Small business & retail
A visible, welcoming presence that deters trouble and helps customers feel at ease.
- Opening & closing coverage
- Front-door and floor presence
- Parking lot checks
- Incident reporting after every shift
St. Louis, Missouri
Security that shows up — and stays present.
Unarmed physical security for small businesses, homes, and events across the St. Louis metro — led in person by a licensed officer with more than eight years on post.
8+ yearsLicensed security officer experience
$25–$35Per hour, with a 4-hour minimum
St. LouisCity & county metro coverage
The patch means a promise.On time, in uniform, and on post for the full shift — never leaving a post uncovered.
What we do
Physical security, done personally
Ember Shield is owner-operated. You don't get a call center or a stranger rotation — you get a known, uniformed presence who learns your property, your people, and your routines.
Residential & properties
Steady coverage for homes, apartment properties, and neighborhoods that need eyes on site.
- Property patrols and walk-throughs
- Vacant-property checks
- Move-in / move-out presence
- Package and perimeter watch
Events & gatherings
Calm, professional coverage for private and community events of all sizes.
- Entry and crowd presence
- De-escalation first, always
- Coordination with your event lead
- Coverage from setup to close
Custom & recurring posts
Regular shifts built around your hours — weekly, overnight, or as-needed coverage.
- Recurring weekly schedules
- Short-term and seasonal posts
- Clear written post orders
- Weekly or biweekly invoicing
How we work
Three words on every shift
They're on the patch, in the handbook, and in the code of conduct every Ember Shield officer signs. This is the standard — not a slogan.
Integrity
Honest reporting, every time. If something happened on post, you'll hear it straight — in a written incident report, not a rumor. Client information stays private, and nothing about your site ever goes on social media.
Compassion
Security works best when people feel respected. We lead with courtesy and de-escalation, treat everyone with dignity, and understand that most situations call for a calm voice before anything else.
Presence
Being there is the job. On post on time, clean and well-groomed, phone put away — and never leaving a post uncovered. A real, attentive presence is what prevents problems in the first place.
About Ember Shield
Founded and led by Aja Harris
Ember Shield Security was started in St. Louis by Aja Harris, a licensed security officer with more than eight years of experience — and a simple conviction: clients deserve security they can actually count on to be there.
Our mission “Ember Shield Security provides personal, dependable protection for St. Louis small businesses, homes, and events — security that shows up. Led by our values of integrity, compassion, and presence, we protect our clients like neighbors, so they can focus on their business and their lives — and we value the officers who stand the post as much as the clients they protect.”
Owner-operated, by design
Right now, Ember Shield is a solo, owner-operated company — Aja personally works your post. That means one point of contact, one standard of care, and no handoffs. As the company grows, every officer will be licensed before working a post, trained and shadowed on site, and held to the same code of conduct.
- Licensed & experienced: 8+ years as a licensed security officer
- De-escalation first: reasonable, measured response — force is a last resort, with law enforcement notified immediately if it's ever used
- Documented: written incident reports and a clear paper trail for every post
- Local: St. Louis based, serving the city and county metro
The Ember Shield patch. A traditional shield in deep red and charcoal with a glowing ember at its center — a small fire that never goes out, watched over properly. Company name on top, “Security Officer” banner below.
Uniform concepts shown. Every shift starts the same way: correct uniform, red shield patch, and a post that stays covered until relief arrives.
Pricing
Straightforward, hourly pricing
No vague quotes and no surprise line items. You’ll know the rate, the minimum, and how invoicing works before the first shift.
Unarmed security officer
$25–$35 / hour
Final rate depends on the post — hours, location, and what's being covered. You'll get it in writing before you commit.
- 4-hour minimum per shift
- Weekly or biweekly invoicing
- Written agreement before the first post
- Incident report included with coverage
Estimate your coverage
Move the sliders to see a ballpark. Your confirmed quote comes after a quick conversation about the post.
Estimated total range
$1,200 – $1,680
8 shifts × 6 hours at $25–$35/hr
$1,200 – $1,680
8 shifts × 6 hours at $25–$35/hr
How getting covered works
1
Tell us the post
Call or send the form below — where, when, and what you need watched.
2
Get a written quote
Your exact hourly rate, minimums, and schedule — in writing, no pressure.
3
Sign & schedule
A clear service agreement, then your post goes on the calendar.
4
On post, reported
Your officer arrives on time, stays present, and reports back after the shift.
Questions
Before you book
Are your officers armed?
No. Ember Shield provides unarmed physical security. Our work is presence, observation, de-escalation, and prompt reporting — and coordinating with law enforcement when a situation calls for it.
What's the minimum booking?
Four hours per shift. Coverage is billed at $25–$35 per hour depending on the post, with weekly or biweekly invoicing.
What areas do you serve?
The St. Louis metro — the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. If your post is just outside that area, ask; we'll tell you honestly whether we can cover it well.
Who will actually work my post?
Ember Shield is owner-operated, so founder Aja Harris personally works posts. As officers are added, each one is licensed, trained, and shadowed on site before working solo.
What happens if there's an incident?
You get a written incident report. If force is ever used — a last resort — law enforcement is notified immediately and the incident is formally reported within 24 hours, per our use-of-force policy.
How fast can coverage start?
It depends on the post and schedule. Call (314) 797-3466 for the fastest answer — we'll be straight with you about timing.
Request a quote
Tell us about your post
Call, email, or fill this in — the form opens a ready-to-send email in your own mail app, addressed to Ember Shield. Nothing is sent until you hit send there.
Call or text — the call alternative
+1 (314) 797-3466
Email
embershieldsecurity@gmail.com
Based in
St. Louis, Missouri
Serving the city & county metro
Aja Harris
Founder & licensed security officer, 8+ years