Private Security versus Lae Enforcement
Executive Summary
Private security and law enforcers have similar responsibilities when it comes to dealing with situation that concerns public safety (cops.usdoj.gov, Web). In an event such as a college football game, both officers have to have adequate risk management capabilities to ensure the security of the people within the event and also to protect the property from physical damages brought by rogue spectators. The private security and the law enforcers should closely examine the actions that are considerably appropriate in enforcing security measures during the event.
Law enforcers should be the one responsible for prosecuting offenders because they are the ones that have access to confidential and private information that would aid in identifying the offender's personal background. The private security on the other hand may only assist in the process because of their limited authority to look into sensitive private information. Both the private security and law enforcers should perform visual and physical baggage search prior to allowing access in the venue premises. However, when it comes to searching vehicles for suspected possession of illegal drugs and deadly weapons, further searching should be turned over to the law enforcers due to illegal statutes of the law regarding vehicle search.
Individual pat-down search can be performed by both officers as part of the standard security operating procedures. When it comes to detaining individuals, law enforcers and private security may hold suspecting individuals. However, the detention process should be turned over to the law enforcers for background verification and further investigation. Arrests are exclusive to the law enforcers because it entails proper prosecution process and further investigation procedures. Computer verification of stolen items should be performed by both officers, they should work hand in hand in documenting incidents of stealing during the event. The private security may facilitate the questioning and preliminary search for the stolen items.
After proper documentation of the incidents, the next step is to turn it over to the law enforcers. Law enforcers can do most of the verification processes since they have the adequate access to utility records, medical and financing records. It is important for the law enforcers to perform the verification procedure to determine if the suspected individual has prior records of the same offense. When it comes to seizing deadly weapons, the law enforcers should be the one to deal with the situation because such finds constitute a prosecuting protocol that only the police can perform (Police.ucr.edu).
The training of both officers is aimed to accentuate the areas of responsibilities that their respective authorities constitute. It is possible that both are entitled to questioning, to seize weapon, search baggage and refuse entry to suspecting individuals. However, since there is a huge difference to the level of authority that the officers have on the matters of responding to security issues (Law Enforcement Assistance Admin, 1977). The law enforcers should be aware of the bigger responsibilities in handling difficult situations and responses that are subject to the rules of the law. Private security on the other hand are only responsible to the safety of its employer's lives and property. They are more focused on imposing the company rules instead of the larger perspectives of the law. In order to facilitate a more effective peace and security measure, both officers should work together in imposing both rules of law and the private business.
References
Cops.usdoj.gov (n.d.). COPS Office: Private Security and Public Law Enforcement. COPS Office: Grants and Resources for Community Policing. Retrieved October 26, 2012, from http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2034
Law Enforcement Assistance Admin (1977). Law Enforcement and Private Security Sources and Areas of Conflict and Strategies for Conflict Resolution. NCJRS Training Materials.
Police.ucr.edu (n.d.). Police Department: Special Events Matrix. Police Department: Home. Retrieved October 26, 2012, from http://police.ucr.edu/faq/matrix.html
