Administration and Command of Private Security Section

PURPOSE: Under section 84.340, RSMo, the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners has the authority to regulate and license all St. Louis private security personnel, serving or acting in St. Louis. These rules establish procedures, training requirements and license fees for those persons so employed in the security field. (1) Board of Police Commissioners. The St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners (referred to as the board) is established by state statute and consists of five (5) members, four (4) of whom are appointed by the governor. The mayor of the City of St. Louis serves as an ex officio member. The board has sole charge and control of the Metropolitan Police Department of the City of St. Louis and of licensing, regulating and disciplining of all private security officers, corporate security advisors, private watchmen and couriers of the City of St. Louis. Private detectives are licensed by the Office of the License Collector of the City of St. Louis, not by the board. The board has delegated that responsibility to the city license collector’s office. (2) Private Security Section. The private security section is responsible for the interviewing, investigating, processing, licensing, inspecting and supervising of all persons seeking to be licensed, or currently licensed, as corporate security advisors, as well as persons seeking to be licensed, or currently licensed in certain other security capacities in the City of St. Louis. (A) The private security section is further responsible for issuing and transferring all of these licenses and for reinstatements, for periodically inspecting license holders, for providing liaison with all suppliers of security personnel in the city, for maintaining of personnel files on all applicants and licensees in the City of St. Louis and for publishing, within the department, information of all terminations of employment of security personnel. (B) Upon request of the license collector’s office, the private security section also conducts background investigations of private detective/investigator applicants. The decision to issue the license, however, is made by the license collector’s office. (3) Private Security Personnel. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Private Security program licenses four (4) distinct classifications of security personnel. Note: Only the private security officer, private courier and corporate security advisor classifications will be permitted to hold two (2) licenses. Each classification is licensed separately and functions as a distinct entity. This licensing does not include the private watchmen classification. The classifications are listed as follows: (A) Private Security Officer. A person employed with certain police powers (as defined in 17 CSR 20-2.065) to protect life or property on or in designated premises. The private security officers’ power extends only to the established property owned or leased by the contracting employer and only to incidents occurring on the premises. The private security officer may carry a firearm; provided, this individual is qualified (as defined in 17 CSR 20- 2.055). Authorization to carry a firearm is designated on the identification (ID) card. The private security officer, whether armed or unarmed, may carry a slapper, baton, nightstick, aerosol tear gas and handcuffs; (B) Courier. A person employed to transport property from one (1) designated area to another and to protect this property while in transit. A courier shall wear an approved military style uniform. A courier has no power of arrest, but may carry a firearm provide s/he is qualified (as defined in 17 CSR 203.055) to do so. Authorization to carry a firearm is designated on the ID card; (C) Private Watchman. A person employed to perform the tasks of observing and reporting on or in a licensed premises or designated area (as defined in 17 CSR 20-4.055). This may include patrolling the public street. A private watchman has no power of arrest or other police powers. S/he is not authorized to carry weapons or protective devices. The private watchman shall wear a distinctive gray, military style uniform; (D) Corporate Security Advisor. A person employed to provide all services rendered by a private security officer, as well as other specialized corporate security services related to the protection of his/her employer’s/principal’s resources and personnel. A licensed corporate security advisor may carry a firearm and protective devices in accordance with the guidelines established in these rules. S/he shall be authorized to exercise the same police powers granted to private security officers while on his/her employer’s/principal’s property. However, the corporate security advisor’s powers and authority shall not be restricted to that property, but shall be coextensive with the geographic limits of the City of St. Louis (as defined in 17 CSR 20-5.055), with the following restriction: A corporate security advisor, when not on the premises of his/her employer/principal, shall have the power of arrest— 1. While conducting official company business, and only for any felony, misdemeanor or city ordinance violation committed in his/her presence; 2. For attempted commission of any felony or misdemeanor occurring in his/her presence; and 3. For a felony or misdemeanor not committed in his/her presence when s/he has probable cause to believe that the offense was committed by the person to be arrested. Any arrest previously listed shall relate to the safety and welfare of his/her employer’s/principal’s personnel, family, property, or guests warranting special security consideration. A corporate security advisor, when not on the premises of his/her employer/principal, shall have the power of arrest only while conducting official company business and only for felonies, misdemeanors and city ordinance violations committed in his/her presence or which relate to the safety and welfare of his/her employer’s/principal’s personnel, family property or guests warranting special security consideration. AUTHORITY: section 84.340, RSMo 1986.* Original rule filed June 30, 1992, effective Feb. 26, 1993. *Original authority: 84.340, RSMo 1939.