We are writing to you today to get your support for special private police in Ohio. There are similar laws that allow this in other states including Washington D.C. Passage of such a law here in Ohio would tremendously help our community and support local law enforcement who are already struggling to keep up with calls for service and even lack of funding due to the pandemic. This also would aid security companies, staff and employees to better perform their jobs.

As of now if we come across a stolen vehicle we have no way of telling if that vehicle is in fact stolen. Unless we call the local police. In doing so, we take away officers who could be enforcing or even investigating more serious crimes.

Sometimes when local police are called we are waiting hours on them to arrive and sometimes just leaving and not taking any action at all. Also in addition we would like to see more trainings to be opened up for security agencies and a change in the amount of hours that are required for certification. We have added some of the ordinances and laws from other states to just give an idea of what we are looking at to achieve.

Special Police Officers authority is restricted to the property they are contracted to protect. They have no authority on public space unless they are in fresh pursuit of a misdemeanant or felon.

Special Police Officers have arrest authority on their contracted property. They can take action and affect an arrest of a subject.

Special Police Officers do not have that authority to write parking or moving violations tickets.

Special Police Officers wear a full circle patch that can be different colors and say Special Police within the patch.

By extending our training and authority it would make our job safer for the security officer and the public. It would free up law enforcement to concentrate on more serious crimes.