PRIVATE SECURITY What is private security People hired

PRIVATE SECURITY

What is "private security" ■ People hired to guard or keep watch over a certain area or object(s) ■ Can range from well trained and heavily armed. . . to very little training and unarmed.

Types of Private Security ■ Contract Security: Hired to provide security services for people who have no security; ex. football games

Proprietary Security ■ Provides security services for an agency that employs them; company security. ■ PRIVATE SECURITY DOES NOT HAVE POLICE POWERS OR AUTHORITY!!!!

Jobs of Private Security: What does private security do? ? ? ■ Protecting stores from shoplifting ■ Crowd control and parking at events ■ Patrolling parking lots ■ Order at bars and clubs ■ Protecting public buildings ■ Protecting money in armored cars ■ Screening people for contraband ■ Watching over casinos ■ Guarding exhibits in museums

There about twice as many private security personal as there are public law enforcement officers. Reasons why. . . 1. Less Money Governments have been less willing to fund police departments in past 30 years. Police Officer $49, 000 Private Security $29, 000 Police departments have stopped doing "nonessential" jobs b/c of money. Businesses have hired private security to replace the services once provided by police

2. Private Nature of Work ■ Businesses would rather keep their dirty laundry in house ■ Keeps a positive public image, keeps customers ■ Private security polices the workplace, and handles in- house any illegal behavior 3. Fewer Constitutional Limitations Constitution limits do not apply to private business and their security firms Example: Stadiums have right to refuse entry to someone who refuses to allow their bag to be searched for "contraband"

Take a moment and think about the potential problems private security can bring about.

Problem #1: Legal Status and Authority ■ How much power does private security have? ? ? ■ Answer: As much power as the people who hired them want them to have. ■ In other words, private security has the same right to protect property as you and I would have to protect our own. ■ How is this a potential problem for us?

Problem #2: Police Moonlighting ■ Some police depts allow their officers to work in private security jobs during off-duty hours ■ What problems would this cause?

Problem #3: Qualifications and Training ■ There is no standard qualifications that private security must have to hold a job like police ■ Training for private security is usually a week, as compared to months for police

Problem #4: Diminished Public Responsibility ■ The increase in private security brings to light a serious issue ■ Is it better for our safety to be in the hands of private security or in the hands of public police?

Problem #5: Private Security and Terrorism ■ Most of the potential targets for a terrorist attack are being guarded everyday by private security ■ Private security guards under go no background checks ■ Most are unmotivated to do an exceptional job