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Dedication
by Valerie Fulmer
Assistant Chief, Administration
Department of Public Safety
When the former Commission on Private Security was transferred to the Department of Public Safety in February 2004, I was completely unfamiliar with the Private Security Act or the private security profession. In the nearly two years I have been associated with the Private Security Bureau, I have learned about the Act and the profession and I have already been involved in some pretty major changes. The aspect that has struck me most greatly is the dedication to the importance of private security to the citizens of Texas I have seen from all of the entities involved.
When the former Commission was transferred to the Department, the few remaining employees also came to the Department to continue administering the Act. In light of the budget and resource cuts they had endured, I was very impressed by the fact that, to a person, they still understand the importance of the service they are providing to the private security profession and to the citizens of this state, and are still dedicated to providing that service to the best of their abilities.
I was also impressed by the dedication of your association and its members. Your members understand not only the importance of the service you provide to the citizens of this state, but also the importance of ensuring that members of your profession meet the standards set out in the Act. They obtain registrations and licenses because they realize the value of compliance with the Act, not because they are afraid of being �caught� out of compliance.
The Private Security Board is another example of dedication to the significance of private security in Texas. The members of the Board have been great advocates of the importance of the private security profession, both to the Legislature and to other outside entities. They have also worked determinedly to ensure that issues of importance to the profession are properly addressed.
During the legislative session, I was also impressed by the dedication of the Legislature to the importance of the private security profession to the state. During a session in which it was difficult to gain consensus on other issues, they worked together to provide the additional resources necessary for the Department to properly administer the Act. While this necessitated an increase in licensing fees, your association and its members once again showed their dedication to the concept of private security as a properly trained and regulated profession by working with the Legislature on the fee changes.
Since the Department became involved in the administration of the Act, our agency�s dedication to the private security profession has been evident. The Department has loaned both employees and resources from other divisions to the Private Security Bureau to ensure the proper administration of the Act. Before and during the legislative session, we worked closely with the Legislature to ensure they understood the significance of dedicating adequate resources to the licensing and regulation of the private security profession in Texas.
Finally, I am impressed by the dedication of the troopers who have transferred into the Private Security Bureau�s new investigator positions. The individuals selected for transfer all left positions in which they had worked for some time, and in which they were comfortable, because they believe they can make a difference to the citizens of this state in these new positions. They are eager to learn more about the Act and the private security profession, and they are dedicated to ensuring that only properly licensed companies and registered individuals are providing private security services in Texas.
I am very encouraged by the cooperation and enthusiasm I have seen in all of the different entities responsible for the direction of the private security profession in the state. I believe that if we all continue to show the same dedication to this cause, we will ensure that Texas has the finest private security professionals available for many years to come.
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