Private Police

[ejay]

So I'm doing some research and I come across a police department that is owned and operated by a corporation.

Most recently, police departments owned by companies made the news during the Ferrari wreck on PCH. The accused driver was a police commissioner for a transit police department.

After further investigation, it turned out that the guy owned a company that installed some equipment on a small 10 person bus and the owner of the said transit company made him a commissioner.

As I understood it, there is a loophole that states that a company that transports persons can start a police department to ensure the protection of the passengers.

I am unsure of the details behind all of that.

Continuing,

I ran across the Black Butte Ranch Police Department. So I'm looking a bit further (they were listed on the Oregon State DPSST weekly hire list) and I find out that Black Butte Ranch is just that, a private ranch. Run by the Black Butte Ranch Corp.

Is it becoming the type of world where a company can start it's own police department?

Situations like that, I would wonder if the department would look out for the interests of the corporation more than the people.

Am I seeing this wrong? Are there similar departments in your area?

What are your thoughts?

[ejay]

Further info:

Black Butte Ranch Police Department

History

The Police Department/Service District came into existence in 1990. Homeowners voted to create the Service District, which is managed by a Board comprised of seven Black Butte Ranch homeowners, who are appointed by the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners. The Service District Managing Board has staffed the Police Department with six full-time officers, which includes a Chief of Police, a Sergeant, and four Officers. The Administrative Assistant takes care of general office work and accounting responsibilities. The Department provides the Ranch with 24-7 patrol and other law enforcement services. The Department is also involved in crime prevention, disaster mitigation, and planning in cooperation with the Ranch Management and residents to preserve the safety, security and tranquility of the Ranch. Sworn department personnel are certified police officers and function as such out of, and within the District boundaries.

[TechnoWeenie]

I think there are a lot of situations, the recent one in california being an example,IMO, where someone just wanted a badge and a reason to carry a gun, and did what he/she/it had to do to make that happen... kinda scary actually...

if you're going to do private armed security thats one thing, but calling yourself a police force? wierd....

NOW, OTOH, if they are ALL commissioned by the state,as in "Special Police Officers" where they have arrest/police powers on the property, but not off of it, than it's more understandable..

[ejay]

I don't doubt that they are police in all it's glory (if there is any for a gated community).

However, I wanted to focus on the fact that it is funded and run by a corporation. Aside from the reguation by the state to keep it's status, what keeps it from becoming a rogue force?

I just want to say though, I don't mean to offend anyone who may read this and work for Black Butte Ranch Police Department. My focus here is toward the corporation and not the officers.

[slamdunc]

NOW, OTOH, if they are ALL commissioned by the state,as in "Special Police Officers" where they have arrest/police powers on the property, but not off of it, than it's more understandable.

Am I reading this right?

Sworn department personnel are certified police officers and function as such out of, and within the District boundaries.

It would seem that they are commissioned and have full police powers.

[ejay]

Again, as I stated, I don't doubt they are commisioned peace officers. The issue I wanted to bring up was the funding and control via the corporation.

[equinox137]

Am I seeing this wrong? Are there similar departments in your area?

What are your thoughts?

There's been similiar deptartments all around the country. The railroads have had their own police departments before most states did. They still do and their agents have not only state commissions, but also interstate enforcement authority.

[Caesar2845]

Some states allow for private police corporations. North Carolina is one (here is an example for NC, Metro Special Police). Other states like I think Massachusetts allow private security ot be commisioned as "special police offices" who work for private companies also.

Someone above mentioned Railroad Police. There are also private hospitals (like Baylor, Methodist and Presbyterian here in Dallas) that have their own police. Some with private universities (near me, both SMU and TCU as well as the Dallas Theological Seminary have police departments).

So, "private" institutions having police isn't really new. personally, I don't think it should be taken too much further than where it already is. mainly I believe that people given power to excercise State authority should mostly work for and be accountable to the people, not to private concerns. But some heavily regulated private policing is ok, and can be a very good thing.

[ejay]

This is a gated community though.

Take a look at the fine schedule.

Does this community really encompass such a large area to require it's own police and fire?

When I see something like this (access to outsiders not allowed cause it's gated) it really raises some concerns in my mind as to what is really going on here.

[ejay]

Very interesting find BTW. They say special police.

Again though, they are protecting property.

The department I mentioned would be in more of a position to protect the interests of the corporation as they respond to 911 calls and other calls for service.

[equinox137]

So, "private" institutions having police isn't really new. personally, I don't think it should be taken too much further than where it already is. mainly I believe that people given power to excercise State authority should mostly work for and be accountable to the people, not to private concerns. But some heavily regulated private policing is ok, and can be a very good thing.

Railroads are in kind of a different boat then the rest though, because of the amount of hazardous materials they transport, theft of product, of signal line wire, etc the amount of trespassers that are killed on the right of way, etc... 50 on the UP right of way in the past two months at the last count...

[equinox137]

Very interesting find BTW. They say special police.

Again though, they are protecting property.

The department I mentioned would be in more of a position to protect the interests of the corporation as they respond to 911 calls and other calls for service.

I cant speak for that dept, however all the railroads have their own 911 centers: Norfolk Southern's is the Police Communcations Center, UP's is the RMCC, etc . . . and railroad PDs respond to calls for service all the time, sometimes even at the local PD's requested.

You're right, they protect property, but there's much more to it than that, at least on the RR.

[Jayc6018]

So I'm doing some research and I come across a police department that is owned and operated by a corporation.

Most recently, police departments owned by companies made the news during the Ferrari wreck on PCH. The accused driver was a police commissioner for a transit police department.

After further investigation, it turned out that the guy owned a company that installed some equipment on a small 10 person bus and the owner of the said transit company made him a commissioner.

As I understood it, there is a loophole that states that a company that transports persons can start a police department to ensure the protection of the passengers.

I am unsure of the details behind all of that.

Continuing,

I ran across the Black Butte Ranch Police Department. So I'm looking a bit further (they were listed on the Oregon State DPSST weekly hire list) and I find out that Black Butte Ranch is just that, a private ranch. Run by the Black Butte Ranch Corp.

Is it becoming the type of world where a company can start it's own police department?

Situations like that, I would wonder if the department would look out for the interests of the corporation more than the people.

Am I seeing this wrong? Are there similar departments in your area?

What are your thoughts?

Yeah I had the same question also with the co-op city police department. Its a private police force owned by the riverbay corporation. Not only of these co-op police officers are certified peace officers in NYS they also have special patrolmen status within the city of NY. I was suprised to know that these officers have arrest/police powers on and off riverbay's property. Some people think they are security guards but last I checked no private security firm gets police powers.

here are their offical vehicles
http://lavender.fortunecity.com/west.../other624.html


and here's the Riverbay corp that owns them.
http://www.riverbaycorp.com/newrb/

[ejay]

Thank you.

The above seems like the same situation as what I mentioned.

A corporation that owns housing, starting it's own police force (most likely with it's own interests involved)

[ejay]

Not only of these co-op police officers are certified peace officers in NYS they also have special patrolmen status within the city of NY. I was suprised to know that these officers have arrest/police powers on and off riverbay's property.

Don't let 1UNDER1 hear you say that.