battery on security officer law not being enforced in FL

[N. A. Corbier]

The law states you must be identified as a "licensed security officer," and a lot of companies are thinking, "Well, we can only employ licensed security guards, so this must count!"

This is wrong. Your patch must inform the public that you are a licensed security officer so they are pre-warned that striking you is a felony. This way, a LEO on scene can readily identify a licensed officer from an unlicensed one. I'm also hearing reports that in-house security and LP people are trying to apply the law, and they are not covered unless they have a D license!

This only works for contract or in-house D officers.

[bigdog]

your 100% correct nathan . The licensed wording must be on the uniform or your not covered i for instance have a namplate that says licensed security officer, Excelsior defense. so im covered under the emblem part of the statute.

[Echos13]

Makes you wonder who wrote this law and had the fore thought to consider this technicality. How many companies are going to change their patches and insignia to have this law applied for use in the protection of their people? More than likely none. A few perhaps but I bet hardly any for the most part. TWC is supposed to change the logo and name but so far it's all the usual "he said, they said" going around. So I am sure no one has even considered this problem. TWC is still in the stone age in equipment and logistically despite being world wide and one of the biggest (part of G4S rather) companies about. I think it would look kind of tacky anyway that you have to have this on your company patches or insignia along with all the other lettering in order to have this law applicable.

LEO's don't have "State certified police officer" on their patches after all. Shows that narrow minded law makers in Florida take a few steps but not very many and always in the right direction.

[N. A. Corbier]

Actually, its part of a political agenda. First, a LEO, by virtue of their position, readily identifies themselves as a LEO. Second, not all security personnel are licensed. The state can only impose its will (Chapter 493) on licensed employees. This is why it says "Licensed Officer."

Third, since it isn't just "security guard," you have to have some way for the public to identify a licensed officer from an unlicensed civilian. (Which is funny, because security officers are "no more or no less a civilian" in the eyes of the state.) If that language wasn't in there, the first thing I would do in a business is make EVERY EMPLOYEE a security guard. Boom, hitting any of them is a felony, even if they're "primary duties" are actually that of a stock clerk.

A law enforcement officer must identify himself before you strike him for the Batt. LEO to be charged with that crime. It can either be the uniform (visual identification) or yelling "I'm a cop!" (verbal identification.)

This had to be written as so for one reason: Florida is expanding the licensing program. If you want to be covered, then you must be licensed. Licensed officers are subject to 493 in its entirety. Like that pesky "cannot use force to protect property" thing.