Panel denies more power for private security officers
By Ben Winslow
Deseret Morning News
Wearing his blue uniform and badge, Lt. Rick Tallent
stood before state lawmakers and asked for more
authority to make arrests, write citations and
transport prisoners.
The southern Utah private security officer was shot
down by a number of police agencies who argued that
private security companies should not have powers even
remotely similar to those of sworn peace officers.
"Policing, law enforcement and taking people into
custody should remain a government function and a
government function only," Ed Phillips, the deputy
director of the Utah Department of Public Safety, said
Wednesday. They were discussing proposed legislation
Wednesday before the Legislature's Law Enforcement and
Criminal Justice Interim Committee.
Tallent and his employer, All American Security Corp.,
have joined other private security companies in asking
the Legislature for more authority in special
situations.
"In today's world, the police departments have fewer
police officers and more crime than ever," Tallent
told lawmakers. "Private security can help to
alleviate some of the strain and allow the police
officers to concentrate their efforts in more critical
areas."
Right now, private security officers can detain people
on citizen's arrest statutes. However, Tallent wanted
authority to do things that he said street police
grumble about having to respond to. He also asked for
more clarity about the color of lights that private
security officers can use.
However, police brass blasted the idea. Maj. Rich
Townsend of the Utah Peace Officer Standards and
Training (POST) Council said not one law enforcement
agency in the state supports the legislation.
"We give police unprecedented powers," said Kelly
Atkinson of the Fraternal Order of Police. He accused
the private security officers of mimicking police
officers too much already. "Security officers refer to
themselves with titles. Lieutenants, captains,
officers. You see them wear uniforms and more and more
you're seeing their cars look more and more like
police officers."
Phillips said it is a slippery slope that lawmakers
would be going down. Apparently, it was one that
lawmakers didn't want to. They adjourned the committee
meeting, effectively killing the proposed legislation.
After the meeting, Tallent said he was surprised by
the heated reaction by law enforcement. He noted there
has always been some friction between police and
private security officers.
"They misunderstood where we were trying to go," he
said. "We weren't really asking for anything radical."
---
Mr. Tallent does not understand that what he is asking for is not only "radical," but demanding to give mere citizens the "unparalled" powers of the police.
Notice that the article states that guards have the authority to "detain" through Citizen's Arrest statutes. Not Arrest, but merely "detain."
This was brought to my attention by Colin Sparks of NAPSOA.
This serves us a lesson that we cannot forget: The Faternal Order of Police sees private security as an encroaching threat, even as their mebmers encroach on what has traditionally been security concerns - protection of personnel and property - through their "off-duty" programs.
The mere suggesting that police are being impersonated by "security guards" using titles such as "Officer," "Sergeant," and "Lieutenant" is silly. Our "uniforms" have not changed. Except that many companies buy the same types of uniforms, our clients demand it, and that our badges are no longer made of tin. Oh, and we dare to wear intermediate weapons and guns.
The State of Utah's law enforcement has basically declared war against the industry.
By Ben Winslow
Deseret Morning News
Wearing his blue uniform and badge, Lt. Rick Tallent
stood before state lawmakers and asked for more
authority to make arrests, write citations and
transport prisoners.
The southern Utah private security officer was shot
down by a number of police agencies who argued that
private security companies should not have powers even
remotely similar to those of sworn peace officers.
"Policing, law enforcement and taking people into
custody should remain a government function and a
government function only," Ed Phillips, the deputy
director of the Utah Department of Public Safety, said
Wednesday. They were discussing proposed legislation
Wednesday before the Legislature's Law Enforcement and
Criminal Justice Interim Committee.
Tallent and his employer, All American Security Corp.,
have joined other private security companies in asking
the Legislature for more authority in special
situations.
"In today's world, the police departments have fewer
police officers and more crime than ever," Tallent
told lawmakers. "Private security can help to
alleviate some of the strain and allow the police
officers to concentrate their efforts in more critical
areas."
Right now, private security officers can detain people
on citizen's arrest statutes. However, Tallent wanted
authority to do things that he said street police
grumble about having to respond to. He also asked for
more clarity about the color of lights that private
security officers can use.
However, police brass blasted the idea. Maj. Rich
Townsend of the Utah Peace Officer Standards and
Training (POST) Council said not one law enforcement
agency in the state supports the legislation.
"We give police unprecedented powers," said Kelly
Atkinson of the Fraternal Order of Police. He accused
the private security officers of mimicking police
officers too much already. "Security officers refer to
themselves with titles. Lieutenants, captains,
officers. You see them wear uniforms and more and more
you're seeing their cars look more and more like
police officers."
Phillips said it is a slippery slope that lawmakers
would be going down. Apparently, it was one that
lawmakers didn't want to. They adjourned the committee
meeting, effectively killing the proposed legislation.
After the meeting, Tallent said he was surprised by
the heated reaction by law enforcement. He noted there
has always been some friction between police and
private security officers.
"They misunderstood where we were trying to go," he
said. "We weren't really asking for anything radical."
---
Mr. Tallent does not understand that what he is asking for is not only "radical," but demanding to give mere citizens the "unparalled" powers of the police.
Notice that the article states that guards have the authority to "detain" through Citizen's Arrest statutes. Not Arrest, but merely "detain."
This was brought to my attention by Colin Sparks of NAPSOA.
This serves us a lesson that we cannot forget: The Faternal Order of Police sees private security as an encroaching threat, even as their mebmers encroach on what has traditionally been security concerns - protection of personnel and property - through their "off-duty" programs.
The mere suggesting that police are being impersonated by "security guards" using titles such as "Officer," "Sergeant," and "Lieutenant" is silly. Our "uniforms" have not changed. Except that many companies buy the same types of uniforms, our clients demand it, and that our badges are no longer made of tin. Oh, and we dare to wear intermediate weapons and guns.
The State of Utah's law enforcement has basically declared war against the industry.
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