Ventura County Municipal Code Art. 3 Private Patrolmen

No person shall for hire engage in the act of guarding property in the unincorporated area of the County as a patrolman or shall engage in the business of guarding such property as an owner or operator of a patrol system without first obtaining a Patrolman License therefor.

"Patrol system" means any private service or system consisting of one or more persons which purports to furnish or does furnish to customers, members, or the public, any street patrol service or street patrol officer, with or without uniform, to patrol, guard, or watch any property located in whole or in part in the unincorporated area of the County.

"Patrolman" means any person other than a peace officer acting in the course of his official duties who, for hire, engages in the act of guarding property as owner or member of a patrol system.

"Patrolman" shall not include:

(a) An employee who guards the property of his employer.

(b) Any person other than a member of a patrol system who guards a single parcel of property.

(c) Any person who is not a member of a patrol system.

As used in this Article, "licensee" means the holder of a Patrolman License.

Every applicant for a license required by section 2441 shall personally appear before the Sheriff and make a written application to the Sheriff therefor, stating in addition to the information required by section 2113-2 the following information:

Full name; places of previous, present and intended employment; and the nature of his work or duties at such places; all cities previously resided in; last previous residence address; present residence address; nationality; record of conviction of felonies and misdemeanors, other than motor vehicle parking violations; birth place, birth date, and such other information as the Sheriff shall reasonably require to determine the identity of the applicant and his fitness to engage in the occupation of a private patrolman.

Each licensee shall have an identification card containing a description and photograph of the licensee. The identification card shall be issued by the Sheriff.

Each applicant shall be fingerprinted and photographed at the Sheriff's office.

When the applicant has complied with Sections 2446, 2447, 2448, and 2451, the Sheriff shall approve the application for the license unless he finds that:

(a) The applicant has made an untruthful statement in his application; or

(b) The applicant is an immoral, disorderly or dishonest person; or

(c) The applicant has violated any provision of this Article; or

(d) That the applicant has conducted himself in a manner detrimental to the health, safety or morals of the public.

Each licensee shall carry a valid license and identification card on his person at all times while engaged in employment as a private patrolman, and shall display the license and identification card to any peace officer upon request.

The fee for a Patrolman License is $25.00 per year.

The Sheriff shall secure a report on each application from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the State Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.

The Sheriff may suspend or revoke any license whenever he finds that the licensee has willfully made an untruthful statement in the application or that the licensee has violated any provision of this Article or that the licensee has conducted himself in a manner detrimental to the health, safety or morals of the public.

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

Licensees shall not perform or be required to perform official police or investigation activities, but shall immediately report every violation of law and every unusual occurrence to the nearest law enforcement agency. Such report may be made by telephone or personal visit to the desk sergeant or other person charged with the duty of receiving reports of law violations. A licensee shall, when requested by any law enforcement agency, make a full written report of any violation or other occurrence without necessary delay.

No operator of a patrol system shall employ or utilize the services in any way of a patrolman who does not have in his possession a valid and unrevoked license issued pursuant to this Division.