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SecureLaw Ltd. Phone: 312-423-6700

65 West Jackson Blvd., #112 Fax: 312-692-2322

Chicago, IL. 60604-3598 www.securelaw.info Email: info@securelaw.info

PRIVATE POLICE = PARA-POLICE?

In the past several years many in the security industry have advocated increasingprofessional standards. The hallmark criteria of professionalism usually relate to training,wages, recruitment standards, and accountability. These issues take on increasedimportance in light of the nature and scope of the security industry in contemporaryAmerica. Due to the threat of terrorism coupled with financial and operational constraintsfacing municipal policing agencies, the use of private police will increase in comingyears. Understanding the legal and operational framework of security is critical as thescope of private policing grows.

More than 2 million people are employed in security positions, with about $52billion in annual spending. In contrast, public police employ about 700,000 people, withonly $30 billion in annual spending. In many places, private security personnel

outnumber public police by a ratio of 4-5 to 1. Going beyond these raw statistics, there isa growing trend to employ private police officers in public areas, including withinbusiness districts, on public streets within residential communities, and in large municipalfacilities such as concert and sports stadiums (also termed mass private property).Particularly because of the extended scope of private police within public and semi-public property, the need for professionalism within the industry has dramaticallyincreased.

Two or three decades ago, there was much controversy in both the legal andmedical professions related to the growing use of para-professionals. Many in theseprofessions viewed the introduction of paramedics and paralegals as an offensive,even dangerous, intrusion into the standards maintained within the industry. Looking at

this concern from 21st century norms, any controversy seems pale. Indeed, not onlyhave these respective professions been able to sustain high standards, but the workproduct of these individuals is critical to the service provision afforded to their clientele.The parapolice model has many similarities from these para-professionals, there aresome distinctions, including an accepted and consistent training standard, wage levelsand the like.

These issues were framed in extensive studies of private policing by Dr. James F.Pastor, the president of SecureLaw Ltd., a public safety and security consulting firm. Heis also an associate professor of public safety at Calumet College of St. Joseph. Thesestudies were initially published in Dr. Pastors groundbreaking book entitled, ThePrivatization of Police in America: An Analysis and Case Study. The book examines the

myriad and often complicated issues related to private policing. One compellingconclusion of the book is that law enforcement and private security will becomeincreasingly interrelated into a public safety industry. In order for this to occur,however, private police must exhibit increased professionalism at the patrol level, whichcan only be accomplished by a requisite increase in training, wages and accountability.Consequently, if parapolice are to function within the public realm, they must beprepared to contribute to the order maintenance and service needs of the communitythereby being the supportive paraprofessionals of municipal police departments.

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Dr. Pastor subsequently publishedSecurity Law and Methods, a case bookdesigned to extensively and critically examine legal issues that impact the provision of

security services. The complexity of these issues is made increasingly pointed in light ofthe security versus rights debate that will last for as long as terrorism is considered athreat. Understanding this debate in light of legal precedent, criminological theories,security methods, and the concept and technique of terrorism has been the majorpurposeand contributionof this book.

Finally, Dr. Pastor brought these issues together in an extensively researched andstructured book entitled: Terrorism and Public Safety Policing: Implications for theObama Presidency. This book developed a new model of policing involving three keyelements:Military Weaponry and Tactical Operations, Intelligence Methods andSurveillance Technologies, and Order Maintenance provisions (see below Figure fordescriptive view of these elements). Each of these interrelated elements is critical to

public safety and homeland security. Going forward, the provision of order maintenanceservices will be accomplished widely, if not extensively, by private police. These para-police providers will operate within public environments, particularly in businessdistricts, critical infrastructure, mass transportation, sporting and concert facilities, and ahost of other locations. In short, the movement toward private policing is substantial andwill continue to increase as the threat of terrorism manifests itself.

Public Safety Policing

Military Weaponry &Tactical Operations

Intelligence Methods &Surveillance Technologies

Order Maintenance Provisions

If you are interested in this subject, please consider these books. Alternatively, ifyou desire to discuss these issues with one of the preeminent experts on private policing,please contact SecureLaw Ltd.

SecureLaw Ltd. Phone: 312-423-6700

65 West Jackson Blvd., #112 Fax: 312-692-2322

Chicago, IL. 60604-3598 www.securelaw.info Email: info@securelaw.info