Surveillance technicians are in charge of installing and maintaining various types of electrical surveillance equipment. Another aspect of a surveillance technician’s job is to maintain and test the surveillance equipment. For many surveillance technicians, cameras, microphones, and telephonic recording devices are standard tools of the trade. Many of these technicians are employed by law enforcement agencies or work in areas that require a high level of security, such as casinos or gaming facilities.
A surveillance technician’s job is to install surveillance cameras and related hardware in inconspicuous locations. When working with a law enforcement agency, a surveillance technician’s equipment is frequently used in undercover and sting operations. Surveillance of this nature is frequently carried out from afar or without the use of artificial light. In order to achieve the correct positioning to operate the surveillance equipment, the technician must be educated in many aspects of photography, audio recording, and electronics. To work in the field of electronic surveillance, a two-year degree in electronics is frequently required.
To become a surveillance technician, most people must complete a multi-year apprenticeship. This apprenticeship is typically completed after obtaining a two-year college diploma, and it typically requires the student to pass a written exam and obtain a license within months of starting work as a technician. The test is concerned with federal and state laws that govern the installation and use of electronic surveillance equipment in the United States. In most cases, the applicant must also obtain a technician’s license in order to work as one. To obtain this license, a number of requirements must be met, including no felonies, no crimes involving moral turpitude, and no gambling-related charges or convictions.
In a gaming environment, the surveillance technician may place cameras in plain sight to monitor not only the gamblers, but also the employees of the gaming agency. Dealers and other similarly employed gaming operators are constantly monitored in order to reduce thievery and unethical behavior. A surveillance technician usually uses closed circuit television monitors to keep an eye on the action in another casino room. Conversations between patrons, employees, and workers can also be monitored using miniature microphones strategically placed throughout the casino. Suspicious activity is usually reported by surveillance technicians to the head of a company’s security division, or to a casino boss or manager.