What state agency do you answer to?

[3rd_shift]

For me, it was www.tcps.state.tx.us

At least before they went tits up and got taken over by

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/


Who regulates you, your security business or company? :)

[Arff312]

Here in california security answers to consumer affairs. we are under a division called bsis (bereau of security and investigative services).

[N. A. Corbier]

Wisconsin answers to the Department of Business Regulation, or DPR. We're lumped in with every other licensee, including doctors, nurses, EMTs, and massage therapists.

There is no such thing as a "Security Company" in Wisconsin. There are "Private Detective Agencies," who can provide "uniformed private security, private police, and private bodyguard" services. The person who is supervising private security operations must be a Private Investigator, and all persons must have a "Private Security Person Permit," which is a 90 dollar state background check. Armed officers must have a 6 dollar permit, and undergo police firearms and defensive tactics training at thair expense.

Prior to 1997, private security companies were regulated by the Sheriff of the county the agency was located in. Any person may be armed in this state openly, so there was no need for a firearms license. They may still be armed, however, the cities and towns may override that rule.

Get this: A city may make an ordinance prohibiting firearms within the city limits, and security officers who even drive mobile patrol through that city are in violation. The permit does not grant any specific carry authority nor provide exemption of city ordinances, save that you may carry in a vehicle that is in operation. (Its illegal to have a weapon in a running car up here)

[dla4079]

Tx Dept of Criminal Justice

[dla4079]

For me, it was www.tcps.state.tx.us

At least before they went tits up and got taken over by

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/


Who regulates you, your security business or company? :)


I answer to the TX Dept of Criminal Justice

[mallpopo]

I answer to no one!!!

[wannabedafiveoh]

Hey thats my philosiphy! BYOB!!! (be your own boss) HEHEHEHEHE!!! :D :D :p :p

[davis002]

Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services
http://www.dps.state.mn.us/pdb/

[bigdog]

Department of AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES, DIVISION OF LICENSING

[Charger]

For Oregon it's
DPSST (Department of Public Safety, Standards and Training)
Washington's is done through the state's blanketed licensing department.. (drivers license, vehicle licenses, etc)

[N. A. Corbier]

For Oregon it's
DPSST (Department of Public Safety, Standards and Training)
Washington's is done through the state's blanketed licensing department.. (drivers license, vehicle licenses, etc)

Never heard of that, before. Every license issued by the state is issued from one office? I'd fear the lines. :)

[Charger]

Never heard of that, before. Every license issued by the state is issued from one office? I'd fear the lines. :)

Tell me about it.. LOL Actually the majority of their stuff is done via mail... in-person is generally only done for driver's/vehicle licenses, similar to Oregon's DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)...
For some odd reason, Washington decided to have one department handle all types of licenses, then just subdivide it into different sections... it can get downright confusing at times... lol

[S/O245]

Ohio Homeland Security/Dept of Public Safety

[Mr. Security]

Department of Public Safety/State Police. And, of course, the CLIENT. :)

[EMTGuard]

Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners

[Special Investigator]

Wisconsin answers to the Department of Business Regulation, or DPR. We're lumped in with every other licensee, including doctors, nurses, EMTs, and massage therapists.
It is the Department of Regulation & Licensing. aka The D-R-L.



There are "Private Detective Agencies," who can provide "uniformed private security, private police, and private bodyguard" services.

The person who is supervising private security operations must be a Private Investigator, Armed officers must have a 6 dollar permit, and undergo police firearms and defensive tactics training at thair expense.
Private police are illegal in Wisconsin. There ARE "Private Security" companies. Also, no where on your uniform, vehicle, etc., can the word(s) "POLICE" be used. (example: Metropolitan Police Services did this and they are now out of business for it.)

A supervisor does not have to be a private detective.



Any person may be armed in this state openly, so there was no need for a firearms license.
Wrong! To go armed, you must posess a "Blue Card". aka Firearms Permit issued by the Dept of Regulation & Licensing. Read Section 105-34 City and County of Milwaukee ordance. Any community can apply this ordance.


Get this: A city may make an ordinance prohibiting firearms within the city limits, and security officers who even drive mobile patrol through that city are in violation. The permit does not grant any specific carry authority nor provide exemption of city ordinances, save that you may carry in a vehicle that is in operation. (Its illegal to have a weapon in a running car up here)
The only place where that is enforced is in Jefferson County. All it takes is one person to challange that ordance in court and the county would lose its case.

[Jackhole]

Department of Public Safety.

[Lawson]

Private Security in WA answers to both the Dept. of Licensing and the Criminal Justice Training Commission.

[HotelSecurity]

For the last 30 years - NO ONE

Starting next year - to a license board just now being set up throught the Quebec Ministry of Justice.

(I<m in-house) Contract people have always had to have a license issued by the Sureté du Québec.

[T202]

Also, NO ONE, In-House.

[N. A. Corbier]

Ok, you want to play...


It is the Department of Regulation & Licensing. aka The D-R-L.
Correct.




Private police are illegal in Wisconsin. There ARE "Private Security" companies. Also, no where on your uniform, vehicle, etc., can the word(s) "POLICE" be used. (example: Metropolitan Police Services did this and they are now out of business for it.)
Wrong. In Kenosha alone, there are two companies, "Schmitt Security POLICE" and "Kenosha Private POLICE" which are duly licensed by the DRL and have marked patrol vehicles that say, respectively, "Security Police" and "Private Police" on them.

The Kenosha Police Department has advised me that this is PERFECTLY LEGAL. I can have a sworn law enforcement officer over at Officer.com come here and note that he did in fact see a "Kenosha Private Police" vehicle driving through Kenosha. Hell, the thing parks at the Kenosha Public Safety Building, and yet the driver isn't arrested.

The Kenosha Public Library is guarded by a man wearing patches that say Kenosha Private Police. They've had those patches for 50 years!


A supervisor does not have to be a private detective.
I stand corrected.


Wrong! To go armed, you must posess a "Blue Card". aka Firearms Permit issued by the Dept of Regulation & Licensing. Read Section 105-34 City and County of Milwaukee ordance. Any community can apply this ordance.

First, I live in the City of Kenosha, which has no such ordinance. Second, the State of Wisconsin has preemption of local firearm ordinances.



Chapter 66.049(22)
(2) Except as provided in subs. (3) and (4) , no political subdivision may enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution that regulates the sale, purchase, purchase delay, transfer, ownership, use, keeping, possession, bearing, transportation, licensing, permitting, registration or taxation of any firearm or part of a firearm, including ammunition and reloader components, unless the ordinance or resolution is the same as or similar to, and no more stringent than, a state statute.

66.0409(3)
(3)

66.0409(3)(a)
(a) Nothing in this section prohibits a county from imposing a sales tax or use tax under subch. V of ch. 77 on any firearm or part of a firearm, including ammunition and reloader components, sold in the county.

66.0409(3)(b)
(b) Nothing in this section prohibits a city, village or town that is authorized to exercise village powers under s. 60.22 (3) from enacting an ordinance or adopting a resolution that restricts the discharge of a firearm.

Hey, look, its illegal under state law to enact an ordinance that bans the bearing of firearms if that ordinance is more restrictive than state law. And since Wisconsin Statutes does not ban "going armed" except in specific areas and specific situations, that ordinance is illegal, or does not do what you think it does!




The only place where that is enforced is in Jefferson County. All it takes is one person to challange that ordance in court and the county would lose its case.
See above.

[Special Investigator]

In Kenosha alone, there are two companies, "Schmitt Security POLICE" and "Kenosha Private POLICE" which are duly licensed by the DRL and have marked patrol vehicles that say, respectively, "Security Police" and "Private Police" on them.
Private security cannot use the word "police". The Dept of Regulation & Licensing prohibits the use of the word "Police" by security companies & personal. (I have to look up the exact regulation and I will get back to you on it)



its illegal under state law to enact an ordinance that bans the bearing of firearms if that ordinance is more restrictive than state law. And since Wisconsin Statutes does not ban "going armed" except in specific areas and specific situations, that ordinance is illegal, or does not do what you think it does!

Any community can, and often does use Section 105-34 for their own use. I can arguee this point with you till I'm blue in the face.

Again, I challange you to go armed down a public street/way and see how far you get. A few days ago in Milwaukee, someone did just that and was shot and killed by police.


:D

[N. A. Corbier]

Private security cannot use the word "police". The Dept of Regulation & Licensing prohibits the use of the word "Police" by security companies & personal. (I have to look up the exact regulation and I will get back to you on it)




Any community can, and often does use Section 105-34 for their own use. I can arguee this point with you till I'm blue in the face.

Again, I challange you to go armed down a public street/way and see how far you get. A few days ago in Milwaukee, someone did just that and was shot and killed by police.


:D

Please, get back to me on this. This was discussed by the Security and Private Investigator Advisory Council, but no legislation was ever enacted on it. This would make Kenosha Private Police illegal, and considering they're still providing services to the City of Kenosha, as well as Schmitt Security Police, it'd be hard to see that being illegal.

Done so, in Kenosha. With a Beretta. No problems reported, nobody called the cops, I ate at a chinese restraunt. I know the owner, he didn't care. I saw two squads drive by, one waved, the other ignored me.

[Special Investigator]

Please, get back to me on this.


I will. I'll check for the exact regulation, #'s, etc.

I know some do use the word "police" on vehicles, shoulder patches, etc., but as far as I know they can't. In Milwaukee, a company calling itself "Metropolatan Police Services" got into trouble because of it. I suppose it would depend on where they are operating but in Milwaukee they do enforce that regulation.

:D

[Mr. Security]

Private security cannot use the word "police". The Dept of Regulation & Licensing prohibits the use of the word "Police" by security companies & personal. (I have to look up the exact regulation and I will get back to you on it)....

Please do. However, even IF it is not legal, it clearly isn't enforced statewide as Nathan illustrated.

[HotelSecurity]

I know of 2 by-law enforcement units in the Montreal area that the police made them change their vehicles, not because they had the words police on them but in one case, because the cars were black with white doors. They were adding red flashers to them. The police objected saying black & white would look too much like a police car. (Although most police cars in Quebec are white with blue stripes). The 2nd one as all of the others on the island, called themselved Sécurité Publique which can be translated as Public Security & Public Safety/ (Sécurité is both security & safety). They ere stopped by the police because there are police forces that call themselves Public Safety, although again none in this area.

[Mr. Security]

I know of 2 by-law enforcement units in the Montreal area that the police made them change their vehicles, not because they had the words police on them but in one case, because the cars were black with white doors. They were adding red flashers to them. The police objected saying black & white would look too much like a police car. (Although most police cars in Quebec are white with blue stripes). The 2nd one as all of the others on the island, called themselved Sécurité Publique which can be translated as Public Security & Public Safety/ (Sécurité is both security & safety). They ere stopped by the police because there are police forces that call themselves Public Safety, although again none in this area.

That was probably the last straw.

[Mall Director]

Our corporate stepped away from the traditional "badges" on the doors, to avoid any conflict with LEO, which I agree with. But now whats funny.. Everybody has stepped away from this, and every agency, LE and Security, have script logo's with the stripe running from front to rear.. Go figure.. Cant win em all..

Anyways, I report to too many agencies. Mostly now to DHS, which taggs along ICE, CBI, and many others.. I get lost in all the reports I send weekly.. I dont think it will get any easier either!

[Black Caesar]

Save ya some trouble Nathan.

From O.com (http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44998)

I think Mr S. hit the nail on the head. It dosen't matter if using the word police is against the law if it's not enforced.

[cp73]

Private Investigator Licensing Board, a part of the State Attorney General's office.

They license all Private Patrolmen, Private Investigators, Process Servers, Polygraph Examiners, and Canine Handlers.

[Charger]

Something else to consider for the debate in here:

I don't know if it's the same over there, but when Oregon first started regulating security back in the early 90's, they enacted a similar rule about not using the word "POLICE" in the company name... Henceforth, no company could do so.... Oregon DOES, however, have a grandfather clause for just about all of their new laws, and any company that had already been operating for xx amount of years was not affected by the new law.... Nathan mentioned that one of those companies had been using the title for 50 years... If Wisconsin does something similar, it probably wouldn't apply to them...

//Food for thought. ;)

[N. A. Corbier]

Save ya some trouble Nathan.

From O.com (http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44998)

I think Mr S. hit the nail on the head. It dosen't matter if using the word police is against the law if it's not enforced.

Thanks, Caesar. Huey was ... fascinated by it. When I first came here, I thought the library guard was a cop, his patches said "Kenosha Private Police." Like, some kind of city cop.

[N. A. Corbier]

Something else to consider for the debate in here:

I don't know if it's the same over there, but when Oregon first started regulating security back in the early 90's, they enacted a similar rule about not using the word "POLICE" in the company name... Henceforth, no company could do so.... Oregon DOES, however, have a grandfather clause for just about all of their new laws, and any company that had already been operating for xx amount of years was not affected by the new law.... Nathan mentioned that one of those companies had been using the title for 50 years... If Wisconsin does something similar, it probably wouldn't apply to them...

//Food for thought. ;)

I had thought about the grandfather clause, but they keep reapplying for licensing after letting it run out. If you lose your license, you lose your grandfather clause, one would think.

[Special Investigator]

Nathan, I made a phone call yesterday to the Dept of Regulation & Licensing in Madison. The woman I spoke to stated that private security companies, and its emplotee's/agents CANNOT use the word "police" in and of itself, in name, on their uniforms such as on badges, shoulder patches, etc and vehicles. Use of the word "police" is a violation of DRL regulations. The word "Private" must be included.

If it says "police" anyware on your uniform, you can be arrested/charged for impersonation of a police officer.

If you still don't belive me, the give 'em a call if ya like.

[Special Investigator]

In Kenosha alone, there are two companies, "Schmitt Security POLICE" and "Kenosha Private POLICE" which are duly licensed by the DRL and have marked patrol vehicles that say, respectively, "Security Police" and "Private Police" on them.

The Kenosha Police Department has advised me that this is PERFECTLY LEGAL. I can have a sworn law enforcement officer over at Officer.com come here and note that he did in fact see a "Kenosha Private Police" vehicle driving through Kenosha.


Schmitt Security Police & Kenosha Private Police are older agencies. When they adopted those names the regulations were different. All company names must be approved by the DRL. Currently these two companies are being forced to change their names by the DRL or their license to operate may be revoked. Schmitt & Kenosha pvt police are fighting this currently.

A police officer can tell you anything but it does not mean it is legal. There are a lot of cops who don't know all the regulations set forth by the DRL.

[N. A. Corbier]

Nathan, I made a phone call yesterday to the Dept of Regulation & Licensing in Madison. The woman I spoke to stated that private security companies, and its emplotee's/agents CANNOT use the word "police" in and of itself, in name, on their uniforms such as on badges, shoulder patches, etc and vehicles. Use of the word "police" is a violation of DRL regulations. The word "Private" must be included.

If it says "police" anyware on your uniform, you ban be arrested/charged for impersonation of a police officer.

If you still don't belive me, the give 'em a call if ya like.

What happens to "Blue Knight Police," same thing? Also, how is DRL doing this? I can't find a RL section on the word "police," so the only way I can figure it is that they're simply blanket denying anyone with the word "police" in their name.

If this is so, then I'm saddened. If they felt that it should not be in the name, they should seek to change Wisconsin Administrative Code (RLs) or Wisconsin Statute.

[Special Investigator]

What happens to "Blue Knight Police," same thing? Also, how is DRL doing this? I can't find a RL section on the word "police," so the only way I can figure it is that they're simply blanket denying anyone with the word "police" in their name. If this is so, then I'm saddened. If they felt that it should not be in the name, they should seek to change Wisconsin Administrative Code (RLs) or Wisconsin Statute.


In the last year alone, many regulations are being changed, updated, etc because a lot of security companies are abusing and violating the regs. Its a bigger problem than you might think. I 'think' (I could be wrong) anyone who uses the word police in their name, discription, etc will be forced to change or modify or they might be denied renewal of their license. I know the the forementioned companies in Kenosha are currently fighting the DRL's decision. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

The liberals run the DRL and you know how restrictive they are. They claim to know whats best for everyone.

:D Cheers

[N. A. Corbier]

They need to bring back the department's advisory council. You know, the one made up of PIs.

Actually, what they should do is seperate PI and Security licenses all together. Then bring the council back.

[Special Investigator]

They need to bring back the department's advisory council. You know, the one made up of PIs.




I agree. But the liberals who run the DRL don't want to listen to what others have to say. They would have to hear suggestions/comments that they don't want to hear.

[N. A. Corbier]

I agree. But the liberals who run the DRL don't want to listen to what others have to say. They would have to hear suggestions/comments that they don't want to hear.

You mean like arming PIs? :)

[Mall Director]

In some cities I have worked in, you get a an ID and licensing that state the difference "PI vs. Security vs. Patrol Security". They regulate things pretty heavy out there. Interestingly enough, where I am at now, requires no licensing, and has few regulations concerning security. Now, this doesnt mean we conduct ourselves in an manner different than the licensed end, its just nice to not get poked with a fee to work!

[Special Investigator]

You mean like arming PIs? :)


YES!!! PI's face more dangers with people than you can imagine. Like police detectives, we deal with violent criminals who don't like our "snooping". Thats why I like working for judges because if I show cause, the judge will issue me a temporary CCW permit. I've been attacked & assaulted too many times by gangbangers, dirtbag low-lives and other criminals who don't like me sticking my nose in there business. I have a group from Burlington (freemasons) who are still trying to figure out who exactly I am and where I live. I'm always armed at home because of this.

[N. A. Corbier]

Wisconsin's PI system is strange to me. In Florida, to be a licensed PI, you must have approximately 2 years of "internship" as a "Class CC" Private Investigator Intern. You may not work for yourself, and are paired with a "sponsor" who oversees your entire 2 year internship. I say two year because you have to have a certain number of logged investigative hours, which equals about 2 years of 40 hour weeks. Once you have done this, you can then be a full fledged PI on your "Class C" license, open your own office, etc.

Intrestingly enough, a full "Class C" licensee could carry a 9mm concealed anywhere in the state on their "Class G" license, much like a security officer can openly. Civilian CCW rules against carrying on school property, in bars, etc, don't apply to that license. If they were performing security services (had a "Class D" license) and had their "Class G" license, they could carry a 9mm openly. That's how you could tell if someone was a PI or not with a security company, they carried 9mm.

Florida used to accept LE experience as "evidence of investigatory duties," but changed it so that you have to demonstrate that your primary duties were the investigation of criminal offenses, etc. i.e. a street cop who does not investigate crimes (turns them over to a detective) has no "experience" for the Class C license, but an officer who either had to investigate his own offenses (catch your own) or who was a detective assigned to investigate crimes did have experience.

Florida's PI industry has a very powerful lobby called the FALI, or Florida Association of Licensed Investigators. I don't know how powerful or infuentual the Wisconsin version of FALI is (I've been to their site), but FALI has had a lot of Chapter 493's stupidity removed from the PI industry. You don't have to have a seperate manager's license for the agency (A security agency must be managed by an "M" manager, who has to have 4 years of experience in security.), they were allowed to have 9mms for years, and aren't required to keep hundreds of thousands of dollars in liability insurance.