Private Security Partnerships with Police

Law enforcement-private security collaboration is vital for providing effective security services; for protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure, 85 percent of which is owned by the private sector; and for addressing other crime problems that affect residents, neighborhoods, and businesses. ILJ has played a leadership role in assessing the various ways in which law enforcement-private security partnerships are created and sustained; and has developed guidelines and related training for operating successful partnerships.

Past Projects

Online Training on Law Enforcement-Private Security Collaboration

With grant support from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), U. S. Department of Justice, ILJ developed a comprehensive, easily accessible electronic training curriculum for use by law enforcement and private security professionals. The basis for the curriculum is the report/guidelines, “Operation Partnership: Practices and Trends in Law Enforcement and Private Security Collaborations,” which ILJ and its partners produced under a separate COPS grant. The interactive training employs multimedia techniques to enhance learning, and will allow users to create customized action plans they can use to create partnerships in their jurisdictions or strengthen existing partnerships.

Operation Partnership

Working closely with national police and private security organizations, ILJ conducted Operation Partnership to examine law enforcement-private security partnerships throughout the nation. The project included a national online survey of private security and law enforcement to identify partnerships; and in-depth interviews with more than 70 partnerships that shared information and resources, and that provide joint responses to address homeland security, public disorder, and other public safety issues. A comprehensive report that includes numerous partnership examples, as well as guidelines for forming and strengthening law enforcement-private security partnerships. Operation Partnership was supported by the U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

National Guidelines for Special Event Security

ILJ assisted the U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), with a congressionally mandated study of special event security, focused on changes made since the terrorist attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001. Phase I resulted in a comprehensive report, Planning and Managing Security for Major Special Events: Guidelines for Law Enforcement (December 2004). Research for the report included observations of security at major events (NASCAR races, the Kentucky Derby, national political conventions, Super Bowl, and others); on-site interviews with law enforcement and private security; telephone interviews with more than 40 large and medium-sized law enforcement agencies about best practices for public safety and security at events like county fairs, large street festivals, college football games, concerts, and July 4th celebrations; document and literature reviews; and consultations with event security experts, including representatives of the FBI, U. S. Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, corporate security (e.g., NFL, NASCAR) and private security experts for major events. During phase II, ILJ developed a training curriculum for law enforcement on special event security.

Operation Cooperation

Operation Cooperation, supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, examined partnerships between law enforcement and private security throughout the nation. The study resulted in a widely distributed report, Operation Cooperation: Guidelines for Partnerships Between Law Enforcement and Private Security Organizations; a literature review; case studies; and a video.

Greater Greenspoint Management District (Houston, Texas) Law Enforcement and Security Study

The Greater Greenspoint Management District (GGMD), a special taxation district in Houston, Texas, contracted with ILJ to assess the district’s public safety and security services. The primary aims of the study were to (1) determine whether current public safety operations, including contracted services, were adequate, (2) conduct a district-wide public safety and physical security audit, (3) identify the concerns and expectations of the district’s stakeholders and customers, (4) survey similar districts nationally, and (5) develop a strategic public safety plan for the district.

Since its founding in 1991, GGMD had built collaborative relationships with the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. ILJ’s comprehensive final report to the GGMD included recommendations for strengthening those relationships; establishing a new crime control and prevention unit; improving communications; promoting the District’s use of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED); heightening security; refining the staffing levels and responsibilities of contract deputies; boosting community policing efforts; and marketing the GGMD’s public safety and quality of life improvements.

Sample Publications and Products

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