Town Security Patrol

[LavianoTS386]

Something I thought was interesting. The town of Clifton Park doesn't have a police force, instead they contract with the sheriff & state agencies and run their own security force.

Patrol Responsibilities:

Patrol Responsibilities:

• Patrols Town facilities - Buildings, Parks, Sport Venues and residential neighborhoods to insure the public safety and protect public and private property.
• Conducts Speeding checks on Town roadways to ensure general compliance with posted speed limits.
• Patrols days, evenings and weekends at varied hours to meet local needs and concerns.
• Are lawful “Code Enforcement Officers” responsible for the enforcement of all Town Codes and ordinances. Enforces all Fire Lane and Handicapped Parking laws.
• Provides security and lawful presence at all Town Board and Committee meetings, in the Justice Court and general public gatherings in Town Hall.
• Assists the Shenendehowa Schools with Crossing Guard duties on busy highways.
• Provides Crossing duties and traffic control for Town Day Camp sites.
• Provides Traffic Control and ensures public safety at all civic events, Town sponsored events, from sports tournaments to parades, and/or emergencies.
• Conducts "Vacation" home security checks to deter unlawful activity, upon written request of the homeowner, while away on vacation. See "Vacation Checklist E-Form".
• Consists of 3 Full Time and 3 Part Time New York State certified security officers in fully equipped radio cars.

Website

Has anyone here done this kind of work?

[Mall Director]

In southern California, there are private communities that operate along the same methods. I worked a Private Security/Police department. You meet POST standards and its a go from there.

[HotelSecurity]

Years ago there were 29 cities on the island of Montreal. In the early 1970's the police services were taken over by the largest city, Montreal. The small suburbs felt they lost their "personalized" police services. So some of them set up what they first called Para-Police. They were to be the eyes & ears of the police. Now we are down to about 15 cities on the island with powerful boroughs. (Former cities that were taken over by Montreal in 2002). A lot of these cities & boroughs still have the Para-Police. They are called Public Security. They still act as the eyes & ears of the "real" police. They also have the powers to enforce parking & city by-laws. They patrol the parks & city buildings. They are not allowed to enforce moving violations. They direct traffic at fires etc. They respond to noise complaints at night.

Some have hired their own staff, others have used contract agencies.

Here's a link to information on the one in my borough http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/p..._schema=PORTAL

[N. A. Corbier]

Interesting, someone had noted that these aren't done anymore because they're a "unmitigated distaster," and I do remember a town moving to this having to move back to sworn law enforcement because the Sheriff and State Patrol refused to respond till their "brother officers" were restored to their jobs.

Oh, I didn't check. If they're "Code Enforcement Officers," they may be fully sworn NY Peace Officers, which means that they're police-like - just without the police academy.

[Jackhole]

Oh, I didn't check. If they're "Code Enforcement Officers," they may be fully sworn NY Peace Officers, which means that they're police-like - just without the police academy.

Just because you're a code enforcement officer in this state doesn't mean you're a peace officer. Town of Clifton Park security is just that, security. Their officers are only registered as security officers, not peace officers.

Most of the large cities here in NY have security that are mainly charged with the patrol of city-owned property and protection of their facilities. Cities/towns/villages having security is far from uncommon here in NY.

[HotelSecurity]

The owner of my hotels is an Orthodox Jewish man. They have a community here mostly in the Outremont borough of Montreal & they also have some in boroughs of New York city. I'm told that in New York they have their own Security/Police force. Does anyone know anything about it?

[Guest]

In southern California, there are private communities that operate along the same methods. I worked a Private Security/Police department. You meet POST standards and its a go from there.

Which communities were these? I was a cop for 13 years in Southern California I have never heard of such a thing.

[Mr. Security]

I am not convinced that having security, a/k/a private police, enforce traffic codes and other city/town ordinances is a wise idea. I'm all for security having whatever authority is deemed appropriate on private property. Public property should, IMO, be policed by public law enforcement officers. At this point and time, security lags behind law enforcement when it comes to qualifications and caliber of people.

[HotelSecurity]

I am not convinced that having security, a/k/a private police, enforce traffic codes and other city/town ordinances is a wise idea. I'm all for security having whatever authority is deemed appropriate on private property. Public property should, IMO, be policed by public law enforcement officers. At this point and time, security lags behind law enforcement when it comes to qualifications and caliber of people.

These places at least in Montreal hire the best private security people. A lot of cities around North America have Meter Maids. These Public Security units are just that with added by-laws to enforce. They don't enfoce criminal laws, they enforce city bylaws.

Quebec has a free college program after high school. (After grade 11). It is called C.E.G.E.P. For people going to university it is for 2 years. They also have 3 year technology programs. One of the programs is Police Technology. (I took it from 1973 to 1976). A lot of the Public Security Units hire people in or who have graduated from these programs.

[Mr. Security]

These places at least in Montreal hire the best private security people. A lot of cities around North America have Meter Maids. These Public Security units are just that with added by-laws to enforce. They don't enfoce criminal laws, they enforce city bylaws.

Quebec has a free college program after high school. (After grade 11). It is called C.E.G.E.P. For people going to university it is for 2 years. They also have 3 year technology programs. One of the programs is Police Technology. (I took it from 1973 to 1976). A lot of the Public Security Units hire people in or who have graduated from these programs.

Ok. I can see what you're getting at. I misunderstood your post, thinking that the Public Security Units were acting in a quasi-police capacity.

[N. A. Corbier]

In Wisconsin, they actually do have untrained security people patrolling downtown Racine, and are looking at giving them ticket books.

[HotelSecurity]

Ok. I can see what you're getting at. I misunderstood your post, thinking that the Public Security Units were acting in a quasi-police capacity.

The cities that started them wanted them to be "Para-Police" but were stopped by the real police. One suburb had their guys stopping cars for moving violations & instead of charging them under the Highway Safety Code ( a police only enforcable law), they charged them under a city by-law against unsafe driving. They were stopped by the police.

[Guest]

Which communities were these? I was a cop for 13 years in Southern California I have never heard of such a thing.

In southern California, there are private communities that operate along the same methods. I worked a Private Security/Police department. You meet POST standards and its a go from there.

No answer for me, Mr. Mall Director? I am calling you out on this; I think you are full of it. I strongly object to security guards who try to pass themselves off as sworn police officers. If what you claim is true, then you should have no problem providing me with the names of these SoCal communities and the names of their security providers.

If you are in any way uncomfortable posting this information on a public board, send it to me in a Private Message. If I verify that you are correct, I will (in the public forum for everyone to see) apologize and admit that I was wrong.

[Mall Director]

I am not keen of this kind of behavior, but here..

No answer for me, Mr. Mall Director? I am calling you out on this; I think you are full of it. I strongly object to security guards who try to pass themselves off as sworn police officers. If what you claim is true, then you should have no problem providing me with the names of these SoCal communities and the names of their security providers.

If you are in any way uncomfortable posting this information on a public board, send it to me in a Private Message. If I verify that you are correct, I will (in the public forum for everyone to see) apologize and admit that I was wrong.

This has been brought to my attention, as I do not "recheck" every post or thread I may drop a note into. If I am ever lucky enough to have a moments peace then I drop by here and check things out.. So Mr. Histfan71 , as to why your aggressive behavior towards a simple post, is a shocking and innapropriate response, evidentally you may have had a bad day or this is your usual personality. I want to emphasize before I go into a great amount of detail in response to your request, that I think you could have found a much better way of requesting anything from anyone... Please tell me this is not how you behave at work as well?? This forum has many professionals of this industry, sharing information with eachother, and even respecting other views, regardless of our biases.

RESPONSE TO REQUEST:
You appear to have an issue with this topic, so in my non-biased and open minded respective nature, here you go, read carefully:

The following "companies of which I am familiar with, plus additional companies, are actually "Housing Communities", that are of a different class, commonly street known as "Elite Private Housing Communities". Such said communities are large parcels of land, purchased by an investment group, planned and developed for those that can afford a "better way of life". These are also known as "gated" or "private" communities. These communities operate on a system in which they are the land owners, but all belong to a "Housing Association", in which they purchase the properties, with Codes, Covenants, Regulations, and Association Membership requirements. The FOLLOWING communities in southern, northern, and other states, are ones such as:

Tehema Private Community,
Silver Lakes Community,
Spring Valley Lake Community,
GardenStone at Bellvue Private Community,
and so many others that I could spend several days on the internet if I was not managing my department, and list off more. Please Search out more communities if you so desire, and I am more than willing to help you out further determination.

Now, let me help you, by explaining how it is that such a community can have such a said "Private Security Police Agency". First, let me define duties. These officers conduct patrols in patrol vehicles through their community. They have been established by the housing association of the private community. These officers respond to medical, fire, criminal and other emergencies the same as government run agencies. In some of these communities, they are even given emergency band equipment, such as pagers, or radios, in which they are sent the calls to respond to. In some cases the ajoining city's police force responds as well, but this private sector is already in the area, so their response time is less. Here is some hard facts that can not be disputed: These agencies, or Private Community Officers conduct tasks such as:

Citation writing
Vehicle Stops
Code Enforcement
and check this out... Even persuits... Crazy, I know!

Next fact.. In the state of California, if you complete the course either by college or by Certified training academies, in P.C. 832, you are P.O.S.T. certified. Research this! Its pretty fascinating!

Back to duties.. Doesnt this sound like LE to you? Well, guess what, it is! In some of these communities, they are even issued emergency lights for patrol vehicles in order to further enforce their codes, as well as other standard police equipment. Some of these communities, after you research this, you will notice have "Lakes" in their housing community. These lakes are even patrolled by Partol Vessels. These vessels are equipped with emergency lights and sirens. The Boating Officer (Security/Police) will even run speed trapps with radar devices. They conduct B.U.I.'s (Boating Under the Influence) stops. They make operators conduct feild sobriety tests to determine alcohol concerns.

Each of these facets of the Association Housing Community in these departments are given special rights and charged with special duties. In the Citation writng feild, they go about their daily routines, and find violators of the Associations Codes and Regulations. THey can determine the outcome, and cite them accordingly. Right now, I bet you are thinking "Well, how do they do this, and what is the value to the citation, or consequences?"

If a citation is written to a citizen for violating the Associations Codes, the "offender" receives a copy just as we do on public streets. There is a monetary value attached. Now, if the offender decides to contest this citation, they do not go to court first. They have a date at which they attend the Associations Council meeting for Violations. If the offender contests it, and it is upheld, then the offender pays the fine. If the offender Refuses to, then this is what happens: Normally the Offender is an Association Member (meaning they bought a property and into the community). This offender, choosing to refuse to comply goes to the next step, which is Small Claims court. Because it is a violation of the Associations Contract, the offender looses. The fine is then "attached" to the Offenders title of property. After so many violtions and unpaid fines, the offender forfiets and looses this expensive property they have paid for, by civil judgement. If there are only a few fines or any unpaid fines, but not enough to persue a reposession of property, then it stays on the title, at which the County clerks office handles. If the offender ever attempts to sell his/her said property, it can not be done, as it has attached liens to the property.

Amazing huh? But it is reality! This is just the tip of the iceburg to mention. These Association Officers (private Security/Police) attend local law enforcement courses in addition to the normal P.C. 832 certification course, such as D.R.E. (Drug Recognition Expert) Courses, as well as others that I have also listed. Further more, P.C. 832 is broken into three levels. Each level defines operational limits or powers within the Law Enforcement Codes. Click on any California College to further research this!

I hope that tthis small amount of what I have provided has disturbed you, as seeing that you are totally against this type of operation. But dont feel bad, here is something that you may find some consolation in.. You are not the only person upset with these "Quasi-Police" like Agencies...

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/03/police_departme.html

http://mediafilter.org/MFF/CAQ/CAQ54p.police.html

There are others that are uncomfortable with this as well. As I have stated in so many posts before, and this goes for everyone, as it is something I preach daily to all of my staff, is this:

The Security Industry is constantly changing, and at a rapid rate of growth. Security is not what it once was, and has even grown to be Specialized, meaning there are so many facets in this Industry. Also, we ae now living a POST 9-11 era, where Security is no longer viewed the same as it was in the 1980's and 1990's. It has become so much more serious, and the professionalism that we must provide is now no longer desired, but required. Our Society seeks out something more in safety and security now knowing that we are all vonurable. The old Security Agencies of "watchclock" type warm bodies will faze out as new breeds of Security develop.

A final note, just to rattle some more cages.. I want you and anyone else to check this out.. Being concerned of the powers that Security Agencies have gained, have you heard of these two following agencies:
-Pinkerton
-Wackenhut

Pinkerton has there own Private Police fraction as well. Pinkerton is known for the "RailRoad Police". Union Pacific and Burlington Northern contract with Pinkerton to provide Railroad policing. This is also something Pinkerton likes to brag about in all their new hire paperwork.. "Look where you can go in this company..". Here is something else to check out about Pinkerton.. You think BlackWater are extremist types Security Agencies.. Well, IMO, they have nothing on Pinkerton. Pinkerton has a fraction of "Special Service Agents" operating as "Extraction Opperatives". These Pinkerton Officers go to other countries and conduct some pretty cloak and dagger stuff IMO. Check it out please!

Wackenhut... For the most part is an Observe and Report only agency, but the also have an interesting fraction.. Gues who Protects the Police??? Guess who else Protects the Courts?? Here is an example you may enjoy, that I have had personal contact with.. In the City of Longmont, Colorado, Wackenhut Armed Officers are the gate keepers of public access to the City's Police Department and Court system. This is also case in many other cities.

More to the point, There is so much that goes on, that unless we are subject to it, or hear about it, we would never know!

[Guest]

Mall Director,

Thank you for your rather long and rambling response. However, you never answered my question, which was what private communities in California have their own sworn police departments and which one did you work for as a sworn police officer as you claimed in your post?

Instead of answering my question you went on a diatribe about how the duties of some private security guards are very similar to the duties sworn police officers perform. While I agree that some security jobs require guards to perform police-like functions, just doing a job that has some similarities to police work does not make one a sworn police officer. That attitude, right there, is what I object to most. I take offense when anyone, not just a security guard, falsely claims to be a law enforcement officer. I remember several months back a senior member of this forum was caught impersonating a police officer by another member and the impersonator was roundly (and rightfully) condemned by most of the other members of this forum.

The communities you mentioned all have private security guards who patrol their properties, NOT POLICE DEPARTMENTS and their guards are SECURITY GUARDS AND NOT SWORN POLICE OFFICERS, no matter how much their job duties might resemble those of the police! They enforce their communities' rules and regulations, not state law. Any arrests these security guards might make are still considered a Citizen's Arrest, not a Peace Officer Arrest. So your claim that these private communities have their own police forces is incorrect.

Completion of P.C. 832 training does not make one "POST Certified" in California. Here is a link to California's POST website which describes the P.C. 832 training program: http://www.post.ca.gov/training/pc832.asp

In order to be considered "POST Certified" in California one must possess at least one of the following "Professional Certificates": Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, Management, Executive, Reserve Officer, Specialized, or Coroner. Note that P.C. 832 is NOT among those listed. Here is yet another link to California POST where you can read up about the requirements to earn each of these certificates for yourself: http://www.post.ca.gov/training/cert...rtificates.asp