A day (or night) in the life of an overnight security guard

It has to be tough, right? The lonely, quiet, dark, and somewhat depressing existence of working the overnight shift as a security guard and doorperson in one of our Chicago condominium buildings. 

All alone, as the clock ticks slowly second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour…all until the first ray of daylight peaks through the hollow elongated darkness.

How do they do it, these legends of night owlery? How does one survive this apparent drudgery of quiet and dark?

“I love it!” says a long-time front desk security man at the Regatta Building,  Carl Dyson. Dyson works daytime shifts as well, “but the overnights are my favorite.” He adds. “The nights are usually pretty quiet and believe it or not the time goes by pretty quickly.”

Dyson is speaking as the voice of experience. He has been doing it for 18 years, about as long as The Regatta Condo Building has been open.

“I chose the overnight shift purposely when my kids were young. That way I could be there in the morning when they woke up and help them with daily activities and even pick them up from school. That was the main reason I started doing the overnight shift.”

So…. when does sleep enter into the Carl Dyson world, or does it?

“Oh yeah, I get my rest, usually from around 3:00 p.m. till 9:00 p.m. That way I am rested for the evening shift.”

Linda also works the front desk at The Regatta, currently doing more of a 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. evening shift, but she is a long-time veteran of the overnight security scene having done it for 21 years at various Chicago locations.

 Like Dyson, you don’t have to pull teeth to get Linda to work the overnight shift. 

“I loved working the late nights,” says Linda enthusiastically, “in fact, if the time slot opened up right now I would sign up to do it again!”

 So, how did Linda pass the time in the quiet of the middle of the night—for 21 years?

“I would do rounds at some places, walk around, check the garage etc.  And then I love reading books and listening to music, that makes the time go by much quicker too.”

 Isn’t there a danger factor? All alone at night? You must have had some scary, nervous moments over the years, right?

“There have been a few,” says Dyson, “but nothing too terrible. Only a couple of times have I actually felt threatened, and we do (at least in recent years) have a panic button that they can hit to alert the police.” 

“For me,” says Linda, I have had some instances that have been uncomfortable, like people walking in after drinking too much or strangers walking in looking to use the washroom. But nothing too bad.”

Finally, we asked the real voice of late-night experience, William Bynum—who spent almost 18 years working the overnight shift—and he chimed in like the others that he enjoys it. 

“At first it took some adjusting to,” admits Bynum, “but once you get in the routine and get used to it, it works out pretty well.”

Bynum had an interesting take on part of the reason he enjoys the overnight shift.

“Everyone comes in happy, and in a good mood. Usually, they have been out drinking and having a fun time, so they almost always come in in good spirits and with a smile on their face. I enjoy that part of it. Of course, there are times when they have too good of a time, and they have to be carried into the elevator! I have seen that happen plenty of times," says William.

One final and very key thing Bynum brought up…and this is the “unwritten rule” for all overnight security guards:  “No tell,” or as Schultz from the old Hogan’s Heroes TV show would say, “I know nothing!”

Meaning, when you worked overnights long enough you have probably seen it all and then some. But professionals like Linda, Carl Dyson, and Willaim Bynum know it is best to keep everything to themselves, rightfully honoring the privacy of the guests they help serve.

Finally, as someone who in my later years has trouble staying awake past 10:00 p.m., all I can say is thank goodness we have folks like these three who enjoy working the overnight shift.

These are the true heroes keeping us all safe, as we waft away into La La Land in the middle of the night.

And, like the magician with the disappearing rabbit, by the time we wake up, get dressed, and head downstairs for the beginning of our daily routine? Poof! They are gone. Disappeared into the early morning sunsets.

Not to be seen again until darkness reappears.