Policing Vs Private Security

Public Policing Versus Private Security
Michael Lemke
502
October 17, 2011
George Gallitano

Abstract
Several distinct differences exist between public policing and private security. The ability to enforce the law and maintain order in society rests with public policing. The agencies that receive money to perform protective and loss-prevention duties that the police officers do not handle are private securities. Public policing and private security agencies do offer the same services and duties to achieve some of the same goals. Public policing and private security agencies serve as leaders in their line of work. Two different standards regulate the leadership requirements. Both agencies share a positive relationship with the criminal
justice system. The companies could enhance their relationship if they would partner up with one another. The relationship could help them combine their essential policies for the current role that they are performing today. Public policing and private security agencies will work together and continue to grow for a long time to come. Describing and discussing the importance of a comprehensive security plan and the key components is the goal of this paper.

Public Policing Versus Private Security The two paths for individuals to choose in policing are public policing and private security. Similarities and significant differences in roles and responsibilities are apparent on both paths. Both paths also have similar history, goals, and training. Public policing and private security are unique and successful because of the differences within these similarities in their own way. The two companies differ in the way that the two organizations interact and the role that each play in the criminal justice system. The paths of the two companies are separate and the policies that they implement are different. The policies will affect the functionality of the two paths differently even though both paths are similar, and they have their differences. Both paths should practice a comprehensive security plan in key components. Both agencies have a good amount of similarities, and they overlap in responsibilities in numerous ways. Some of the similarities include employing both men and women and employing the use of uniforms. The uniforms allow the public to know who are the guards and officers. “Although every private police agency may not perform all the tasks that a public police department does, many do, and private police in the aggregate unquestionably perform all of these duties” (Joh, 2004, p. 51). Both agencies are responsible for upholding the law and keeping organizations safe. Several distinct differences are evident despite the numerous similarities in public policing and private security. Private security agencies receive higher paychecks and a more comprehensive benefits plan than the public police. The job description of public police officers entails protecting the public, enforcing the laws, and making arrests. The public is the main responsibility of public police officers. The main responsibility for private security officers is to ensure that the laws are not broken. Private security officers need to decide whether the broken laws will affect the community or the organization that they need to protect. The organization that did hire the private security agency is a higher priority than the public. Some of the services of private security agencies include patrol, alarm responses, and special enforcement. “In recent years, the image and value of private security has elevated itself such that private security being used more and more to augment public police functions in traffic control, parking enforcement, crime scene preservation and most other areas” (Greene, 2005, p. 58). The public police receive calls for emergency responses and to patrol public streets. The leadership in both companies is similar. A paramilitary ranking exists within officer staffing in public policing. The military is similar to the hierarchy of the public police in numerous ways. Some of the lowest ranks include officers, detectives, and sergeants. Each of the ranks reports to the next highest position in the hierarchy. The paid officers report to appointed officers within the government agency. Employee training takes place in-house and regular certifications ensures that each officer is at peak performance. A similar paramilitary hierarchy of guards is in the private security sector. The ranks of a private security agency are similar with positions such as a sergeant, corporal, and senior patrol officer. Employees of a private security agency will report to another employee staff member, rather than appointed officers in the public police system. The leadership of a private security agency will end at the highest rank, such as the owner of the company. Private security guards also receive their training in-house and have regular re-certifications like public police agencies. The length and quality of certain certifications will vary in comparison to public police agencies. Both agencies play roles in the criminal justice system. Both agencies can help serve justice by making arrests, completing investigations, and preventing a crime by serving as a visual presence in an area. The roles that both agencies play in the criminal justice system will help deter crime, achieve justice, and keep members of the public safe. Laws and policies control the public police.
The policies will help the public police to ensure that there is not any violation of citizen rights. Officers need to ensure that suspects are aware of their rights after making an arrest by reciting the Miranda rights. Certain policies will state how long a police officer can detain, search, or question individuals. Most of the policies do not apply for private security. Security guards would have to break the law themselves in order for the United States Constitution to restrict private security. Public police officers will have more capabilities of making an arrest than that of private security
officers. The three essential elements that make up a comprehensive security plan are physical, personal, and information security. Technical and operational security makes up the other secondary elements. Tangible objects such as building designs, fences, locks, and walls refers to physical security, and promotes the protection of people and property. Other physical security examples include lighting, alarm systems, and security personnel who devote themselves to control access activities. The first line of protection and deterrence against crime for people and properties is physical securities. The protection of people in an association with an organization including employees, customers, or other individuals in an association with a specific organization comes from personnel security. An example of this situation would entail how the government issues identification cards for individuals with a valid reason for accessing the installation. Military personnel will inspect identification cards at secure gates to ensure that individuals who work, shop, or visit can do so safely and without worry of a security risk of sneaking through the gate. Complete background checks are necessary for people to obtain a military identification card that did not enlist as active duty, part of a marriage of someone who did enlist, or a dependent of a service member. The level of protection will depend on the level of importance with the information. The use of encryption for sending highly sensitive information and shredding for disposal of that same information is an example of information security. The use of risk assessment and security surveys to understand and predict security weaknesses and potential threats is technical security. The use of risk assessments and security surveys will help predict the likelihood of a threat becoming a loss event, project the effect that the loss will have on the enterprise, and prevent the loss if possible. Three components will allow the public police and private security agencies to protect individuals, property, and organizations. The comprehensive security plan will not allow officers and guards to complete his or her job if an element is lacking or missing. The agencies goals and responsibilities overlap in public policing and private security.
The methods and legal limitations vary by the agency toward completing these goals. Public police attain more authority toward making arrests and detaining possible suspects, but they are under control by the government and the laws. The guards are powerless in certain situations without requesting the public police at the scene to assist with arrests, questioning, and detaining an individual, but the government and the laws do not limit private security as much as public police. The differences make the agencies useful and essential for most situations. The public police can concentrate on other aspects of public protection without spreading the agency thin to protect retail properties, private communities, and public special events because of the use of private security. The two agencies complement each other and possess frustrations. Individuals in both agencies work well, and the agencies can complete a wider range of goals when working together. Both agencies possess a love and hate
relationship.

References
Greene, D. H. (2005). CHAPTER 8: Security Officer vs. Police Officer. In , Shopping Center Security (pp. 54-58). Retrieved October 17, 2011, from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=127&sid=bc2b9449-3508-4481-a23c-fb24bc30dd74%40sessionmgr113&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bth&AN=25753247
Joh, E. E. (2004). THE PARADOX OF PRIVATE POLICING. Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology, 95(1), 49-131. Retrieved October 17, 2011, from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=127&sid=bc2b9449-3508-4481-a23c-fb24bc30dd74%40sessionmgr113&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=16137468