Cathedral City Municipal Code Ch. 5.52 Private Patrols

"Private patrol"

means any person carrying on the business of night watchman, night watch service, private policemen, or any other occupation, the purpose of which is to afford additional police or fire protection to the public for hire or reward; provided, however, that nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed or construed to apply to private police protection incident to the transportation for hire within the city of moneys, checks, and other written instruments of persons, associations, firms and corporations, or to escorts of funeral processions.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

No person, either as owner, manager, employee, or otherwise, shall manage, conduct, carry on or assist in the management, conducting or carrying on of the business of private patrol unless under and by authority of a written permit from the city manager. Such permits to manage, conduct, or carry on any such occupation shall be issued upon the written application of any person for him or herself or on behalf of any corporation or association of person, which application shall prescribe the boundaries of the district over which the applicant desires to operate. The city manager must first satisfy himself that the management, conducting or carrying on of the private patrol will comport with the public welfare, and for this purpose may consider any facts or evidence bearing on the moral fitness and reputation of those who will be in charge of the private patrol, and any other facts or evidence tending to enlighten the city manager in this respect. Persons aggrieved by the action of the city manager may appeal to the city council.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

Before issuing any permit to an owner or employee under the terms of this chapter, the city manager shall require the applicant to be fingerprinted and photographed and a record of the applicant shall be obtained from the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation of the State Department of Justice, and from such other reporting agencies as the city manager, in his discretion, deems appropriate. After reviewing the record, the city manager shall issue the permit unless he or she concludes, pursuant to Section 5.52.020, that the application should be denied, and in the case of an employee applicant, unless he concludes that the granting of a permit would be detrimental to the public interest. The applicant shall be required to pay a fingerprint processing fee in such amount as is prescribed by resolution of the council, or in the absence of such resolution, in an amount which will reimburse the direct charges of the agency or agencies rendering the record required in this section to be obtained plus an overhead factor in an amount not exceeding one-third of the direct charges, to cover police department processing. An employee applicant who is denied a permit shall have the right of an appeal to the council.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

It shall be the responsibility of the owner or owners of a private patrol operating within the city limits to abide by and conform to all regulations contained in Sections 5.52.060 through 5.52.180. Any violations of these regulations will subject the offender to punishment as described in Sections 1.01.200 through 1.01.230; and, in addition, violations of these regulations shall be grounds for revocation of the permit. The city manager is expressly authorized to promulgate rules for personal conduct. Violation of any such rule shall be cause for revocation of the permit.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

The owner or owners of a private patrol shall make arrangements with the chief of police of the city to have their personnel fingerprinted and photographed. An identification card will be issued, signed by the chief of police. This identification card shall be carried by private patrolmen at all times while on duty. Identification shall be shown upon demand by any member of the police department. A private patrolman who is found to be without an identification card will not be allowed to complete his tour of duty until properly identified by the owner or owners of the private patrol for whom he is employed. A written report covering the incident shall be made by both the officer of the police department who discovers the violation and the owner of the private patrol. The written report shall be submitted to the chief of police.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

The regulations regarding fingerprinting and photographing shall be complied with by the owner or owners of a private patrol as well as by all personnel employed by them. All future employees of a private patrol shall be fingerprinted and photographed.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

All future employees of private patrols shall present to the chief of police a letter from the owner or owners of the private patrol covering their qualifications for the job of private patrolman. Also, blank forms which are obtainable at headquarters of the police department shall be filled out. These blank forms shall be filled out for all future employees of private patrols.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

During the break-in or trial period for a new employee, a private patrol shall require that the employee, at all times when on duty, shall be in the company of the owner or duly authorized agent of the owner of the private patrol.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

Members of private patrols shall restrict the colors of their uniform shirts to colors other than grey, dark blue or black. All badges, cap shields and shoulder patches worn by private patrol members shall be approved by the chief of police. All insignia placed on automobiles operated by private patrols shall be approved by the chief of police, and include the word "PRIVATE" in not less than four-inch capital letters.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982; Ord. 74 § 1, 1984)

Panel trucks which can be mistaken for a police patrol wagon shall not be used by private patrols.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

No person shall be appointed a special police officer or employed as a private patrolman who is not a citizen of the United States.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

The owner or owners of a private patrol shall notify the chief of police in writing when a private patrolman leaves their employment; and the identification card shall be turned in to the chief of police at the termination of his employment by the owner.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

All members and employees of a private patrol shall report to the chief of police, if he so directs, with the weapon used while on duty, together with ten rounds of ammunition, with which they will demonstrate their ability and familiarity with the weapon. This test will be conducted by the police department at a time designated by the chief of police. Inability to properly handle a firearm will be sufficient cause for rejection of a permit to be a private patrolman.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

Only double action revolvers shall be carried by private patrolmen. The use of automatic weapons shall not be allowed.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

The owner or owners of private patrols shall furnish the chief of police with information in writing regarding the territory covered by their respective patrols and the hours that coverage is to be maintained.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

All motor vehicles operated pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be equipped with two-way radios.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

Watchman service shall be provided with a system of watch clocks.

(Ord. 15 § 1, 1982)

A violation of Section 5.52.020, 5.52.060, 5.52.070, 5.52.080, 5.52.090, 5.52.100, 5.52.110, 5.52.120, 5.52.130, 5.52.140, 5.52.150, 5.52.160, 5.52.170 or 5.52.180 of this chapter by any person responsible for committing, causing or maintaining such violation shall constitute an infraction violation which shall be subject to the provisions set forth in Chapter 13.65, including, but not limited to, the imposition of any and all criminal penalties set forth therein.

(Ord. 506 § 3, 1999)

Any person convicted of an infraction shall, for each separate violation of this chapter, be subject to: (a) a fine in an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars for a first conviction of an offense; (b) a fine in an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars for a second conviction of the same offense within a twelve-month period of the date of the first offense; and (c) a fine in an amount not to exceed seven hundred fifty dollars for the third conviction of the same offense within a twelve-month period of the date of the first offense. The fine for a fourth and subsequent convictions of the same offense within a twelve-month period of the date of the first offense shall be one thousand dollars.

(Ord. 506 § 3, 1999)

In lieu of issuing an infraction citation, the city may issue an administrative citation, pursuant to Chapter 13.58, to any person responsible for committing, causing or maintaining a violation of Section 5.52.020, 5.52.060, 5.52.070, 5.52.080, 5.52.090, 5.52.100, 5.52.110, 5.52.120, 5.52.130, 5.52.140, 5.52.150, 5.52.160, 5.52.170 or 5.52.180 of this chapter. Nothing in this section shall preclude the city from also issuing an infraction citation upon the occurrence of the same offense on a separate day.

(Ord. 506 § 3, 1999)

Note: Former § 5.52.220, Administrative fine, adopted by Ord. 506 was repealed by Ord. 892, 10/22/2025.

A violation of Section 5.52.020, 5.52.060, 5.52.070, 5.52.080, 5.52.090, 5.52.100, 5.52.110, 5.52.120, 5.52.130, 5.52.140, 5.52.150, 5.52.160, 5.52.170 or 5.52.180 of this chapter by the holder of any city permit and/or city license validly issued pursuant to this or any other chapter shall constitute grounds for modification, suspension and/or revocation of said permit and/or license pursuant to the provisions set forth in Chapter 13.150.

(Ord. 506 § 3, 1999)

Nothing in this chapter shall preclude the city from pursuing the remedies provided by Chapter 13.140, including, but not limited to, as applicable, denial or revocation of certificates of occupancy, issuance of stop work orders and injunctive relief.

(Ord. 506 § 3, 1999)