Private Policing Initiatives - Secure Law Public Safety and Security Experts

Private Policing Initiatives

Those desiring innovation often examine the relationship between budgetary constraints and service provisions. If financial limitations cannot be resolved through management and organizational methods, it may be desirable to assess the types and levels of services provided by your organization:

Can some services be contracted out, or performed by civilians?

Can you simply decide not to perform certain services?

These questions go to many political, social, financial, legal, and organizational interests. It is often too simplistic to ask for more money or to stop providing certain services. This reality leaves the public safety executive, or the college or municipal official, with the unenviable task of constantly balancing budgets with service functions and levels.

The threat of terrorism and violent crime has further challenged public safety budgets. With security firms at three times the level of personnel and revenues compared to police agencies, the development of public-private policing is inevitable. Added to this dynamic is the reduction or even elimination of community policing monies. Consequently, public safety agencies are faced with difficult budgetary decisions—often with fewer personnel—to handle the rising threat of violence.

One solution is to innovate, using alternative service providers to perform basic services, including order maintenance. This trend was developed and articulated in a ground breaking book entitled:

The Privatization of Police in America

The logic of alternative or supplemental service providers is illustrated by the concept of "para-police." Para-police is another name for private police officers. Many public safety agencies use auxiliary police officers, who are part-time sworn police officers. Some also use reserve police officers, who are hired on an "as needed" basis, with limited police powers. These officers are typically called to duty for special details or events. In contrast to auxiliary and reserve officers, private policing is a relatively new and growing phenomenon.

There are several key distinctions between these options. Briefly, the distinctions relate to the level of police powers associated with the officer, the training levels required for each officer, the funding sources for the service provision, and the contractual and liability exposures related to each supplemental arrangement. Each alternative or supplemental service has its own strengths and weaknesses. The use of private police, however, has particular appeal because property or business owners can directly contract for public safety services, thereby providing welcome relief for municipal budgets. Finally, private police functions can be flexible, depending upon the financial, organizational, political, and situational circumstances of the client.

Feel free to contact us to discuss your options with these innovative initiatives.

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	Private Policing Initiatives Those desiring innovation often examine the relationship between budgetary constraints and service provisions. If financial limitations cannot be resolved through management and organizational methods, it may be desirable to assess the types and levels of services provided by your organization: Can some services be contracted out, or performed by civilians? Can you simply decide not to perform certain services? These questions go to many political, social, financial, legal, and organizational interests. It is often too simplistic to ask for more money or to stop providing certain services. This reality leaves the public safety executive, or the college or municipal official, with the unenviable task of constantly balancing budgets with service functions and levels. The threat of terrorism and violent crime has further challenged public safety budgets. With security firms at three times the level of personnel and revenues compared to police agencies, the development of public-private policing is inevitable. Added to this dynamic is the reduction or even elimination of community policing monies. Consequently, public safety agencies are faced with difficult budgetary decisions—often with fewer personnel—to handle the rising threat of violence. One solution is to innovate, using alternative service providers to perform basic services, including order maintenance. This trend was developed and articulated in a ground breaking book entitled: The Privatization of Police in America. The logic of alternative or supplemental service providers is illustrated by the concept of "para-police." Para-police is another name for private police officers. Many public safety agencies use auxiliary police officers, who are part-time sworn police officers. Some also use reserve police officers, who are hired on an "as needed" basis, with limited police powers. These officers are typically called to duty for special details or events. In contrast to auxiliary and reserve officers, private policing is a relatively new and growing phenomenon. There are several key distinctions between these options. Briefly, the distinctions relate to the level of police powers associated with the officer, the training levels required for each officer, the funding sources for the service provision, and the contractual and liability exposures related to each supplemental arrangement. Each alternative or supplemental service has its own strengths and weaknesses. The use of private police, however, has particular appeal because property or business owners can directly contract for public safety services, thereby providing welcome relief for municipal budgets. Finally, private police functions can be flexible, depending upon the financial, organizational, political, and situational circumstances of the client. Feel free to contact us to discuss your options with these innovative initiatives.