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 Private Security
Bureau
By Capt. RenEarl
Bowie
DPS TEXAS PRIVATE SECURITY
BUREAU
The private security industry offers many challenges. Some of these challenges are often found in the management of a security company itself. Owners and managers have to deal with a wide range of issues such as company insurance and employee registrations. With so many issues to address, a manager may find himself overwhelmed with Private Security Bureau administrative requirements.
I receive numerous phone calls from owners and managers asking questions relating to company inspections and how to ensure that their company is in compliance with the statues and rules.
Oftentimes, the bureau receives complaints and information from various sources concerning a security company’s operation. As a result of such information, Private Security Bureau troopers have to make contact with company managers in order to conduct an inquiry. Such inquiries can sometimes cause anxiety on behalf of the company supervisor. Normally during such inspections, the trooper is able to close the inquiry quickly and refocus on the bureau’s primary responsibility of investigating unlicensed activity. Troopers will make every effort to provide information that will ensure the company manager is aware of administrative violations and how to go about correcting any problems discovered.
Here are a few areas that managers should consider when anticipating an inspection:
• License certificate posted in a conspicuous
place
• Employee files and records:
- Full name of employee
- Social Security Number
- Last date of employment
- Date and place of birth
- One color photograph
Although these areas do not include every aspect of an inspection, they provide a starting point to ensure that company records are in compliance. Managers should also be encouraged to maintain records of registration applications and receipts of these transactions, copies of which often prove invaluable when resolving registration dates and subsequent correspondence.
In other areas of interest, the Private Security Bureau has been extremely active in its unlicensed activity enforcement efforts. Here are a few examples of those efforts from around the state:
South Texas
In McAllen-Mission, troopers arrested a convicted sex offender for operating an unlicensed locksmith company from his home.
Troopers arrested an individual for operating an unlicensed guard company in Hidalgo County.
Troopers conducted an operation in the Corpus Christi area that resulted in the arrest of a registered sex offender for operating an unlicensed locksmith company.
Houston
Houston-area troopers have been conducting an ongoing task force operation with the Houston Police Department to detect unlicensed security guard activity. As a result of the operation,
PSB troopers have arrested seven individuals for offenses ranging from impersonating a security officer to failing to register as a sex offender.
Area troopers also conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of two individuals for operating without a locksmith license.
Dallas
Dallas-area troopers, along with other local, state and federal officers, conducted a joint task force operation
that resulted in the arrest of
44 individuals for violations of the Private Security Act. Some of individuals were also charged with weapons and immigration violations.
Troopers arrested an individual for three felony counts of tampering with a governmental record. The individual was working at a local school and troopers, along with federal agents, managed to apprehend the individual once the students had left the school.
Troopers arrested an individual in North Texas for operating a locksmith company with a suspended license and expired license.
PSB investigators conducted an investigation in northeastern Texas that resulted in the arrest of an elected official for operating a guard company in violation of the Private Security Act.
West Texas
Troopers in El Paso conducted an undercover operation that resulted in the arrest of seven individuals for unlicensed locksmith activity and identified other companies that may have been in violation of the act, as well.
Troopers in Midland arrested an individual for operating without a guard license and for local fugitive warrants.
Central Texas
Troopers in Austin have identified numerous individuals working in the Central Texas area without proper registration as alarm salespersons. The investigation is a result of unlicensed alarm activity in the San Antonio and Houston areas.
A significant number of the investigations conducted by PSB personnel have been through the cooperation and efforts of licensees.
The members of ASSIST and other trade organizations continue to provide valuable information concerning unlicensed activity throughout the state. If anyone has information regarding further violations of the act, contact the nearest DPS office or the PSB Investigation Section in Austin at (512) 424-7710, or e-mail at
www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb.
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