The short answer
Event guards should be armed only when a qualified assessment supports that decision. Attendance alone is not enough. Evaluate credible threats, prior incidents, VIP or high-value exposure, alcohol service, venue restrictions, local police presence, entrances, crowd density, family or youth attendance, insurance, and the officer’s anticipated duties. The organizer, venue, security provider, insurer, counsel, and public-safety partners may all need input.
What to know
Unarmed officers can perform many event functions, including visible deterrence, credential checks, restricted-area patrols, calm communication, incident reporting, and emergency notification. Armed coverage introduces higher training, supervision, equipment, use-of-force, and communication requirements. An Arizona armed guard must hold the proper DPS registration and firearms training, but is not a peace officer and should never be presented as one.
The plan should document why the choice was made, which posts are armed, uniform and identification expectations, prohibited areas, storage rules, emergency coordination, and how officers interact with police. Mixed staffing may be appropriate in some environments. Arrow offers armed and unarmed services generally, but it should recommend a model only after reviewing the specific event and venue.