Comparing Public Policing and Private Security: Roles and Responsibilities

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When comparing private security to public law enforcement, there are many similarities and differences. Private security is employed by a private company or agency, while public policing is funded through government salaries and taxpayers. Public police officers enforce laws and protect society, while private security officers protect private property and personnel. The duties of both public policing and private security officers are quite similar.

“Private security and public law enforcement have similar goals: preventing crime, identifying criminals, and ensuring the security of people and property” (COPS, 2012, P.

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1). Effective partnerships between the two become crucial as a force multiplier with two private security practitioners for every one sworn law enforcement officer. Both types of officers work towards common objectives like preventing crimes. In their roles, public policing and private security officers act as leaders.

According to COPS (2012), both public policing and private security officers play vital roles in the criminal justice system. Despite having separate responsibilities, there are potential benefits to collaboration between the two.

Public policing is primarily concerned with enforcing laws and maintaining societal order, whereas private security focuses on safeguarding organizations and individuals. Though their duties may sometimes intersect, COPS (2012) underscores the distinct differences between public policing and private security.

Public policing and private security have different roles and responsibilities. Public policing is in charge of maintaining order, protecting the community, controlling traffic, preventing crimes, and apprehending offenders (COPS, 2012). On the other hand, private security officers are responsible for providing escorts, patrolling business premises and surrounding areas like parking lots, and transporting valuables (COPS, 2012).

Private security focuses on safeguarding corporate interests and personnel while public policing prioritizes public safety and enforcing criminal justice laws (COPS, 2012). Private security guards can decide whether to intervene in a crime they witness outside their designated areas (COPS, 2012). Apart from these differences in responsibilities, public policing generally receives more respect from the community compared to private security because the latter often works for profit-driven companies or agencies (COPS, 2012).

The community may have different views on private security because they are motivated by profit, unlike public police officers who receive government funding. This leads to questions about the intentions of private security companies and whether making money is their main goal. However, both private security and public policing have similar duties including hiring male and female staff, wearing uniforms for a sense of authority, and enforcing laws to promote community safety.

COPS (2012) states that leadership positions in public and private sectors adhere to a paramilitary hierarchy. In public policing, there are officers, detectives, and sergeants who report to the highest rank. Similarly, the private sector includes roles like sergeant, corporal, and senior patrol officer with the company owner at the top. Both sectors play a crucial role in the criminal justice system by deterring crime, making arrests, investigating crimes, and preventing criminal activity to ensure community safety.

Both public policing and private security require training to effectively perform their duties, although the level of training may vary depending on the specific role. While public policing focuses on enforcing laws and policies, private security is more concerned with protecting the company and its personnel. Unlike public police, private security is not always constrained by the same regulations such as reading an offender their Miranda Rights. A comprehensive security plan typically includes elements of physical, personnel, and information security.

Various elements, including building design, fences, locks, lighting, and alarm systems are part of a comprehensive security plan to prevent crime. Security personnel, such as guards and identification badges, play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of individuals within an organization. Background checks also contribute to information security (COPS, 2012).

Information security involves shredding papers, disposing of important documents properly, and encrypting messages and codes to prevent unauthorized access (COPS, 2012). Public policing and private security both aim to protect and serve, with their responsibilities overlapping in the criminal justice system. Public policing follows societal laws while private security deals with tasks like handling minor crimes, addressing security issues, maintaining business security, and conducting surveillance (COPS, 2012).

Private security services assist public police by handling various calls, enabling public law enforcement to address other matters (COPS, 2012). Although private security mainly safeguards businesses and individuals rather than society at large, it is essential for public policing and private security to work together to improve public safety (COPS, 2012). Nevertheless, the coordination between public and private law enforcement must be smooth, with worries emerging about the financial impacts linked to the private sector (COPS, 2012).

Private security agencies operate as profit-making businesses, in contrast to law enforcement's focus on providing human services. Integration of these two sectors may lead to a shift towards prioritizing profit over public service, potentially affecting the justice system if complete privatization occurs.