community in this capacity and look forward to installing many more potential life saving systems in the future.
How did you become a security technician and why do you love the security industry?
I’m still pretty fresh into the industry. I will have been with Stone for a year in April. Before Stone, I was a firefighter and served in that industry for 12 years. I decided on a career change for numerous reasons, but the main reason was more time around my family.
I really enjoyed my time as a firefighter, serving the community, and most of all helping others. I love being a security technician because I still get to help my community, just in a different way.
I’ve already installed numerous cameras, access control and other devices all over the cities of Denver, Colorado Springs and Durango. These devices can be paramount in helping protect the community I live in, which to me is just as gratifying as being a firefighter.
Luckily, I have previous experience as a fire alarm technician and as an electrical apprentice before I was a firefighter, so the career transition has been pretty smooth.
If you know a security technician who deserves to be recognized for their work, please contact web editor Craig MacCormack at [email protected]. We plan to continue these Q&As with security technicians throughout the year leading up to National Security Technician Day in 2025.
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About the Author
D. Craig MacCormack, Web Editor
Craig MacCormack is a veteran journalist who joined Security Sales & Integration in June 2023 as web editor. He covered AV, IT and security with SSI's sister publication, Commercial Integrator, from January 2011 to June 2021.
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