To Risk or Not to Risk: Why Hayson Tasher Sr. Believes Safety Is an Illusion

In a world that often glorifies stability, Hayson Tasher Sr. offers a counter-narrative, one shaped by lived experience, hard-earned licenses, and an unfiltered belief that true security doesn’t come from a paycheck. Based in California, Tasher has built his career and company around a simple but provocative question: to risk or not to risk.

For Tasher, the idea of a traditional “safe zone” has always felt misleading. “Being an employee is not a safe zone,” he says plainly. “You can get fired at any time.” Loyalty, years of dedication, and consistent performance don’t always protect someone when management changes or priorities shift. In his view, that reality leaves many workers vulnerable, especially when someone else decides their future.

That belief ultimately reshaped how Tasher viewed his own career. Today, he no longer carries a résumé. Instead, he operates with what he calls a capability statement, a reflection of what he can execute, not just what he has done.

A Mindset Built on Risk

Many people find comfort working for established companies, and Tasher doesn’t dismiss that path. But when someone once told him they felt safer working for others, he admits he couldn’t understand it and still doesn’t. “Call it ignorance,” he says, “but I guess I’m a risk taker.”

That willingness to embrace uncertainty has defined his entrepreneurial journey. Over time, Tasher realized something critical: he possessed more licenses, certifications, and permits than the very company he was employed by. The imbalance was impossible to ignore. Rather than staying confined by someone else’s ceiling, he chose to build his own foundation.

That decision gave rise to OLD Patrolman Guard Services (OLDPGS)—a security firm grounded in experience, compliance, and boots-on-the-ground leadership.

Building a Brand That Stays in the Field

OLDPGS provides armed and unarmed security guards, alarm response services, and free consultations, operating with a business model focused on reliability and direct accountability. The brand’s guiding principles are clear: “Security you can count on” and “Dedicated to administering a safe and secure environment.”

What truly sets Tasher apart from its peers is not branding, it’s behavior. He remains actively in the field, working security details himself, rather than limiting his role to office duties. To explain why that matters, he offers a sharp analogy: “Would you choose a lawyer who hasn’t practiced in 10 years to represent you in court?”

For Tasher, leadership means staying current, present, and exposed to the same realities his team faces daily. That hands-on approach reinforces trust, both internally and with clients.

Learning From the Past, Respecting the Greats

While Tasher doesn’t focus on competitors, one historic name stands out to him: Pinkerton. Founded long before his birth in 1976, the Pinkerton Detective Agency is one of the most recognized names in U.S. security history, famously associated with providing protection during Abraham Lincoln’s era. Its longevity and legacy resonate with Tasher, not as a benchmark to imitate, but as proof that disciplined security work can stand the test of time.

Opportunity Still Requires Action

Despite his strong views on independence, Tasher doesn’t romanticize success. Opportunity, he believes, is everywhere, but action is rare. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink,” he says. The same applies to entrepreneurship. Risk alone isn’t enough; commitment is what converts opportunity into momentum.

For those who see work as just a way to make ends meet, Tasher understands. But for anyone aiming to move up, he’s direct: there’s only one way to the top, and it requires risk.

A Lesson That Can’t Be Taken Away

The core life lesson Tasher shares is rooted in ownership. At any point, a company can push someone aside, sometimes by people who may not even be the most qualified, but simply hold authority at the moment. Years of effort can vanish overnight.

Building something of your own, however, is different. “Your own will continue to shine day in and day out,” he says. “They can’t take that away.” Even if setbacks come, you’re still standing back on top again.

Looking Ahead

Tasher’s vision for the future is expansive. He plans to launch retail locations under the OLD Patrolman brand, offering tactical wear, firearms, batons, and more. Beyond retail, he aims to expand security services into Central America and Belize, while also developing security training centers to prepare the next generation of professionals.

In an economy obsessed with comfort, Hayson Tasher Sr. represents a different philosophy, one that challenges the definition of safety itself. For him, risk isn’t recklessness. It’s ownership. And sometimes, it’s the only real form of security there is.