Is it legal for a store security guard to be off of store premises & identify themselves as a Police Officer? This man was in street clothes & was attempting to gain access into a locked gate, supposedly pursuing a suspect from his store. He flashed a phoney looking badge. I called 911 & Officers arrived. No report! This seems highly illegal & unethical. Can they say they are the Police, when they are NOT? California.
2006-10-02 12:38:13 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
He refused to give me his name or badge number & he was acting suspicious with his phoney looking little badge. He actually did say he was a Police Officer & I called 911 & they had an Officer here in about 3 minutes! I think this fool knows he did wrong & now he's got to cover his butt by lying about me. Maybe I should get a license too!
2006-10-02 13:21:54 · update #1
He is saying that I hid the suspect & now there are magically no reports in the system for that date & time at the address I gave to the 911 operator! Did I blow someones cover? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
2006-10-02 13:30:55 · update #2
if he actually called himself P.O. than no. but remember a lot of cops have part/time jobs in security, and if so he is always a cop. He has the right and the authority to call himself a police officer at any time.
hope this helps
2006-10-02 13:03:43 · answer #1 · answered by GOMER PYLE 76 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No the police are not a militia. The closest thing to a modern militia is the National Guard. Even states like CA have had the CA State militia, but is now called the CA State military reserve. The militia was basically a group of armed citizens that got together to defend their territory. This obviously can't happen in modern times, so the National Guard full fills that role. The police's job is law enforcement for the citizens, although they do some protection work, preventing takeover from a another group is a role for the military.
2016-03-27 02:39:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they cannot, and if that happened to you, you need to report it to the police by going to the police station and making a report yourself. Do not take this sitting down, this is serious. However, some police officers are part time security guards when off duty and this may be the case. But I would still report it.
2006-10-02 12:47:34 · answer #3 · answered by redhotboxsoxfan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends.
If you're talking about a regular Security Guard, then no. However, some Security Guards are more equal than others. If he has been through Basic Mandate, and has Police Powers (arrest, carry a weapon, etc), then yes. If he is a Police Officer who is working a second job, then yes.
2006-10-02 13:18:58 · answer #4 · answered by tyrsson58 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they cannot. They can say they are a security officer but not a policeman. But it could have been an off duty Policeman moonlighting as a security officer. And the security guard should not be off the store premises either.
2006-10-02 12:42:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Many ( and I mean alot) of off duty police officers work as store security, security at gas stations, parking cars and stoping traffic for cars for many church services.
Almost all of the police cars parked at construction sites are off duty working for the construction company.
They work private parties as security for lots of college parties, park cars at the air port and do all sorts of off duty security work. ( many areas will not allow them to work as Private Investigators)
If the police arrived and this person was a off duty officer, they would have had a laugh and they would not have made a report. they would have merely told dispatch that everything was ok, and to disregard the call.
If he was not a police officer merely a security guard, he can not legally ID hisself as a police officer.
2006-10-02 15:03:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on a few key factors, I myself do armed security in state buildings and I have the power of arrest, as well as the power to detain, question, and use force if necissary. I've also trained with police as well as federal agencies in DE, as well as being an employee of The Department Of Homeland Security so yes a properly trained guard like me could arrest you if you if I saw you comitting a crime. However, a guard at a mall or store cant do much except call the police.
2006-10-02 13:03:30 · answer #7 · answered by deftlychillin 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
No-- that would be impersonating an officer which is illegal in most places. Now, Police officers do occasionally "moonlight" as security dudes....
2006-10-02 12:41:25 · answer #8 · answered by dapixelator 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope.
2006-10-02 12:45:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
2006-10-02 13:09:23 · answer #10 · answered by X-Woman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋