The development of the Private Security industry in the United States is a unique phenomenon that has been centered on American Security needs. The basis of the need for private security can be found in the Industrial Revolution. (McRei, 2010) During the rapid urbanization of the United States, the protection of businesses and property, long thought to be the purview of the private owners, became a market for independent security firms. (McRei, 2010) As these evolved over time, they became the industry known as Security Services. (McRei, 2010)
The first major security service in the United States was started by Allen Pinkerton. (McRei, 2010) In Chicago in 1849, Pinkerton founded the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, and through this company, aided the police in pursuing and capturing train robbers. (McRei, 2010) This aspect of his business put Pinkerton in contact with George McClellan and his lawyer, Future President Abraham Lincoln. (McRei, 2010)
Pinkerton later ran an intelligence agency for the union Army during the civil war. (1861-1862) (McRei, 2010) Pinkerton led a group of soldiers who would go undercover as Confederate sympathizers to collect information about the enemy. (McRei, 2010) The practice of using undercover agents is said to have originated with Pinkerton, and his agency, which thwarted an assassination attempt on Lincoln in Maryland, was the fore-runner of the United States Secret Service. (McRei, 2010)
After his participation in the Civil war, Pinkerton returned to civilian work, targeting criminal gangs such as the Reno Gang, and individuals such as Jesse James. (McRei, 2010) He failed to capture James, and gave up his pursuit after losing an undercover agent who bought a farm near where James lived. (McRei, 2010)
Then Pinkerton Company was prominent in the anti-labor movement in the 1870s. Industrial leaders would hire Pinkerton’s men to break up pro-labor strikes and other labor activities. (McRei, 2010) After Pinkerton’s Death in 1884, his company became even more entangled in the labor disputes which defined much of the 1880s and 1890s. (Walt, 1991) In 1891, the Pinkerton Company’s involvement in violence associated with the Haymarket Strike led to the passage of a federal law prohibiting the government from hiring the Pinkerton agency. (Walt, 1991) This law did not deter private businesses from hiring the Pinkertons to end the Pullman Strike in 1894. (Walt, 1991) The company was also among those who participated in the Ludlow Massacre, an attack on striking coal workers that led to major labor reforms in 1914. (Walt, 1991)
While the Pinkerton company represented one of the only private security firms in the United States until the turn of the 20th century, other companies soon followed to address the growing security concerns of a rapidly expanding urban America. (Walt, 1991) By 1914, the private security field was covered by only three companies, Pinkertons, Brinks, which was formed to protect monetary assets from crimes, and Willliam James Burns, Inc., which was a private detective agency for banking in America. (Walt, 1991)
As the profession of Private Security evolved through time, efforts have been made to clearly define the professional’s role in the economy and to develop standards and practices in order to improve the professional image and consistency of conduct of professional security officers. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010) There are commonly considered to be four “drivers” of security around which the definition of the profession can be built. These are criminology, risk, terrorism and management. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010)
The perception of security as solely a function of criminology had led to the focus upon security as a function of who is providing it versus who it is servicing. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010) Also, this parameter alone excludes security considerations beyond threats from criminals. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010) Security is defined as safety of goods or individuals. As such, Risk assessment must be included in the description of security services. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010) As terrorism had crossed all borders, security from terrorist acts must also be considered as part of the Security Industry. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010) The outsourcing of many security-related tasks in theaters such as Iraq has led to management issues for security professionals. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010)
In addition to identifying the proper roles of security professionals in the modern economy, attention is also beginning to focus on uniform training of such individuals. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010) The Securities Professionals Taskforce has been attempting to collect a uniform body of knowledge and skills necessary to achieve success in the Security Industry. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010)
Also, a uniform code of ethics is in development for industries related to Security. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010) As of this time, however, no uniform code of professional ethics exists for the security industry. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010) Since this is the case, the industry is left to self-govern under the often-harsh rules of economics: whatever pays is acceptable. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010) However, since one of the defining characteristics of security is providing safety, it would seem that other limitations should be applied. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010)
Another concept that is popularly considered to be a vital element of professionalism is the existence of a means of development for professionals in the field. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010) Thus, professional development in the area of security professionals is a topic that has garnered much discussion among major players in professional security. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010) The existence of certain items, such as the Security Risk Management Book of Knowledge, makes development courses and proficiency standards possible, but limits the scope of these requirements. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010) Consequently, other sources have been suggested to provide the body of knowledge from which professional development may be continued. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010)
The modern member of the Security Industry would be well advised to observe the historical development of the industry.(Hambrick & Abramson, 1995) From the time of Pinkerton, some members of this business have acted as thugs or mercenaries. (Hambrick & Abramson, 1995) In some cases, agents of Pinkerton security became official posse members or armies of hired muscle to support their industrial clients against protesting laborers. (Hambrick & Abramson, 1995) In order to maintain their reputation as lawful members of the post-9/11 economy, Security Industry experts would be wise to adopt the policies associated with professional groups such as licensing, code of ethics and a body charged with policing its own members. (Griffith, et. Al, 2010)
References
Griffiths, Mel, Brooks, David & Corkill, Jeffory (2010) Defining the Security Professional: Definition through a Body of Knowledge Retrieved from: http://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=asi&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dprivate%2520security%27s%2520move%2520toward%2520professionalism%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D2%26ved%3D0CDEQFjAB%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fro.ecu.edu.au%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1004%2526context%253Dasi%26ei%3D-IQfUu3RCaa42wW8hIGwBQ%26usg%3DAFQjCNFsb0U1Y7bu2kmJQci3NTTDvB3G2w%26bvm%3Dbv.51495398%2Cd.b2I#search=%22private%20securitys%20move%20toward%20professionalism%22 on Aug. 29th, 2013.
Hambrick, Donald & Abramson, Eric (1995) Assessing Managerial Discretion across Industries: A Multimethod Approach Academy of Management Journal Vo0l. 38 Number 5. Retrieved from:
http://amj.aom.org/content/38/5/1427.short on Aug. 29th, 2013.
Jones, Trevor and Newburn, Tim. (2002) The Transformation Of Policing: Understanding Current Trends in Policing Systems Retrieved from : http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=private%20security%20industry%2020th%20century&source=web&cd=12&ved=0CDoQFjABOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2F94.23.146.173%2Fficheros%2F9b9c01505ddd94754d072b6940e09a32.pdf&ei=NYEfUsPEMKXI2gXpj4HQCQ&usg=AFQjCNHDSxj-wOgVlTE0XONHtUhQeMEfDQ&bvm=bv.51495398,d.b2I onAug. 29trh 2013.
McRie, Robert. (2010) Allen Pinkerton: Founder of the Security Services Industries. Journal of Applied Security Research. Vol. 5, Issue 4, 2010. Retrieved from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19361610.2010.510127#tabModule on Aug. 29th 2013.
Walt, Stephen (1991) The Renaissance of Security Studies. International Studies Quarterly Vol. 35 Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2600471?uid=3739920&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21102564720021 on Aug. 29th 2013.
