Managing Violent Crimes & The Role of Private Security in Community Policing
Managing violent crimes is a critical initiative for law enforcement agencies and private security companies in many major cities today. Community policing is no longer just the job for municipal police departments and is now inclusive of professional security officers and civilian block watchers & patrols. To effectively address and reduce violent crime trends, it’s important to implement a multifaceted approach that includes various strategies and tactics.
Our past blogs have discussed the perception of violent crime in major cities, and the negative impact it is having on housing, commercial businesses, and tourism. The City of San Francisco and Chicago are just two examples of major cities where local governments have struggled with managing the reality and the perception of violent crime. Add to that the current challenges associated with an influx of immigrants and lack of affordable housing, and community involvement becomes even more vital to finding solutions to these challenges.
A major issue facing police departments today is the loss of senior officers to retirement, reduced resources, and budgets. According to an online article by Jonathan Earles in Security Magazine, a trade publication on security and crime, dated September 29, 2021, many officers in big cities are just months away from retirement age and their lifelong pension. Police departments across the country from big metropolitan cities to mid-sized communities are facing a reduction in manpower and challenging recruitment initiatives. Additionally, the recent anti-police climate is accelerating early retirement, along with officers reluctant to fully engage themselves with the fear of civil and criminal reprisal.
What are the benefits of Community Policing? Community Policing builds strong relationships between law enforcement agencies, private security forces, and the communities they serve. The goal of every community begins with establishing control over the perception and fear associated with violent crime. Fear drives communities and businesses to take flight, opening the door to vandalism, abandoned properties, and homelessness. These are the “broken windows” that fuel violent crime and fracture once thriving neighborhoods and business districts. To attack these problems strategically, community leaders and government official’s need to foster the trust and cooperation of police officers, security professionals and local civilian patrols by encouraging their collective involvement in crime detection, prevention and reporting.
What is the essence behind community policing? Community policing is a philosophy and strategy in public security and safety enforcement that emphasizes building positive relationships and partnerships between the law enforcers and communities they serve. The essence of community policing is to create a collaborative and proactive approach to public safety, with the goal of improving the overall well-being of the community. As previously mentioned, at the core, trust and cooperation improves communication and crimes are likely to be reported before they occur, not after. Providing information about criminal activity helps local law enforcement focus resources and personnel. Targeted enforcement initiatives such as high-visibility patrols in areas with high violent crime rates is one of many proactive policing tactics used to deter criminal activity. Community policing places a strong emphasis on preventing crime rather than simply responding to it. Understanding the underlying issues that may contribute to criminal behavior, such as drug addiction, homelessness, youth delinquency, and neighborhood disputes can often lead to intervention programs that can help steer vulnerable youths away from gangs and criminal activity.
Can private security have an impact on crime prevention? A well-trained private security force can have a direct impact on crime prevention, but the extent of that impact can vary depending on several factors, including the specific role of the private security force, resources available to them, and the cooperation they have with law enforcement agencies. For 25 years Integrated Security Services has been providing community patrol solutions to clients in several major cities and neighborhoods. Alan Schissel, President/CEO at Integrated Security Services states, “the presence of a skilled uniform private security officer will have a direct deterrent value on the community he/or she patrols. Both security officers combined with security surveillance systems, serve as a deterrent to potential criminal activity. When individuals know that a property or establishment is well-protected, they may be less likely to engage in criminal activity there.” Furthermore, private security firms have more authority on private property than the police. The duty of the private security is to represent the owner whereas law enforcement represents municipalities they work in with limited access to private property without cause.
Additionally, security officers are front-line observers and can offer an immediate response to a crime, a challenge for most police agencies dealing with a high volume of crime incidents on any given day. Private security personnel establish a deep understanding of the community they patrol and can respond quickly to security breaches, suspicious activity, or emergencies on private property. Their ability to intervene and contact law enforcement if necessary, can help prevent crimes from escalating or occurring in the first place.
For private security to be an effective crime fighting tool, factors such as the quality of the officers’ training, years of service and level of experience are the cornerstone to a successful community policing strategy. Our executive team at Integrated Security Services are all former police professionals and understand how available resources and technology, along with a collaborative relationship with local law enforcement play a critical role in crime prevention. Moreover, we fully understand that private security must always operate within the bounds of the law, respect individuals’ rights and avoid potential legal and ethical conflicts.
Community policing by private security is not a new phenomenon, but has taken on new meaning as municipalities attempt to navigate 21st century issues. Security firms are trending away from the traditional model of low paying wages for uniform security officers with limited training and moving towards a more professionalized approach to these services. At Integrated Security Services we see the job of the private security officer as a way to complement the efforts of public law enforcement agencies. Private security is not a substitute for a well-functioning public law enforcement system. At Integrated Security Services we approach the concept of collaborative security and safety by what yields the best results in crime prevention and community safety. Our professional staff are always available to discuss your needs and can be reached 24/7 at intesecurity.com and toll free at 888-809-9119.
Earles, Jonathan, Law Enforcement versus private Security in the United States, Security online at www.securitymagazine.com September 29, 2021.
