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Private Security
Bureau
By Capt. RenEarl
Bowie
DPS TEXAS PRIVATE SECURITY
BUREAU
The Private Security industry often times has to address change. The same can be said for the Private Security Bureau as well.
I would like to formally welcome the new members of the Private Security Board who participated in their first board meeting in March. I look forward to working closely with the board to continue the progress that has been made with members of ASSIST and the bureau.
The Private Security Bureau has undergone a few personnel changes recently. Captain Leonard Hinojosa retired from the Department and I was fortunate enough to promote to the position of Captain. Captain Hinojosa did a fine job for the agency and we all wish him well. We now have a new lieutenant in charge of investigations. Sergeant Jim Morgan was promoted from the Criminal Intelligence Service to the position of lieutenant in the bureau. Lt. Morgan and I look forward to continuing the Private Security Bureau�s relationship with ASSIST.
One of the bureau�s primary functions is to address unlicensed activity and violations of the Private Security Act. Over the past year, PSB troopers have been involved in investigations that resulted in criminal cases being filed against individuals and companies that violated the act.
For example, Private Security Bureau troopers conducted an undercover operation in El Paso County in March, targeting unlicensed locksmiths and alarm companies. During the two-day operation, 10 individuals were arrested, seven from unlicensed locksmith companies and three from unlicensed alarm companies. The individuals were charged with operating without a license, a Class A misdemeanor. The operation was conducted with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the El Paso County Precinct 1 Constable�s Office, the Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace, the El Paso Commissioners Court and the El Paso District Attorney�s Office.
In another joint operation with federal, state and local agencies, Private Security
Bureau troopers assisted with the arrests of 44 individuals in Dallas County. The months-long investigation with ICE, Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission (TABC), Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATF), Dallas Police Department and Dallas County District Attorney�s office resulted in the arrest of these 44 individuals on federal and state charges. Among those arrested were 16 security guards who were in this country illegally and five individuals who were arrested for falsifying a government document. Additionally, four guns were seized by BATF.
There were several arrests in the McAllen-Mission area, including a guard with an arrest warrant for theft, as well as a three-time sex offender who was operating an unlicensed locksmith business from his
home, and the owner of a guard company who was arrested for operating without a license.
In Plano, our troopers, along with ICE agents and BATF officers, served three arrest warrants
on a fugitive who was working as a commissioned security officer and assigned to a children�s daycare
facility. Once all the children had left the premises, the subject was drawn away from the building and arrested. He was booked on three felony warrants and an ICE detainer was placed on the individual due to unlawful entry into the United States.
We conducted an undercover operation was in north Houston on unlicensed locksmith companies. Two unlicensed locksmiths responded to a call for service. Both suspects entered into a verbal contract with troopers and performed locksmith services. They were arrested for operating without a license. The investigation revealed that one of the suspects had never been licensed by the state, and that the other suspect had applied for a license, but the license was denied due to an extensive criminal history. An additional individual was found to be operating on an expired license; however, he was not arrested, pending further investigation.
Also in Houston, PSB troopers have been working with the Houston Police Department to conduct an unlicensed security officer operation. Officers detained and checked 16 security officers and two were arrested.
One of the suspects was arrested for impersonating a Security
Officer, he also had a warrant for possession of a controlled substance. The other suspect was arrested on seven municipal warrants. The operation is still ongoing and has resulted in several other arrests of guards for various criminal offenses.
We conducted an undercover in Corpus Christi which resulted in the arrest of one individual for operating an unlicensed locksmith
company. A subsequent investigation also resulted in criminal charges being filed on another unlicensed locksmith.
In Midland, a security guard was arrested on fugitive warrants and further investigation by the PSB trooper revealed that the individual was in violation of the private security act.
These cases are simply a snapshot over a short period of time of the type of unlicensed activity cases our troopers are conducting on a routine basis.
Investigating and conducting operations to address unlicensed activity, and working closely with other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to shut down that activity is the primary focus of the investigations section.
The bureau will continue to work closely with all members to ensure that the profession is regulated and that standards of conduct are maintained. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Associated Security Services and Investigators of the State of Texas.
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