When a city or town sees the number of people in its law enforcement agencies sharply decrease and the resources allocated to these agencies reduced, crime naturally increases. Increased security in these areas is the natural solution to the problem. However, this can be difficult to achieve when people no longer want to become police officers, and the city is reducing funding and support. This is where private security can play a crucial role.
Understanding Armed Private Security
Many people these days need to fully understand and appreciate what private security can do and accomplish. Firstly, private security is allowed to carry many of the same tools and protective weapons that police officers use, such as batons, pepper spray, tasers, firearms, and handcuffs. Furthermore, many private security officers also carry CPR masks in case of a medical issue. Whenever the firm carries out a protection detail, they have a trauma kit and an automated external defibrillator (AED kit) in case someone has a heart attack or similar health crisis.
You might think that Los Angeles is very up-to-date and progressive, but some of these qualities detract from the city’s safety and make it a much more dangerous and regressive environment. For example, LAPD, the police department, is down over 1000 officers and 1,200 deputy sheriffs.
However, the city and even small surrounding towns could utilize private security to keep communities safe during this crisis of public law enforcement. Locations such as churches or temples are increasingly becoming sites of attacks and targets for violence. The community could identify places most likely to be targeted, pay for armed private security to protect these spaces, and carry out regular security details and patrols.
Which Private Security to Choose
Not every private security company will be appropriate for this city and town protection plan. Some large armed forces are basically billion-dollar companies that do not offer the highest quality of security. Instead, they provide the lower-end type of security, which consists of unarmed guards and officers who are there to observe and report. These kinds of officers are not allowed to intervene or prevent a crime even if they are watching it take place. Instead, they are hired hoping that their presence might deter a criminal, and then they report any criminal activity to the police. But when there are not enough police to respond to instances of theft or violence, this means the unarmed guard is not as valuable a presence as many communities or shops might think.
With the increase in crime, defunding of police, and the laws being changed to favor the criminals, people and communities need to turn to more effective solutions: quality well, well-trained armed private security.
Previously, there was a police presence at many schools in urban centers in California to help prevent violence on these campuses. However, schools have recently decided they do not want this presence. Now, parents are requesting that the police return to protect their children because they are not confident in the school’s ability to protect and safeguard against potentially dangerous or violent situations.
Armed Security Deterring And Preventing Crime
Armed security, as well as police, act as a strong deterrent. When a criminal or unstable individual sees armed security in a shop, residence, or public space, carrying a firearm or even pepper spray, the individual becomes much less likely to carry out their intended crime.
It is no longer enough to rely on the police to keep communities safe. Unfortunately, the pro-criminal laws have encouraged and empowered criminals to commit even more crimes because they face such minor, if any, consequences, and there are not enough police to patrol the streets or even respond to 911 calls and crime reports. Even when the police arrive at a crime scene, response times are so slow due to a lack of resources; often, the criminal has gotten away, and the damage has been done. The damage to communities is sometimes shocking; there is violence and fear, and some businesses have to shut down because they are unable to keep up with the stress and financial strain of regular burglaries and assaults.
Communities have begun to invest in private armed security, but unfortunately, it is not at the pace needed to combat the increase in crime across Los Angeles. These creative ideas require communities to think outside the box to develop these partnerships across high-end security companies, such as the World Protection Group, law enforcement, and community groups and buildings. It has already proven highly valuable for many communities to invest in private security, and others need to wake up and see the importance of protecting businesses, homes, and public areas.
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