Public Policing Versus Private Security Comparison Paper

Public Policing Versus Private Security Comparison Paper

AJS/504

Public Policing Versus Private Security Comparison Paper

When thinking about protection you think about police or some type of security, Security and safety are the two relevant things a person think about when it comes to the community and their neighborhoods, For hundreds of years public policing roles and responsibilities has been evolving, where it just started with volunteers working in their communities as watchmen in the evening hours, Now a days there is a great demand for private security due to the demand for events that are designed for large amounts of people. Public policing and private security both continues to be in high demand weather it is with criminal cases or just doing security at a concert or some other event. Both of these groups are in need for accreditations and leadership that will grow with the demand to ensure effectiveness with criminal justice. Policies and procedures will also help the growth of each one alone with defining plans for implementing them. When it comes to the duties of private security they will continue to play a protection role and public policing will always be held to a standard of enforcement.

Differences and Similarities

In private security it will always continue to grow because and unlimited pour of opportunities in society has opened up for a career in this field. Along with public policing private security can be traced back hundreds of years also. The history of public policing currently practiced in America and sever other countries originated from people providing security as watchman in their communities (Larrabee, 2007). Public policing and private security share similar responsibilities like general duties, command presence, power of observation, and uniformed visibility. There are many other similar things that include the functions of their everyday duties like patrols, reports, writing, and investigating duties. Even though there are differences in duties they copy each other in a scope (Larrabee, 2007). With all this in mind don’t forget that the public police have additional duties that private security does not and with each group the law matters and makes the difference between them. There is a law called the “special police power,” that is the main difference between private security and public policing that was granted to them. These powers are only to licensed security that is trained were authorized by the law. This person will often have the same authority as police officers and they have limited jurisdiction in their operating location. The same special power for private security are typically more limiting by the employer because of civil liability, but the powers exist (Bates, 1989).

Public police have those same powers that was vested and sworn to them to exercise them at all times throughout their jurisdiction which is found in the cities and communities where the officers are employed. The authority is also extended throughout the state that holds their commissions. In the private sector public policing is scrutinized more than their counterparts. This is where private police officers perform duties outlined with their policies and procedures and act if the situation dictates or at their choice. Public police are a sworn duty to act and are held to the standards to do so both criminally and civilly (Bates, 1989).

The renewed focus on the need of additional private security is because of today’s society. Large structures are responsible for the creation of central locations for a large amount of people to come together creating need for onsite over-watch, which with these types of properties that create the need for private offices these places include malls, special event center, sports complexes, private company campuses, and private residential developments. Public police don’t have the resources to provide protection at structures of this size while doing their duties of enforcing the laws that are within the community (Larrabee, 2007).

Leadership Differences

in the public side of policing leadership has always been studied and evaluated in every way. In the recent studies they show that police leadership evolved where wisdom, experience, bravery and integrity is a model for a superior police leader. With studies of teamwork and dispersed leadership practices is now the new face of a dynamic educated police leader. This is something that will fall up under a managerial style and shares the responsibility of leadership with their co-c=workers or subordinates. With this in mind it gives the chance to train the future leaders and divides the leadership in a division-by-division with the focus on one common goal.

There is many styles of leadership in policing but one common one is the traditional hierarchical style, which is focused on leadership that is one dimensional from top to bottom. This has been more effective and popular one for so long despite the adoption of the community-oriented policing which use a totally different models for effectiveness. Community-based policing creates a requirement that officers to become involved with the authority to solve common community problems in their discretion (Wuestewald & Steinheider,).

Now when it comes to private security there are two styles of leadership which are transformation and transactional. Transformational leadership is the style that tends and communicate goals, motivate followers, and facilitate change. While on the other hand transactional leadership is more of a for style leadership that coordinates subordinates as set forth by policies, procedures, and standards (Leadership Styles, 2010).

In private policing transformational leadership it is found in the corporate environment where public relations are substantial portion of this position. The need of effect change and to motivate people that follow is ever-present when working in these environments. In security the most popular and traditional style of leadership would be transactional with the amount of agencies employing general-purpose security guards. Positions specializing in surveillance and facility security have limited public contact and the role is not as customer-oriented (Leadership Styles).

Criminal Justice System

In the criminal justice system private police and public police holds each to different standards. With public policing they are held to the burden of probable cause or voluntary consent when initiating a contact. Now with private police they are held to the direction of the one who is employing them, which comes with boundaries that were established for public police. This makes the private police group a “broader enterprise than public policing with a large range of functions” (Larrabee, 2007).

Police officers and other law enforcement are inherent components with the criminal justice system. One of the actions that they work with is arresting criminals which is the primary means of putting them in the system. It does not matter if the criminal is an adult or young person if they committed violation or other offenses. When a criminal commits these violations it is the police or law enforcement to make sure they are brought to the judge and prove that the violations the person made before being arrested with showing evidence that was collected like pictures and notes from the officers in relation with the incident.

Now as far as private security it does not have any dealings with the criminal system. This is because security guards do not have that type of power even though they ensure the security of their clients. With them not having the power to arrest anyone they can only hold them until the police comes and get them. The only way private security can be part of the criminal justice system is if they are a witness in a case if needed.

POLICES

When it comes to policies and guidelines they are set of goals to accomplish with a specific task while outlining objectives and standards. They both have these policies in place to them to perform better, and they are also put in place to help defend and serve the public. When it comes to the policies for public police they are held to the policy standards outlined from the federal and state law statues. These polices set boundaries that they have adhere to to ensure public trust by means of a measurable standard capable of being evaluated.

There are different polices when dealing with private policing, which means not only do they have licensing standards the police and procedures need to be direct and obtainable. The employer set the mission and goals for the private police. By the private police profession not being established it is determined the need of the public interest or society at large. With that being said it leaves an open-end mission that is loosely executed with no discernable boundaries concerns have been raised that private police are overly intrusive and less than educated in the civil rights of a person s regularly encountered exposing their employers to civil claims (Lara bee, 2007).

Comprehensive Security plan

As you know it is a serious matter when it comes to security and policing. It is important to provide a security plan that will provide assistance in the translation of objectives sought as well as the security being established. With putting in a comprehensive security plan it will plan to assist in the implementation and management of the security goal. The major components of a security plan include environmental design, risk management plan, vulnerability assessment, policies and procedures, inspections and management.

References

Larrabee, A.K. (2007). The Debate of on Private Verses Public Policing. Retrieved on August 25, 2016 from http://associatedcontent.com/article/435971/the_debate_on_private_versus_public.html?

Bates, N.D. (1989). Special Police Powers: and Cons. Security Management. Retrieved on August 25, 2016 from http://www.allbusiness.com/crime-law-enforcement-corrections/law-police-forces.html

Wuestewald, T. Steinheider, B. (2006). From the Bottom Up: The changing face of Police Leadership. Berkley Center for Criminal Justice. Retrieved on August 25, 2016 from http://www.law.berkely.edu/centers/bccj/confernces/policerfrom/cganging%20face.pdf

HRPersonalities. (2010). Leadership Styles. Retrieved on August 26, 2016 from http://hrperspersonality.com/home/Resources/Leadershipstyles.aspx

Blake & Associates, Inc. INC. (2010). Designing a Comprehensive Security Program. Retrieved on August 25, 2016 from http://www.blakeassociates.com/articles/security-articles/designing-a-comprehensive-security-program/