Signal Hill Municipal Code Ch. 5.20 Private Patrol Systems

The following words and phrases as used in this chapter shall have the significations attached to them in this section, unless otherwise clearly apparent from the context:

A. "Patrolman" means a person engaged in one or more of the activities referred to in subsection B of this section, as the owner, member, or employee of a patrol system.

B. "Patrol system" means that activity or business carried on by a person who purports to furnish, or who does furnish, or who otherwise makes available to another, any watchman, guard or other individual, either uniformed or otherwise, to patrol any portion of the city, or to guard or watch any property, including guarding against theft, fire, or both, or to perform any service usually and customarily performed by a peace officer.

For the purposes of this chapter, "patrol system" shall also include the exclusive and regular employment of a person by one employer in connection with the affairs of such employer only, where there exists an employer-employee relationship and such employee devotes the major portion of his hours of employment to one or more of the activities referred to in this subsection. "Patrol system" does not include the guarding of property of a single owner while such property is not open to the public when such guarding is done by one or more individuals whose entire salary or wage is paid by such owner; nor does it include service of any nature performed by an employee whose main or principal duty is not that of guarding or protecting property.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.010)

It is unlawful for any person to carry on the business of a patrol system or perform the services of a private patrolman without first having obtained a license so to do as provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.020)

A. Any person desiring a license to conduct a patrol system shall obtain an application from city which application shall furnish the following information:

1. The name and address of the applicant;

2. If the applicant is a partnership, the name and address of all partners;

3. If the applicant is a corporation, the names and addresses of the corporate officers and manager;

4. A map of the district, territory, or area proposed to be served by the patrol system, if other than city-wide;

5. A description of the methods of operation;

6. The names and addresses of all patrolmen who are or will be employed by the patrol system;

7. A statement as to what offenses, if any, any persons mentioned in this chapter have been convicted; and

8. Such other information as may be required.

B. At the time of filing the application the applicant shall pay to the city a filing fee of seventy-five dollars.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.030)

A. Upon receipt of an application for a license to conduct a patrol system, the chief of police shall investigate the character, fitness, and qualifications of every person whose name appears on such application as an owner, member, or patrolman. Upon completion of the investigation by the chief of police, he shall return such application to the administrative officer together with his recommendation that the license be granted or denied, together with his reasons therefor. The administrative officer shall thereupon transmit such application to the council together with his pertinent recommendations in connection therewith.

B. Upon receipt of an application for a license to conduct a patrol system, the council shall either grant the same to the full extent requested, or it shall notify the applicant that it intends to deny the application or to grant the application but permit operations in only a portion of the territory, or by only a part of the patrolmen, or both, covered by the application. Within five days after such notification, the applicant may file with the administrative officer a written demand for a public hearing. If he does not do so, he shall be deemed to have consented to such denial or to the granting of a license with the limitations stated in the notice.

C. Within twenty days after the filing of such demand, the council shall hold such public hearing. Notice of the time and place thereof shall be given by the administrative officer to the applicant and to every person named as a patrolman in the application whom the council intends not to allow to act as such. The mailing of such notice at least five days prior to the date of the hearing with postage prepaid, addressed to the applicant and to those persons named as patrolmen, at the respective addresses specified in the application, shall constitute sufficient notice of such hearing.

D. Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the power of the council to grant a license to more than one patrol system to operate in the same area.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.040)

A. Any person desiring a license to act as a patrolman shall file an application together with any fee required by any ordinance of the city. Such application for a patrolman's license shall contain the following:

1. The name and address of the applicant;

2. A statement of all businesses and occupations engaged in for the last five years and the names and addresses of not less than three persons able to verify such statement;

3. A statement of what offenses, if any, the applicant has been convicted;

4. A complete set of fingerprints of the applicant taken by the police department;

5. A letter from the holder of a patrol system license granted by the council certifying that such licensee desires to employ such applicant as a patrolman, or that the applicant will be an owner or member of such patrol system; and

6. Such other information as may be required.

B. The applicant, at the time of making application, shall pay the sum of five dollars in addition to any other fees prescribed by law.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.050(a))

The city shall grant or deny an application for a patrolman's license by the same procedure, so far as applicable, as is provided in Section 5.20.040 for the granting or denial of a license to conduct a patrol system.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.060)

A. In the event the application for a patrolman's license is granted, he shall be issued an identification card which shall contain the following:

1. The name, photograph, and right index fingerprint of such patrolman; and

2. The name and number of the license of the patrol system by which the patrolman will be employed or of which the patrolman will be an owner or member.

B. In the event a patrolman is licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, he shall act as patrolman only for the patrol system designated in his application.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.050(b))

While engaged in his duties as such, a patrolman shall keep upon his person at all times the license issued by the city.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.090)

If as a result of a complaint regarding the activities of a patrol system or a patrolman, the chief of police is satisfied that a violation of this chapter has been committed or such licensee has engaged in any serious misconduct, prejudicial to the faithful discharge of the duties required of such licensee, he may recommend to the administrative officer and the council that the license of such patrol system or patrolman be revoked.

(Ord. 600 § 2 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 2 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.130)

Permits issued under this chapter are not transferable. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the owner of a private patrol service from selling, assigning, or transferring such services; but any new owner, transferee, or assignee shall be required, before commencing operations or carrying on business as a private patrol service, to qualify under this chapter.

(Ord. 600 § 2 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 2 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.170)

A. The licensee of a patrol system shall, within five days after any patrolman named on his license no longer is an owner, member, or employee of such licensed patrol system, notify the city of that fact and shall thereupon return any license which may have been issued to such patrolman by the city.

B. The council, with or without a recommendation therefor from the administrative officer and the chief of police, may revoke the license of a patrol system or a patrolman, for any violation of the provisions of law applicable thereto.

C. The council shall grant or deny applications to modify existing patrol system licenses in the same manner as in the case of original applications.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.070)

Fees and permits required by this chapter shall be in addition to any license, permit, or fee required under any other chapter of this code.

(Ord. 600 § 2 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 2 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.180)

No operator of a patrol system shall employ or utilize the services in any way of a patrolman whose name is not on the license of such operator, or who does not possess a valid and subsisting license.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.080(a))

No licensee under this chapter shall perform official police duties. He shall immediately report every violation of law and every unusual occurrence coming to his attention in the performance of his duties to the nearest police officer or police station. A licensee shall make a full report of such violation or other occurrence without unnecessary delay to the police department.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.110)

All complaints regarding the activities of a patrol system or of a patrolman employed by such system shall be investigated by the administrative officer and the chief of police. Reports of such complaints shall be held in the files of the police department and shall be subject to inspection by the administrative officer or council at all times.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.120)

A. No patrolman shall wear any uniform which is an imitation of or can be readily mistaken for an official sheriff's uniform or an official uniform of the police department of any city within the county, or an official uniform of any state officer. Patrolmen licensed under this chapter shall wear, while on duty as such patrolmen, a uniform of slate-gray colored material; provided, however, that the chief of police may authorize a patrolman to perform his duty in clothing other than a uniform.

B. No patrolman shall assume or use a rank or title the same as or similar to any rank or title used by the sheriff or by any police department within the county.

C. No patrol system shall use, grant, bestow, or permit any patrolman to assume or use any rank or title the same as or similar to any rank or title used by the sheriff or by any police department within the county.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.080(b) -- (d))

The chief of police shall specify the police equipment, including weapons, which a licensee may wear while on duty. A licensee shall not wear any equipment or weapon, or carry any weapon, not so specified.

(Ord. 600 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 1 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.100)

Subject to the approval of the administrative officer, the chief of police may make rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the requirements of this chapter, governing patrol systems and patrolmen.

(Ord. 600 § 2 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 2 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.140)

Every person who makes any false statement in any application for a permit or license under this chapter or any report required by this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 600 § 2 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 2 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.150)

It is unlawful for any person to perform any act forbidden by this chapter or to omit to perform any act required by the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 600 § 2 (part), 1966: Ord. 597 § 2 (part), 1966: prior code § 5.32.160)