Licensing

PURPOSE: Under section 84.340, RSMo, the St. Louis, Missouri Board of Police Commissioners has the authority to regulate and license all private security personnel, serving or acting as such, in St. Louis. These rules establish procedures, training requirements and license fees for those persons so employed in this industry. (1) General Procedures. Each applicant must appear in person at the office of the private security section. Each applicant must complete an application form. S/he must provide all information requested in the application for a determination of his/her qualifications to hold a license as a private watchman. Each applicant must present a current letter (no older than ten (10) days) from the intended employer, where the proposed employer states an intention to hire the applicant. Prior to an application being processed by the private security section, a criminal history inquiry will be made through the St. Louis Police Department’s computer terminal. If the inquiry reveals that the applicant has an open criminal arrest record, s/he will be required to obtain a certified final court disposition or a report from a circuit or prosecuting attorney. If the case is still open, the application process will not be completed until a final disposition is obtained. (2) Standards. Each applicant for a license to work as a private watchman in the City of St. Louis shall meet the standards set by the board of police commissioners, which require that an applicant— (A) Be a citizen of the United States or legal resident-alien permitted to work in this country; (B) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age; (C) Be able to read, write and understand the English language; (D) Meet physical and mental standards established by the board of police commissioners; (E) Be capable of understanding and performing the duties and responsibilities of a licensed private watchman within the scope of departmental policies and procedures; (F) Who has served time on active or reserve duty in any of the Armed Forces of the United States must be in possession of an Honorable Discharge or a General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions. An Undesirable Discharge, a Discharge Under Dishonorable Conditions or a Discharge Other Than Honorable Conditions will disqualify the applicant; (G) Be of good moral character; (H) Have no felony convictions; (I) Be able to pass a character investigation by this department; (J) Satisfactorily complete the training program prescribed by the board of police commissioners; (K) Never have had a security license revoked by another jurisdiction for a criminal law conviction; (L) Not withhold any information which would determine fitness relevant to being licensed as a security officer; and (M) Be free of any type of chemical dependency. (3) Issuance/Denial of License. When an applicant has successfully completed the requirements set by the board of police commissioners, the board will issue a license. An applicant may be denied a license for any of the following reasons: (A) Failure to meet the standards in section (2); (B) Falsifying information on any of the forms provided by the private security section to establish eligibility. Applicants who falsify those documents shall be ineligible to receive a private watchman’s license and cannot reapply for at least six (6) months from the date the false information was submitted; (C) Failure to provide whatever additional information is deemed necessary in order to establish eligibility; (D) The references or employment background records, or both, indicate a poor or unsatisfactory character or work record; (E) Any facts or actions which make the applicant unsuitable or ineligible for licensing; and (F) Resigned under investigation, resigned under charges or was discharged from the police force of the City of St. Louis. (4) Notification of License Denial. Applicants and their employers, in event of license denial, will be given a written notification. Specific reasons will be given to an applicant who appears in person at the office of the private security section. Applicants may appeal, in writing, to the board of police commissioners within thirty (30) days of denial notification. The appeal should contain a brief rebuttal of the reasons for denial. The board of police commissioners will then notify the applicant, in writing, of its final decision in the matter. (5) Temporary License. If an applicant appears to meet the standards for licensing, the commander of the private security section may issue a temporary license. This permits the applicant to work until a formal license is issued by the board. (A) A holder of a temporary badge/identification (ID) card must wear the card at the breast of the outermost garment while on duty and must be attired in an approved uniform; (B) A holder of a temporary license who transfers employment to another agency must return his/her temporary badge/ID card to the private security section for issuance of a new badge/ID card; and (C) A holder of a temporary license must return the temporary badge/ID card to the private security section at the time the formal license is issued. (6) Secondary Employment License. A second license may be approved by the board of police commissioners and issued by the private security section to a private watchman who— (A) Works for a private entity (employer)and wants to take a second job working for a second private entity (employer); or (B) Is licensed to a security agency and desires also to work in a secondary job for a private employer. 1. A second license will not be issued to allow a private watchman to work at two (2) security agencies. 2. A private watchman desiring a second license must present a letter of permission from the first (primary) employer and a letter of intent to hire from the (secondary) employer; and (C) A St. Louis Police Department computer inquiry will be made on each private watchman applying for a secondary license. If this inquiry reveals an open arrest record within the previous year, s/he will be required to obtain a certified copy of the final court disposition or a report from the circuit or prosecuting attorney. If the case is still open, the secondary license process will not be completed until final disposition is obtained. (7) License Renewals. A private watchman’s license is valid for one (1) year from date of issue and it must be renewed in the month it expires. (A) A St. Louis Police Department computer inquiry will be made on each private watchman renewing his/her license. If this inquiry reveals an open arrest record within the previous year, s/he will be required to obtain a certified copy of the final court disposition or a report from a circuit or prosecuting attorney. If the case is still open, the renewal process will not be completed until final disposition is obtained. (B) A private watchman wishing to renew his/her license must report to the private security section in the month the license expires, bringing— 1. The license which is about to expire; 2. A letter from his/her employer requesting renewal; 3. Badge/ID card; and 4. The fee for the renewal. (C) A license not renewed during the month it was issued automatically expires unless the holder has applied to the commander of the private security section and received an extension of time. (8) License Transfer. A license holder may work only for the company, agency or business entity named on the license. A license holder who changes employers must make sure that the new employer is named on the license. In order to transfer a license from one (1) employer to another, the license holder must appear in person at the private security section and— (A) Bring a current dated letter (no more than ten (10) days prior to application) from the new employer, addressed to the board of police commissioners, outlining the duties of the new job and requesting the transfer of license; (B) Bring in the license and badge/ID card; (C) Pay the fee established for processing transfers; (D) The license holder will receive a new badge/ID card and license to the new company; and (E) A St. Louis Police Department computer inquiry will be made on each private watchman transferring his/her license. If this inquiry reveals an open arrest record within the previous year, s/he will be required to obtain a certified copy of the final court disposition or a report from a circuit or prosecuting attorney. If the case is still open, the transfer process will not be completed until final disposition is obtained. (9) License Reinstatements. A licensed private watchman who resigns may apply for reinstatement of his/her license under the following requirements and procedures: (A) Application must be made within three (3) months of the resignation date; (B) The applicant must have resigned while his/her license was in good standing; (C) The applicant must appear at the private security section with a currently dated letter from an employer requesting reinstatement; (D) The applicant should pay the fee established for processing license reinstatements; and (E) A St. Louis Police Department’s computer inquiry will be made on each private watchman reinstating his/her license. If this inquiry reveals an open arrest record within the previous year, s/he will be required to obtain a certified copy of the final court disposition or a report from a circuit or prosecuting attorney. If the case is still open, the reinstatement process will not be completed until final disposition is obtained. AUTHORITY: section 84.340, RSMo 1986.* Original rule filed April 8, 1988, effective July 11, 1988. *Original authority: 84.340, RSMo 1939.