Now that's a pursuit

[SIW Editor]

And that's what I'd call having a bit of fun on the job, too -- and earning the respect of law enforcement at same time.

http://www.securityinfowatch.com/news/10653613/security-officer-chased-shoplifters-at-up-to-100-mph

[Curtis Baillie]

Geoff, even though this happened in England, there are so many things wrong with what this guy did I don't know where to begin. It does make for a great story though.

[parttimesilverback]

Nice job but

I agree with Curtis. Wonder what his company will say about this? My limited experience with contract work was we were totally hands off let them get away.

[5423]

Wow. Uhhh...

I'm glad to see no one was injured or killed, and no property damage resulted; the kudoes from police and store management likely would have had a considerably different tone.

And to all new security officers, working here in the US: don't try this at home! (!!!)

Fun story, though.

[SIW Editor]

Like 5423 and others noted, this is definitely a case of "Don't Try This at Home!"

(unless you like reading the want ads)

[Limo LA]

This Security officer could be arrested in US (especially in California).
We are not allowed to do pursuit.
Follow the suspect with safe distance with obeying traffic law maybe OKay. but I don't think business insurance will cover for his action if anything happened. He left his post and did something beyond his duty.

When I was watching live TV news feed, LAPD arrested or cited when civilian bystander (other car) try to stop carjack suspect in pursuit.

We are civilians whose duty is Protect and Prevent not Catch and enforce.

Don't try that at home.

[Curtis Baillie]

Anybody know if this is against Securitas policy in the UK?

[Limo LA]

in fact, few years back, there was multi-agency pursuit in LA area.
all agency's unit lost sight of suspect vehicle.
LAPD helicopter and News helicopter spotted only one B&W Police motorcycle is following right behind suspect vehicle.
Police chopper contacted to HQ and all agency try to find which agency's motor it was.
No agency could contact with the one behind of suspect vehicle.

few minutes later, Police units found suspect vehicle still in pursuit by un-known motor officer.
After they arrest suspect, nobody knew where or who was un-known motor officer.

few days of investigation, Police concluded it was maybe civilian security motor or Funeral motor escort in uniform.
LAPD crack down to motor mounted security at night club, Restaurant and Event site try to cite(!) illegal pursuit he did.
I don't know if they found who he was or not but one of my friends was questioned by LAPD for his alibi.

It's very thin ice between illegal and Voluntary help unless having peace officer's credential.

[YEGSecurityAnt]

Firstly,

I will give the credit to the news agency that actually published this story. If this would have happened here (And/or) anywhere near here the local media would have hung this S/O out to dry. Then the Canadian Criminal Code wouldve slapped him in the face.
Wouldve lost his job, his Security License, had a Criminal Record and wouldve been stuck working at mcdonalds.

Secondly,
Kudos to this S/O for assisting in Catching this scumbag. A big thing I noticed in the comments that were published about him is he sounded like he was very concerned for public safety even while participating in the pursuit. Once he realized that Police had the suspects "caught" he pulled over and let them do what they had to do.

Good job,
And as stated before DONT DO THIS AT HOME... Unless you want to look for a new job or have another one lined up

[gonzo1510]

in fact, few years back, there was multi-agency pursuit in LA area.
all agency's unit lost sight of suspect vehicle.
LAPD helicopter and News helicopter spotted only one B&W Police motorcycle is following right behind suspect vehicle.
Police chopper contacted to HQ and all agency try to find which agency's motor it was.
No agency could contact with the one behind of suspect vehicle.

few minutes later, Police units found suspect vehicle still in pursuit by un-known motor officer.
After they arrest suspect, nobody knew where or who was un-known motor officer.

few days of investigation, Police concluded it was maybe civilian security motor or Funeral motor escort in uniform.
LAPD crack down to motor mounted security at night club, Restaurant and Event site try to cite(!) illegal pursuit he did.
I don't know if they found who he was or not but one of my friends was questioned by LAPD for his alibi.

It's very thin ice between illegal and Voluntary help unless having peace officer's credential.

I remember that chase... To this day, I think it was one of those movie cops.

[Limo LA]

I remember that chase... To this day, I think it was one of those movie cops.

I didn't know that outcome.
I think you meant "Movie location traffic control motor officer", not actor or stunt rider right ?

I thing most of them are retired LAPD officers, some of them are active off-duty.
I have copy of LAPD internal form to apply for "work permit".
(Form is called "Los Angeles Police department Motion Picture/Television Filming work permit Application/Renewal form")

Some of regulations written in Form are
Retired or active, they are not allowed to use city issued equipment (Motorcycle, Radio, etc) but helmet uniform badge are allowed on site.
to and from filming location, they have to change uniform or wear cover-all to hide department uniform and badge.
Not allowed to equip Red & Blue lights and siren at anywhere anytime.

basically, it's civilian.
make sense they are not allowed to participate pursue.

Even retired or active off duty are not to allowed to participate pursue, no reason for civilian security try to do it.

[YANG]

Hm.. WOW! If that were me, I would've been fired for leaving my post. LOL!


All I would've done is get description of suspects, make/ model/ plate of vehicle, and direction of travel. No way am I going to leave my company liable for my actions.

[SecTrainer]

We had a pursuit in rush hour one evening, approaching a main intersection. As I approached the intersection I was really amazed and relieved that there wasn't any cross-traffic, and I remember thinking that it was very odd. When I blew through the intersection, I could see that a security patrol officer had blocked one side with his car and run across to the other side on foot to stop that traffic.

The news picked it up and put a very positive spin on the story, and a few months later we gave the officer a civilian citation for his actions.

Would he have been praised for joining the pursuit? Of course not, but what he did do to assist us and protect others from harm was within reasonable scope for a civilian in his position, and I was certainly very thankful for what he did.

[SecTrainer]

I just remembered another citation we handed out (well, two of them), which involved two truckers who put their trucks across one of our county roads to stop a lively little character we wanted for burglary but who seemed disinclined to stop and chat with us. He had no option but to try the ditch at about 70 mph, and that's exactly where he came to a sudden unplanned stop, so we had the pleasure of talking with him after all.

In those days, everyone on the sheriff's department put CB radios in our cars (we had to pay for our own). We jawed back and forth with truckers, ranchers, etc. all the time and we had a pretty good relationship with them. The only thing we were careful about was giving out our 10-20 since anyone could be listening, but they understood that.

These days, I don't know if any of that is still true. CB radio itself seems to have all but died off and that's too bad because it was a good "open" medium of communication with lots of people - at least in the Midwest. You didn't need to have anyone's phone number - just their handle, or maybe not even that. I had many, many citizen contacts by way of my CB radio, and I got lots of information because it was easy and fast - they just picked up their mic and hollered for BearTrap.

I dunno. It was just different and to this day I can still hear it: "How about that one BearTrap. You got your ears on?"....

...and today, our little burglar's lawyer would probably sue those truckers right out of their rigs.

[tanko]

I just remembered another citation we handed out (well, two of them), which involved two truckers who put their trucks across one of our county roads to stop a lively little character we wanted for burglary but who seemed disinclined to stop and chat with us. He had no option but to try the ditch at about 70 mph, and that's exactly where he came to a sudden unplanned stop, so we had the pleasure of talking with him after all.

In those days, everyone on the sheriff's department put CB radios in our cars (we had to pay for our own). We jawed back and forth with truckers, ranchers, etc. all the time and we had a pretty good relationship with them. The only thing we were careful about was giving out our 10-20 since anyone could be listening, but they understood that.

These days, I don't know if any of that is still true. CB radio itself seems to have all but died off and that's too bad because it was a good "open" medium of communication with lots of people - at least in the Midwest. You didn't need to have anyone's phone number - just their handle, or maybe not even that. I had many, many citizen contacts by way of my CB radio, and I got lots of information because it was easy and fast - they just picked up their mic and hollered for BearTrap.

I dunno. It was just different and to this day I can still hear it: "How about that one BearTrap. You got your ears on?"....

...and today, our little burglar's lawyer would probably sue those truckers right out of their rigs.

When I worked back west, my radios had the ability to go on the CB frequencies and we also had the ability to scan all the channels. Fortunately, I never needed to use that channel but I did listen into some interesting conversations. I did hear a few times the state troopers asking for help from truckers, and the truckers offering or asking for help.