Private securityPrivate security companies flourish
Private security is a booming business in Harris County, Texas; private security experts say guards are better trained, but the job is more dangerous than ever. They often confront the same violent suspects as police but without advanced training and enforcement power
In Harris County, Texas, there are 302 private security companies. The Texas Department of Public Safety, which oversees the industry, says the number keeps growing. “Communities and individuals are drawing on that resource more so because there are fewer uniformed police officers in neighborhoods than years past,” said city councilman and former Houston Police Chief C. O. Bradford.
MyFoxHouston’s Sally MacDonald reports that private security is not what it used to be. “You know it started out a century ago with a grandpa watching a warehouse because he had nothing better to do. Those days are long gone,” said Bob Burt with TOS Security and the president of a statewide association for security companies. “Private security, the need is definitely there to defensively protect property and people,” said Burt.
While guards are there to be eyes and ears, these days they often help police catch criminals. Apartment residents either love presence of guards or loathe it. “People’s apartments are getting broken into, and we need security,” said Brittany Smith. “They don’t want you outside smoking a cigarette at ten o’clock no matter how grown you are,” said Mitchell Valentine.
Private security experts say guards are better trained, but the job is more dangerous than ever. They often confront the same violent suspects as police but without advanced training and enforcement powers. “They (guards) can use the weapon in any way a regular citizen can use their weapon within the law,” said Bradford.
According to state law, security guards have no more authority than citizens. They are allowed to carry a weapon openly only if they’ve gone through a 30-hour training course. “We have intense training in dispute resolution, body language, how to calm a situation down and when to use deadly force,” said Burt.
“The weapon is there for a deterrence and certainly self defense. We don’t want any officer, security or otherwise, to get hurt when they have a weapon they can and should use to protect themselves,” said Bradford.
Bradford says an accountability system is important for private security companies. The DPS makes sure guards’ licenses are valid but defers to local law enforcement when it comes to serious allegations like excessive or deadly force.
