Security Guards with Police Powers?

[retail_warrior]

I am doing some research for a school paper....I am retail LP agent and Criminal Justice student. As part of my project (regarding Security changes post 9/11 in the retail industry) I have noticed the following trends and thought I would ask some experts for their thoughts.....

Security guards with increased powers beyond citizens arrest, etc with the ability to write citations for larcenies and run license for warrant checks related to shoplifting, etc, etc.. There is also talk of larger companies building there own security forces and other things such as gated communities employing private "police" forces --albeit unsworn.

Two major arguments here....one it is a great thing as it takes some of the burden off LEOs to deal with minor shoplifts. The other side is who wants some of these goofballs to be able to have license run or write citations. In my experience I have worked with the best of professionals and the worst of Stereotypical Security Guard wannabees :eek: that lack some serious training.

What are your thoughts on this new trend? :confused:

[retdetsgt]

The state would have to buy off on any additional powers given to security officers and frankly, I doubt they would. At least mine wouldn't. Especially the part about them being able to run warrant checks. There are some good security people out there, but the pay is so low that many are wannabes who couldn't get hired as cops for whatever reason. The lowest common denominator would tank any chance of that happening.

[Piggy]

I think it's a dangerous way to go. About the closest thing we have here is Special Deputies. If a Corp. or Business wants armed security with law enforcement powers, they have to sign a contract with the Sheriff. The Sheriff then provides a two week training course for Special Deputies which is a quasi-reserve/security position. The Officers are uniformed, have their own patch and badges and they are able to drive emergency vehicles and make arrests.

I have no problem with the Special Deputy program as the Sheriff provides continuing education and you rarely hear any complaints about their conduct. Giving Security Guards with no education or training any kind of arrest powers seems a little dangerous to me. Security has their own role to play, but when you start giving businesses arrest power with no oversight I think you will run into too many problems.

[tpd_six]

The closest thing we have here are the private entities which hire their own sworn officers, such as the transit authority and the railroad. They are actually considered police officers, however, and the companies can afford to pay them what they are worth. Many city officers actually have left government positions for the private entities with better pay and benefits.

[lindat2957]

The problem with these private security companies that hire "armed response" say in gated communities, is training. From a few bad run-ins I cringe when I hear that armed security patrol is nrt. Yes there are good ones, but unfortunately the ones with no common sense ruin it for everyone. Security does have it's place, but it is NOT LE and needs to stay that way, unless POST got involved and regulated their training too. But I agree with Retdetsgt, I don't think the states would ever give that power, too hard to keep tabs on.

[JD45]

We have to go through an pretty extensive background check before we get hired and have to sign numerous agreements about confidintiality and running people. I could NEVER see CA allowing any type of security guards to run license and other checks on anyone.

We have a couple of security guards that try...dispatchers shoot them down all the time..:D

I'm all for the security guards being able to handle some of the minor stuff. That's what they have civil restitution for. They don't need any further ability than a citizen's arrest IMHO.

[michiganstud]

Michigan has Act 330 security police officers. They are private security officers and have to go through specialized training. They have misdemeanor arrest/citation powers ONLY ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY. Some carry firearms, some do not.

These are far and few between in MI, I think there are only about 8 entities that have this.

[mcsap]

In my state, an armed guard has NO extra authority over a regular citizen. They can just carry a gun and get paid for it. Retail Security at a store does have the authority to physically detain a shoplifter until PD arrive but they too have no other police powers and cannot issue cites or make arrests.

[scott715us]

Closest thing here is off duty LEO's working security for retail stores, etc. They obviously have arrest powers, but are working directly for the store, and not for the PD/SO/etc. I was in loss prevention for three years and thoroughly enjoyed it before becoming an officer. I believe there are too many mall security officers/building security that would take it way to their head.

The only way to go is to have LEO's working off-duty. Of course they are limited in what they are allowed to do, but they are trained like they should be and a risk of lawsuit(s) are to a minimum. ;)

[mcsap]

I started working for the school district that I live in as a school police officer. They decided against having security and have their own sworn police officer dept who have full arrest powers on school property. Also, every one of us is a current or retired LEO so they are assured of good people.

[Deputy757]

I don't think private security needs any police powers, however limited, and I don't think they probably want them either. As it is, they are now exempt from things like illegal search and seizure. If they were to be given police powers that could and probably would change in a heartbeat.
In KY, there is a position known as a Special Local Peace Officer which is what gated communities and large corporations can make their private security staff. They basically have powers of arrest on the property they are hired to protect. They can pursue off property only for a felony offense.

[retail_warrior]

Thanks everyone for your responses and I tend to agree with most thoughts related to training, lowest denominator, etc. I have worked with more than a few people that would take it way too far.

I am on a few industry specific message boards. There are a few posters in the western part of the country...(WA? or that area) where the cites and warrant checks through the local PD are happening. According to them it relieves some of the burden on the PD to deal with minor shoplifting and the local PD certifies them to be able to write cites.

It just seems like the policing is kinda coming full circle ---back to it's roots of a private security for businesses, docks and churches. Not that we would ever want to do away with real LEOs.

Thanks again for everyones thoughts, so far

[tpd_six]

I used to work in retail LP for a while before going into LE. When we detained someone, we would give their information to dispatch. They wouldn't give security any information, but would let the responding officer know if the person was wanted, etc. IMO that's a little different than security running the check.

[retail_warrior]

tpd_six
Thanks for the response My understanding was these individuals called Dispatch and had the license/ID run by the clerk. If the guy was good they would Civil demand them (civil suit paperwork to recover costs) and kick 'em. If they were wanted PD would send a car to pick up the subject.

To calrify, they (PD) wouldn't send an LEO unless the person was wanted on other charges. The LPO would issue the cite and kick 'em loose.

[slim202cop]

In DC, most commissioned Special Police Officers have arrest powers.

Do they make arrest? No. They just hold the shoplifting/theft suspect until we arrive on the scene and take the arrest. Apparently, they have orders no to arrest, just detain until we get there.

I remember when I first hit the streets out of the academy, my FTO and I received a call for a shoplifter, that was being detained at a grocery store on my beat. We got their in no time. I took notice of both SPOs who were detaining the suspect. They damn near had everything on their belt that I had on my mine(except they had a six shooter). I asked my FTO why did we have to arrest him since the SPOs had arrest powers. He told me that their company doesn't want them making arrest. They would rather the SPOs let us deal with the arrest and the ensuing paperwork.