SU Non Governmental Security Forces Discussion

Identify and discuss at least 3 different types of nongovernmental police or security forces. You may also choose to profile 3 real-life private detectives or bounty hunters by presenting a biography and history on them and their exploits. 

You may combine the above two tasks as long as you explore at least 3 forces or detectives in your combination. 

1. Research and discuss at least 1 example of criminal wrongdoing by a private police or security force or personnel. This example does not have to be about one that was already covered, and it does not have to be from within the United States. Where possible, your discussion of the research should include statistical data about the different types of nongovernmental police or security forces. 

Express your thoughts and feelings about the use of nongovernmental police and security forces. Do you have any policy recommendations for or against them? 

• Responses to Other Students: Respond to at least 2 of your fellow classmates with at least a 100-word reply about their Primary Task Response regarding items you found to be compelling and enlightening. To help you with your discussion, please consider the following questions:

1. What did you learn from your classmate’s posting?
2. What additional questions do you have after reading the posting?

What clarification do you need regarding the posting?

What differences or similarities do you see between your posting and other classmates’ postings?

peer responses:

In the world of law enforcement there are many moving parts to keeping the community safe from those who choose to do wrong. While such factions exist as the traditional police force and military personnel, there are other that are considered non-governmental that provide an array of resources from helping business, to securing properties to keeping high ranking officials safe. Asset protection specialists (mall security) is considered a nongovernmental group of individuals employed for safety and security. These specialists are responsible for supporting programs that deter theft and profit loss in retail stores (ZipRecruiter, 2022). These specialists (or rent-a-cop as some call them) use a variety of means to surveillance and prevent theft of goods and services from retailers in order to increase profit and reduce loss. These specialists come sometimes be in plain clothes as not to alert potential criminals while others have a standardized uniform.            Piggybacking off that idea there is a separate group of individuals more commonly referred to as a security guard. These security guards can be typical ex-military or law enforcement officers responsible for securing buildings and companies. One such group known as Raven Security does just this: deterring criminals from properties by providing mobile units and the ability to detain individuals (not arrest) in the event a crime has been committed (trespassing, vandalism, etc.). Raven Security provides an array of services to include:Discrete Armed CourierHigh threat protectionLoss PreventionProcess ServerSecurity Assessment and PlanningSecurity guard and patrol servicesSecurity Officer training (Raven Security Group, 2022).These professionals use their skills in a variety of means to help businesses and personnel stay secure in their possessions. Again, as mentioned before, while they me be armed, these individuals do not have the authority to conduct an arrest, traffic stops, or interrogate individuals. These officers are in place as a means of determent and intervention to allow time for a recognized law enforcement group to arrive. Trained in the ability to provide medical services, these officers can offer more than just pointing a gun and shooting.            Trying to find out if your spouse is cheating? Or how about the location of your birth parents? Attempting to test the security of your business and the integrity behind employees’ motives? The third avenue of a nongovernmental police or security force is that of a private investigator. These investigators are professionals that are good at finding information and can use said information to help anyone who needs more information about a person or a business (John Cutter Investigations, 2022). Not be confused with a law enforcement detective or the acts of those on TV, PI’s cannot enter homes without permission, make arrests, hack online accounts, photo individuals inside of their homes, or trespass. PI’s must act within the confines of the law to gather the information that is needed and present it to the party requesting the information. With the information gathered, PI’s can assist with making an arrest or the issuance of a warrant for a wiretap or an arrest, but they themselves cannot do what is portrayed on television.            The most common wrongdoing as it applies to the law enforcement and security field is that of excessive force and the failure to intervene by supporting officers. Recently in Colorado, the Adams County Commission paid a settlement of upwards of $300,000 in an excessive force case stemming from the detention of an individual and his stay at the Adams County Jail (Zelinger, 2021).With that in mind, PI’s are not exempt from potential lawsuits or the backwoods way of obtaining information being exposed. Christopher Lanzillo, a former police detective, was sentenced in March 2017 to a year in jail and three years of probation after attempting to dig up dirt on three councilmen during the 2012 election. The private investigator, found guilty of one count of false imprisonment by deceit and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime of falsely reporting a crime to an agency, utilized illustrious means to obtain information on the councilmen and have them arrested. Lanzillo illegally tracked the mayor and his lawyer and then submitted a false drunk-driving report against the mayor in an attempt to have him arrested and removed from office (Fry, 2016).The use of nongovernmental police and security forces whether it be private investigators, privately run/operated prisons, or armed security officers is a benefit to society as a whole. Police departments and government agencies do not have the manpower or means to surveillance and provide the necessary security needed to serve the public in smaller complaints and issues. The use of these entities is crucial to the success of the criminal justice system and without them, businesses, people and society would face larger issues. As far as policy recommendations, these entities should be held by the same standard as that of traditional law enforcement when it comes to servicing the public. No agency or group should be exempt from the law or the handling of sensitive information. Just as seen above with the sentencing of a former police detective turned PI and the growing cases of excessive force against the public from law enforcement and security, these agencies should adopt similar/if not the same policies and regulations for their officers. This would provide a better balance and accountability regardless of whether one has a badge and the power to arrest or not