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 Private Security
Bureau
By Capt. RenEarl
Bowie
DPS TEXAS PRIVATE SECURITY
BUREAU
The 81st session of the Texas Legislature is in full swing and the Private Security Bureau is actively involved with the department’s leadership and members of ASSIST on the monitoring of legislation that involves Private Security Bureau operations.
According to available information, there were more than 7,000 bills filed in this session. Among these bills, the Administration Division is monitoring more than 400 of them. Perhaps one of the most significant of these bills is HB 2730 also known as the Sunset Bill. This bill relates to the continuation of the Department of Public Safety and the Texas Private Security Board. Another significant bill is HB 2286 that relates to the regulation of the private security profession.
There were other bills of interest filed that relate to computer analysis, state office of administrative hearings, occupational license requirements, Occupations Code Chapter 53 and the carrying of weapons. There were countless other pieces of legislation introduced that would affect the profession. You can get more information on these bills by contacting your local ASSIST representative or logging on to Texas Legislature Online.
The bureau’s staff has been spending countless hours at the capitol providing resource information for those legislators that have requested the bureau’s input. Such requests have definitely caused the bureau to reallocate resources to address legislative issues. As the session moves forward, we will know more about the direction of the bills that will affect the profession and the bureau. The bureau will continue to work with ASSIST on those issues that affect the profession and provide information to ASSIST members.
The bureau would like to welcome its new assistant chief of regulatory licensing. Wayne Mueller from the agency’s Office of General Counsel was recently promoted to this position and the staff looks forward to working with him.
The bureau continues to increase its enforcement efforts concerning unlicensed activity. Recently, the bureau has initiated a new program that works to provide information to the various trade organizations concerning enforcement activities. So far, the notification program has been a success. With the help of ASSIST members and other entities in the profession, the bureau’s enforcement section has been able to utilize written complaint information to go after those persons violating the Private Security Act.
Here are some examples of that enforcement activity:
DALLAS
In the Tyler area, troopers arrested a guard for tampering with a federal document. The initial investigation indicated that the individual made false statements concerning his military discharge status. Tyler area troopers also investigated and arrested an individual for unlawfully carrying a weapon on a licensed premise which is a third degree felony.
BROWNSVILLE
Troopers in the Rio Grande Valley area arrested an individual for impersonating a security officer. The troopers discovered the individual working at a local night club wearing security guard apparel. A warrant was obtained for the individual and he was subsequently arrested.
Troopers in Brownsville conducted an investigation involving an individual providing security at another local night club. The individual was observed wearing dark pants and a shirt with the word “security” on the front. The troopers performed a records check of the person and determined that he was not registered with a licensed company.
The individual was arrested for multiple offenses, including impersonating a security officer, and unlawfully carrying a weapon on licensed
premises.
HOUSTON
The troopers in the Houston area have been quite busy regarding unlicensed activity. They have received an overwhelming response from the licensed community concerning violations of the Private Security Act. In one instance, Houston area troopers received information concerning an unlicensed guard performing armed services at a local game room. Upon approaching the owner of the establishment,
the individual produced a handgun and pointed it at one of the troopers. A standoff ensued in which one trooper was held at gunpoint while his partner attempted to verbally get the individual to disarm himself. While talking to the owner, the second trooper was able to distract him momentarily which allowed for his partner to take cover behind a nearby vehicle. The armed standoff continued until marked Houston police department vehicles arrived and the subject was verbally disarmed by the troopers.
Troopers in the Houston regional office filed criminal charges against a company who was installing security cameras and alarm systems in the Ft. Bend County area. Regional office troopers also charged an individual with unlawfully carrying a weapon on a licensed premise. The troopers determined that the individual’s commissioned registration had been suspended for a previous charge and subsequently arrested him and transported him to the Harris County jail. These troopers also made six other separate arrests for unlawfully carrying a weapon involving individuals who were impersonating a security guard or in violation of registration requirements.
Troopers also traveled to Nederland to investigate unlicensed alarm installation activity. The investigation reveled that an individual was operating an unlicensed company and had performed services in the Port Neches and Nederland areas. Troopers were able to obtain a warrant of arrest for the individual.
I would like to personally thank all of the members of ASSIST and their representatives. The input and information provided by all of you has proved to be invaluable. Those investigators assigned to the Private Security Bureau perform a great service as illustrated by some of the previous examples. These troopers often find themselves in harms way when dealing with armed persons, who specifically violate the rules and the act. The bureau’s continued partnership with ASSIST will definitely move the bureau closer to bringing the profession as a whole in compliance and thus creating a “level” playing field for everyone. To report violations to the bureau, feel free to log on to our website at
www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb or call the Austin headquarters at (512) 424-7710.
The Private Security Bureau continues to concentrate its enforcement efforts on those individuals and companies who violate the Private Security Act by operating without proper licensure. The licensing section of the bureau continues to process applications and registrations as quickly as possible under the current database system. If funding for a new system is approved, the PSB will become even more effective and efficient in providing service to the people of Texas.
The members of ASSIST continue to provide valuable information concerning violations of the private security act as well as other penal code violations. This information and partnership has proved to be invaluable to the enforcement and licensing efforts of the bureau.
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