I have been concerned about the data revealing more private than public police in America. A recent email from Jennifer Dawson who, I believe, works in the private security arena, prompted me to bring up this important subject again. For we cannot overlook the recent growth of private policing in America. According to U.S. labor statistics, there are over 1.1 million private security guards in the U.S. compared to 666,000 police officers; a two-for-one ratio!
Here’s what she wrote to me:
“I’ve been thinking about the growing trend of private security services since I checked out your article on the topic (https://improvingpolice.blog/2016/10/10/private-police-coming-to-a-neighborhood-near-you/) because it’s a fascinating shift in the security landscape.
“That led me to wonder if you’d considered talking about the potential impact of private security services on community policing as it could be a thought-provoking angle for your readers.
“In light of the challenges facing traditional policing, exploring how private security companies could collaborate with law enforcement agencies to enhance community safety might be an intriguing concept to delve into. It could also raise important questions about accountability and oversight in the realm of public safety…”
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Private Security Companies: Collaborating with Law Enforcement for Enhanced Community Safety
By Jennifer Dawson
“The private security industry has been growing since 2020 with approximately twice as many security guards hired in the country than there were 2 decades ago. In 2021, there were roughly 2 law enforcement and 3.1 security guards per 1,000 civilians. Although homicides in the nation fell by more than 10% in America’s largest cities in 2023, there are also notable exceptions according to the national data of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Washington DC experienced a 35% increase in homicides while Memphis saw a 42% jump in murders. Given the shortage of police officers nationwide, working with private security companies can enhance community safety. Despite the decline in national crimes, public opinion or 63 % of Americans describe them as ‘extremely or very serious’ according to a recent Gallup poll, the highest statistic recorded by the organization since it began asking the same question in 2000.
Surveillance, Monitoring, and Patrol Services
“Private security companies can complement law enforcement efforts by providing surveillance and monitoring services in public spaces, commercial areas, and residential communities. This can help deter criminal activities and provide law enforcement with valuable info when incidents occur. Regular patrols in neighborhoods and high-crime areas to prevent crime and respond quickly to emergencies assist law enforcement as well. These patrols can serve as a visible deterrent and provide reassurance to community members. In addition, private security companies often offer alarm monitoring and response services for residential and commercial properties. In the event of a security breach or alarm activation, private security personnel can respond swiftly to assess the situation and coordinate with law enforcement if necessary.
“It’s not only physical security that can be done with firms, technology scams is also one area where the two sectors can collaborate effectively by employing various strategies and initiatives. Tech scams and fraud are costly for consumers, businesses, and even government agencies. For example, establishing channels for information sharing between private security firms and law enforcement agencies is crucial. Private security companies can share intelligence gathered from their monitoring systems, customer complaints, and incident reports related to tech scams. Law enforcement agencies can use this info to identify trends, patterns, and potential perpetrators. Establishing public-private partnerships facilitate collaboration between private security firms, law enforcement agencies, government agencies and industry stakeholders in combating tech scams. According to an article by Pope, agencies must also adopt cutting-edge technology to facilitate information sharing and simplify data collection to generate critical and valuable insights for a safe world.
Training and Professional Development
“Employers in the private security sector often provide training and professional development opportunities for their personnel. The roles and responsibilities of both private security personnel and law enforcement are clarified helping establish clear expectations and effective coordination during joint and emergency operations. Training programs can focus on developing communications skills, relevant laws, regulations, and protocols, and interactions with the public. A good understanding of legal problems related to arrest procedures, use of force, search and seizure, privacy rights, and confidentiality requirements is also essential to ensure compliance and mitigate legal risks. Furthermore, training modules will include conflict resolutions and de-escalation techniques as well as strategies to defuse tense encounters, aggressive behaviors, and dispute resolution. As such, educational programs can prepare both sides to respond swiftly and effectively to various security threats, emergencies, and crisis situations.
“Joint training exercises, scenario-based simulations, and skills workshops to foster collaboration, share best practices, and build mutual trust and respect may be conducted. Emerging technologies, tools, and innovations relevant to modern security and crime prevention efforts must be introduced. Not to be overlooked is the ability of training activities to instill ethical values, integrity, and professionalism in private security staff and law enforcement offices. To illustrate, the Shield program of the New York Police Department (NYPD) is a private-public with nearly 20,000 members across 50 US states, 54 countries, and over 7,000 organizations. Training is a major component of the program which is focused on counter-terrorism through info sharing by using the Shield website, conferences, seminars, live drills, and exercises. In effect, by aligning training programs with law enforcement standards and best practices, private security firms can ensure that their staff are well-equipped to handle various security scenarios and effectively collaborate with law enforcement counterparts.
“Overall, collaboration between private security companies and law enforcement agencies can significantly contribute to enhancing community safety by leveraging their respective strengths, resources, and expertise. Addressing security challenges fosters a safer environment for all inhabitants, organizations, and businesses.”
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Are there concerns on both sides of this equation? Of course. Here’s a piece from almost a decade ago by a criminal justice researcher for whom I have great respect, Malcolm Sparrow. Regarding the private security v. police situation he both concluded and alerted us that we have “work to be done.”
“Private security and private policing have become inescapable. It is no longer useful for public police to hang on to their own regrets about these trends, bemoan their loss of market share or pretend that public/private partnerships cannot be useful… But that does not mean that the risks associated with private policing can be ignored. Grounds for concern remain… in each situation in which they arise, represents work to be done by public police” (his emphasis).
See the full article from the National Institute of Justice and the Harvard Kennedy School,“Managing the Boundary Between Public and Private Policing” (2014). It’s worth a read along with Jennifer’s article.
Improving Police: A Necessary Conversation 