Introduction
It is an acknowledged fact that the establishment and obedience of laws and codes of conduct play a pivotal role towards the survival of any civilization/society. This is mainly attributed to the fact that there are instances where people in any given society behave in a manner that threatens the safety of others.
Throughout history, nations have established law enforcement agencies that seek to prevent crime and deliver punishment to those that go against the set laws. As such, such agencies are established mainly for retribution and deterrence purposes.
However, as civilizations advance and population increases, criminal activities become more advanced and rampant. This is further worsened by the fact that law enforcement agencies cannot guarantee the safety of every individual. This is due to lack of adequate resources (human, financial, technological among others) needed to provide such a level of security to the masses.
To this end, many people across the world have turned to private security as a means to ensure the security and safety of their lives, businesses and properties.
This paper shall set out to explore the history of private security in the United State. To this end, an overview of the factors that led to the establishment of private security shall be discussed and the major advancements made in this industry addressed.
Private security in America: A historical overview
Private security agencies can best be defined as organizations that specialize in policing and protecting businesses, individuals and nations from various threats (Dempsey, 2010). In the United States, private security agencies emerged during the mid-nineteenth century.
These agencies worked alongside public law enforcement agencies. They included but were not limited to private body guards, private interstate railways security, guards, private investigators and private military organizations.
Allan Pinkerton is recognized as being the father of private security in the United States. According to Ortmeier (2009), Pinkerton had served for several years in the Chicago police as a detective. In the 1850’s, he established the Pinkerton Agency (the first private security agency in America).
Primarily, this agency was hired to provide security at various railways traversing the states. However, his agency gained prominence and his security forces were even hired as spies by the Lincoln’s government. Ortmeier (2009) asserts that the Pinkerton Agency went down in history as the first private security company to operate at a national level.
Soon afterwards in 1889, Brinks Incorporated, which provided protection for payroll and property to different entities, was formed. In 1909, a private detective agency called William. J. Burns Inc. was formed. According to Dempsey (2010), it became the American Banking Association’s investigative unit.
These three private security agencies are commonly referred to as the “original three”, as relating to the emergence of private security services in the United States.
Documented evidence shows that by 1914, other private security companies had been established, including one formed by railroads associations. Purpura (2010) asserts that the security units formed by railroad associations had full police powers.
Growth of the private security industry
Dempsey (2010) states that Henry Ford has been documented as the man who refined in-house proprietary security forces in factory work. The automobile industry was growing fast and he saw the need to utilize private security personnel who could protect the materials, workers and property belonging to the company.
Later on during the great depression, unemployment rates increased and so did crime. This further necessitated the need for private security in industries as well as on a personal level.
Ortmeier (2009) states that president Roosevelt ordered the U.S. war department to train and procure private security personnel who would protect the U.S. industries against various threats that emanated from the raging war in Europe.
Similarly, before and during the World War II, American factories had to produce more materials that were being used to facilitate the war. Protecting these factories became a major priority and private security forces were tasked with that duty.
Ortmeier (2009), states that by the middle of the war, private security firms offered their services to more than ten thousand factories within the United State. Despite these novel practices, some private security agencies were accused of violating human rights.
For example, the Pinkerton Agency security forces were implicated in the fatal shooting that occurred during the 1892 Homestead Strike.
Ortmeier (2009) asserts that during that period, trade unions were viewed as threats to business interests. As such, business owners hired private agents who could spy on union leaders and coerce them. These agents acted as strikebreakers.
Similarly, Henry Ford hired an in-house security force to spy on the financial and social affairs of most Ford Motor Company employees. Purpura (2010), states that these forces commonly known as the “Ford Patrol” consisted of former convicts, police officers and footballers.
They patrolled public houses and pubs and used violence to keep employees in line. Similar cases were reported in different areas and private security firms were at the center of it all.
Professionalism in the private security industry
Dempsey (2010) reiterates that traditionally, the private security sector laced professionalism in regard to certification, ethics, employment and training. To this end, various professionals have over the years tried to professionalize private security.
The American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) was therefore founded in 1955 and wrote its code of ethics in 1957 (Dempsey, 2010).
This new association aimed at improving professional conduct in private security by developing a structure that could be used to meet this aim. This included certification, training, employment and ethical procedures that were to be followed by all chartered members (Dempsey, 2010).
In 1966, ASIS established a foundation that aimed at doing valuable research on private security (Dempsey, 2010). The results enabled specialists to come up with better means of planning, controlling, organizing and leading the operations of private security firms.
Subsequently, the association started issuing certified protection professional (CPP) certificates in 1977 (purpura, 2010). Similarly, purpura (2010) asserts that the association published a monthly magazine that featured the best performing firms in the industry, new and innovative managerial styles adopted by various firms and other information relating to the industry.
On the same note, Dempsey (2010) asserts that ASIS International developed and published different guidelines relating to the selection, recruitment and training of private security officers. All these initiatives have worked collectively over the years in the improvement of professionalism in the private security industry.
Arguably, history lays a strong foundation for the future. As such, by understanding the history of private security, today’s professionals can work towards improving the flaws that mitigated efficiency in the industry (Ortmeier, 2009). In addition, they can develop new strategies that were not present during the advent of this important industry.
Conclusion
Currently, the private security sector employs more people than public law enforcement agencies. This shows that the industry is gaining prominence each day. In this paper, a historical overview detailing the introduction, growth and development of private security has been provided.
A brief statement elaborating the importance of this history to today’s professionals has also been given. While various players in this industry may be undermined, the role they play in ensuring that our lives, businesses and properties are safe and secure is of great importance.
As such, a little more respect and consideration from all of us will go a long way in ensuring that these important members of our society perform their duties efficiently and diligently even in generations to come.
References
Dempsey, J. (2010). Introduction to Private Security. New York: Cengage Learning.
Ortmeier, P. J. (2009). Introduction to Security: Operations and Management. London: Pearson Publishing.
Purpura, P. (2010). Security: An Introduction. Boston: CRC Press.