The Roles and Responsibilities of Public and Private Policing - Essay Example

The Roles and Responsibilities of Public and Private Policing The objective of the essay is to proffer a comparison on the roles and responsibilities of public and private policing. The Roles and Responsibilities of Public and Private Policing Every government or state has a set of laws governing the establishment of public and private police deemed critical in ensuring the safety and protection of the citizens. The necessity for a set of rules serves as a guide for various endeavors to remain free from chaos. The roles and responsibilities of both public and private police are governed by laws which regulate social behavior leading to a society that runs efficiently. Laws supply ethical standards and expectations, while providing rules of conduct, measures to enforce those rules, and a means for settling disputes. It is in this regard that this essay is written to proffer a comparison on the roles and responsibilities of public and private policing. The discourse would initially present a brief historical background of public, and then, private policing prior to the discussion of the main purpose of the essay. Historical Background The history and evolution of the emergence of police force could be traced in the mid-19th century when major American cities began to develop police departments. These forces began to evolve out of earlier night watch systems that utilized volunteers or civilians (Christman, Hertig, Purpura & Segraves, 2003: 23). The origins of private security in the United States, on the other hand, has transcended over time for the ultimate goal of protection. Johnson (2005) averred that “the growth of private policing can be understood as the natural product of three private functions: self-defense, the free market and economic exchange, and the enjoyment of property, including the right of owners to place conditions on people who are invited onto their property” (5). Roles and Responsibilities 1. Private Police The nature of the functions and activities that encompass private security companies and officers are critical in terms of ensuring protection of human lives and properties under their specific accountability. According to Adam (2010, par. 3), private police is defined as “contracted services to companies, people or organizations for the protection of personnel and property. Private security includes guard services, private investigators, body guards and retail (in-house) detectives. All of these positions have limited police powers, and need some training and licensing, but have fewer restraints than public police.” Since the rapid growth of enterprises, organizations and private entities call for an increasing number of private securities to safeguard their concerns, there could be wanton licensing requirements which facilitate the release of certificates to prospective private security officers without ensuring that they are fully equipped and competent in enforcing the required rules of court on erring civilians. The basic requirements to qualify a person in applying for a private security license to operate are as follows: (1) must be at least 25 years of age; (2) the owners must have at least five years’ law enforcement experience or “or five years experience working in a supervisory or management capacity for a licensed security officer company”; (3) five written endorsements from reputable citizens on the good moral character and behavior of the applicant; among others. In the study conducted by Wilson (n.d.), she identified five classifications of private police, to wit: “(a) off-duty public police officers, (b) state licensed security guards with special arrest powers, (c) state licensed security guards without special arrest powers, (d) unlicensed security guards in states with no regulation, and (e) unlicensed employees who work directly for employers in a "security" or "loss prevention" capacity” (17 – 18). These classes have diverse powers of arrest and use of authorized force. Most of them exercise powers under the law of citizen’s arrest. “Under the common law, a private citizen could arrest for a misdemeanor only if (1) it constituted a breach of the peace and (2) was committed in her presence.” (Wilson, n.d., 14) As indicated by Barr (2002, 2), private police has the following primary responsibilities: (1) to protect the assets of the organization; (2) implement strategic decisions consistent with organizational goals; (3) coordinate with local and state agencies pertinent to security measures; (4) comply with security standards and infuse security advice from external and internal consultants regarding results of security audits. As Wilson averred, “the dramatic reemergence of private policing was due to the following factors: (1) loss of confidence in the public police force, given widespread corruption and inability to effectively provide security; (2) fear of crime, fueled largely by an imagined increase created by the media and not necessarily reflected in reality; (3) community insularity, isolation and prejudice; (4) structural social inequalities which spawn violence and property theft; and (5) the fiscal crisis of the state” (p. 11) However, consistent with their increase in number occurs a substantial increase in violations of civil rights with regard to their exercise of powers of arrest. Other rules governing changes in owners, location, renewal, reproduction, denial, revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew a license, among others are contained in general provisions of the chapter on Security Officers and Security Officer Companies of Rules and Regulations governing Law and Public Safety. (Rules and Regulations 2006) 2. Public Police Adam defined public police as “part of a government entity--local, county, state or federal. All public police are based on a paramilitary model and have strict requirements, training and certification. Public police are controlled by politics and government establishments, and restrained by laws and rules, but their role is the safety and welfare of the public” (2010, par. 5) According to COPS’ Policy Paper, public law enforcement includes “local, state, and tribal police departments, sheriffs’ departments, and federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service” (2004, 1), among others. The role and function generally encompass the protection of the general public. Their training, legal powers, accountability and pay are substantially different from their private counterparts. According to Perry (2010, 1), public police are trained more comprehensively encompassing greater security topics in number and depth than private police. Public police are given arresting powers. They are considered law officers and peace officers and are bound by rules and regulations imposed by the public office (Ziff, 1967: 608). Perry (2010, 1) averred that “law enforcement officers are held accountable for their actions by members of the public, their department and the justice system. Private security personnel are largely accountable only to their employers and clients”. Due to the greater responsibility and accountability linked to the position, the compensation accorded to public police is far greater than their private counterparts. Accordingly, “the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median annual pay of security guards was $23,460 in May 2008. Law enforcement officers had median annual wages of $51,410” (Perry, 2010, 1). Their functions, aside from protection of the general public through crime prevention and response activities, include the following: (1) development of relationships with various sectors of the community; (2) meeting with business groups, clergy, and neighborhood associations, among others; (3) capacity to provide homeland security; and (4) development, administration and adherence with the National Incident Management System (incident response, protection of nation’s infrastructures, communications and data interoperability), among others (COPS, 2004; Barr, 2004). Interdependence between Public and Private Police Due to the nature of tasks and responsibilities, there are interdependence seen between public and private police in terms of the following: (1) “joint public/private investigations; (2) public agents hiring or delegating authority to private police; (3) private interests hiring public police; (4) new organizational forms in which the distinction between public and private is blurred; and (5) the circulation of personnel between the public and private sector. Although these five forms are described using examples of undercover investigations, they represent more generic forms of interdependence” (Shearing & Stenning, 1987). In this regard, the policy paper published by COPS (2004) recommended a public-private cooperation as a critical and relevant aspect of community policing (19). Both security groups should share relevant information on increasing protection of the public through closer security coordination and information intelligence sharing. In doing so, the goals and objectives of each group, though diverse and separate, could ultimately be coordinated for the greater benefit of the society, which they both pledge to preserve and protect. Conclusion The roles and functions of public and private police are very critical in the organization they serve due to the delicate nature of their responsibilities and the accountability accorded to them. In these times of risks and economic crisis, there is the need to be fully aware of the laws governing authority, training, accountability and licensing requirements for both security personnel and officers in various organizations, local agencies and state institutions. Only by acknowledging awareness of legal jurisdictions encompassing security officers and security office companies, one would be assured that security management continues to provide protection and safety to the organization in these highest standards possible. Their critical roles in the regulation of order in society cannot be overemphasized. Their functions pervade social structures, environmental concerns and civil security and safety. The direction and guidance that law accords all organizations and societies worldwide enabled the opportunity for their further growth and advancement. References Adam, W. (2010). Private Security versus Public Police. Retrieved 14 May 2010. < http://www.ehow.com/about_5463113_private-security-vs-public-police.html> Barr, J. G. (2002). The Role of the CSO. Faulkner Information Services. Christman, J., Hertig, C.A., Purpura, P.P. & Segraves, J. (2003). “The Evolution of Asset Protection and Security”, Protection Officer – Unit One. Elsevier, Inc. Licensed to University of Phoenix, SEC420. COPS. (2004). Private Security/Public Policing in National Policy Summit: Building Private Security/Public Policing Partnerships to Prevent and Respond to Terrorism and Public Disorder. Retrieved 15 May 2010. < http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/files/ric/Publications/national_policy_summit.pdf> Johnson, B. (2005). Principles of Security Management. Prentice Hall. Pearson Education, Inc. Perry, K.W. (2010). What is the difference between public policing and private security in the United States? Retrieved 15 May 2010. Rules and Regulations. (2006). TITLE 13. LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY CHAPTER 55A SECURITY OFFICERS AND SECURITY OFFICER COMPANIES. Retrieved 14 May 2010. Shearing, C. & Stenning, P. (1987). "Private Policing," Sage Publications. Wilson, L. PRIVATE POLICE VIOLENCE AND THE SCOPE OF SECTION 1983. Retrieved 15 May 2010 from < http://www.nlg- pap.org/html/research/LWprivatepolice.pdf> Ziff, H.L. (1967). Seizures by Private Parties: Exclusion in Criminal Cases. Stanford Law Review, 19, 608-618. (1967). Seizures by Private Parties: Exclusion in Read More