Common use of Descriptions and Relations of Law Enforcement and Private Security Clause in Contracts

Descriptions and Relations of Law Enforcement and Private Security. Although they possess certain similarities and are in many ways complementary, law enforcement and private security differ in some key respects. Training of law en- forcement officers is substantially more rig- orous than that of security officers. Xxxx- dards and certification are also more demanding in law enforcement than in se- curity. Of course, law enforcement has le- gal powers far exceeding those of private security. On the other hand, private secu- rity has the resources to develop specializa- tions beyond the capacity of most law en- forcement agencies, such as the protection of computer networks, chemical plants, fi- nancial institutions, healthcare institutions, and retail establishments. In several respects, the line between public law enforcement and private security is blurred. Many retired law enforcement offi- cials at the federal, state, and local levels migrate to positions in private security. Some agencies themselves straddle the line. For example, the Amtrak Police De- partment is a private sector police force with over 300 sworn officers. Many college campuses, too, have private sector, sworn police agencies. In addition, many law en- forcement officers work as private security officers in their off-hours. Relations between law enforcement and private security vary considerably. Although the groups have much to offer each other, they are not always confident in each other. For example: • Some police lament the paucity of preemployment screening, training, standards, certification, and regula- tion of security officers. • Some police feel security officers re- ceive insufficient training (particu- larly those who carry weapons). • Some police view security officers as individuals who sought a career in law enforcement but were unable to obtain a position. • Some police see private security as a threat to their domain. Security Employment Rising From “Demand Surges for Security Guards,” Security Beat on-line news- letter (September 2, 2003): According to the New York De- partment of State, there were 104,000 licensed security guards in the state on Sept. 10, 2001. To- day there are 127,006. Even before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the security busi- ness was thriving. But the 9/11 at- tacks produced a real surge in demand, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, the owner of Long Island-based Investicorp Inc. and past president of the As- sociated Licensed Detectives of New York State (ALDONYS), the industry's trade group, told The New York Business Review. “We've always gone up by 8, 9 or 10 percent a year, all through the years. Now in the last two years, we have seen our business go up 15 to 18 percent a year,” Xxxxxx said. • Police generally have little understanding of the broad range of private security functions, capabilities, expertise, and resources and therefore fail to appreciate the role of private security. • Some private security practitioners view po- lice as elitists. • Some private security practitioners feel law enforcement professionals do not care about private security until they are considering a job in that field.

Descriptions and Relations of Law Enforcement and Private Security. Although they possess certain similarities and are in many ways complementary, law enforcement and private security differ in some key respects. Training of law en- forcement officers is substantially more rig- orous than that of security officers. Xxxx- dards and certification are also more demanding in law enforcement than in se- curity. Of course, law enforcement has le- gal powers far exceeding those of private security. On the other hand, private secu- rity has the resources to develop specializa- tions beyond the capacity of most law en- forcement agencies, such as the protection of computer networks, chemical plants, fi- nancial institutions, healthcare institutions, and retail establishments. In several respects, the line between public law enforcement and private security is blurred. Many retired law enforcement offi- cials at the federal, state, and local levels migrate to positions in private security. Some agencies themselves straddle the line. For example, the Amtrak Police De- partment is a private sector police force with over 300 sworn officers. Many college campuses, too, have private sector, sworn police agencies. In addition, many law en- forcement officers work as private security officers in their off-hours. Relations between law enforcement and private security vary considerably. Although the groups have much to offer each other, they are not always confident in each other. For example: • Some police lament the paucity of preemployment screening, training, standards, certification, and regula- tion of security officers. • Some police feel security officers re- ceive insufficient training (particu- larly those who carry weapons). • Some police view security officers Letter from the COPS Office On behalf of the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) I want to thank you for your contribution to what I believe was an important step in improving the working relationship between local law enforce- ment and private security. The success of this important step will depend on the actions taken on the recommendations that came from this group. One recommendation put forth is to enable law enforcement and private security personnel to train together, thus allowing them the opportu- nity for specific training and to enhance the knowledge each has to offer. To this end, COPS will invite private security personnel to begin training with local law enforcement personnel through the COPS funded national network of 31 Regional Community Policing Institutes (RCPIs) located across the country. The RCPIs offer a variety of training on topics like basic community policing, conversational Spanish for law enforcement officers, crime prevention, building and sustaining collaborative partnerships, problem solving, ethics and integ- rity, homeland security-related topics, and much more. They are also capable of tailoring training to meet the specific needs of the customers in their service area. For more information on the COPS RCPIs, please access the COPS website at xxx.xxxx.xxxxx.xxx. To find the RCPI nearest you, click on the Training tab, then on RCPI, and then on "US Map of the RCPIs" in the left-hand banner. I encourage you to explore the inven- tory of publications that COPS has to offer. Click the Resource Room tab, then Publications. Xxxx Xxxx, Director, COPS, U.S. Department of Justice, 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000. For more information, contact Xxxx Xxxxxx, (000) 000-0000, Xxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx. as individuals who sought a career in law enforcement but were unable to obtain a position. • Some police see private security as a threat to their domain. Security Employment Rising From “Demand Surges for Security Guards,” Security Beat on-line news- letter (September 2, 2003): According to the New York De- partment of State, there were 104,000 licensed security guards in the state on Sept. 10, 2001. To- day there are 127,006. Even before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the security busi- ness was thriving. But the 9/11 at- tacks produced a real surge in demand, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, the owner of Long Island-based Investicorp Inc. and past president of the As- sociated Licensed Detectives of New York State (ALDONYS), the industry's trade group, told The New York Business Review. “We've always gone up by 8, 9 or 10 percent a year, all through the years. Now in the last two years, we have seen our business go up 15 to 18 percent a year,” Xxxxxx said. • Police generally have little understanding of the broad range of private security functions, capabilities, expertise, and resources and therefore fail to appreciate the role of private security. • Some private security practitioners view po- lice as elitists. • Some private security practitioners feel law enforcement professionals do not care about private security until they are considering a job in that field.