Did you know?

In order to work as a security officer for pay in the State of Texas you must be employed by a licensed security services contractor (security company)  Your security company must license you as a non-commissioned or commissioned security officer.  You are required to be registered with the state regulatory agency-  The Texas Department of Public Safety-Private Security Bureau.   Even if you are classified as in-house security and work for no one other than your employer, this regulation still applies to you.  The private employer that you work for must have a “Letter of Authority” issued to a “Private Business” and they will still license you with the above listed regulatory agency.  Same as if you were working for a Security Company.

If you hire yourself out as a person to provide security for an event and get paid, you are basically running an UNLICENSED SECURITY COMPANY and you can be charged with violating State Statute Sec. § 1702.3875 Impersonating Security Officer. This is a criminal offense.  Specifically, a Class A Misdemeanor on your first offense and a Third Degree Felony on any subsequent offense. (§1702.388)

                    § 1702.3875.  IMPERSONATING SECURITY OFFICER;  OFFENSE. 

                                          (a)  A person commits an offense if the person:

                                                             (1)  impersonates a commissioned or noncommissioned 

                                                                    security officer with the intent to induce another to submit to the 

                                                                    person's pretended authority or to rely on the person's pretended 

                                                                    acts of a security officer;  or

                                                             (2)  knowingly purports to exercise any function that 

                                                                    requires registration as a noncommissioned security officer or a 

                                                                    security officer commission.

                                        (b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.  

                    § 1702.388.  VIOLATION OF CHAPTER; OFFENSE.  

                                         (a)  A person commits an offense if the person violates a provision of this 

                                                chapter for which a specific criminal penalty is not prescribed.

                                         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor, 

                                                except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if the 

                                                person has previously been convicted under this chapter of failing 

                                                to hold a license, registration, certificate, or commission that 

                                                the person is required to hold under this chapter.

Did you know?

It is illegal for some law enforcement officers to hire themselves out as private security officers for pay while off duty from their regular job. They can be charged under State Statute §1702.322 of the Texas Occupations Code.

If a law enforcement officer hires him or herself out for pay, while off duty and wears a department uniform while doing so, there a number of rules he must follow to be legally working private security in Texas.  These rules include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.                  The law enforcement officer must be employed a minimum of 32 hours at minimum wage (or higher) performing his/her appointed duties as a peace officer with his/her department.

2.                  The law enforcement officer must be entitled to all benefits offered to the peace officer by the State of Texas or by his or her department.

3.                  The law enforcement officer must not be in the employment of another peace officer. In other words, the person receiving the guard service pays each officer directly and individually as an employee or as an individual contractor.

4.                  The law enforcement officer must not be a reserve peace officer. This also includes "full-time, non-paid regular" peace officers. These peace officers must obtain a guard company license before engaging in guard company services.

Did you know?

It is illegal for a client to contract or employ a person who is required to hold a license, registration or commission to perform security services in Texas.  So hiring unlicensed security officers whom do not work for licensed security companies or hiring off-duty law enforcement officers (whom don’t meet the State’s definition) are both Class A Misdemeanor criminal offenses.  These are offenses that can be charged against a client under State Statute §1702.386 of the Texas Occupations Code

                    § 1702.386.  UNAUTHORIZED EMPLOYMENT;  OFFENSE. 

                                          (a)  A person commits an offense if the person contracts with or employs a 

                                                person who is required to hold a license, registration, certificate, or commission

                under this chapter knowing that the person does not hold the required license,

                registration, certificate, or commission or who otherwise, at the time of

                contract or employment, is in violation of this chapter.

                                        (b)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor.               

Why take a chance. Our officers are trained, insured and have all necessary licenses and permits to act in your best interests at all times.