Chapter 5.100 — PRIVATE PATROL SERVICES

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

"Patrol officer" shall mean a person engaged by a private patrol service to perform the functions described in subsection (1) of this section.

"Patrol service" shall mean a business establishment whereby the operator thereof agrees to furnish, for consideration, any watchman, guard, patrolman, or other individual, either uniformed or otherwise, to patrol any portion of the city, to guard against or prevent theft, unlawful taking, loss, misappropriation of property of any kind, or to act as an escort for a funeral procession. Patrol service does not include a service provided to protect a single individual's property where the person furnishing such service is employed solely by such individual. (Prior code § 6363(a); Ord. 90-269 § 1, 1990)

Private patrollers shall not be required to obtain a license or to pay a license fee therefor. However, they must register with the Director and provide the Director with a photostatic or certified copy of their registration with the state pursuant to the State Private Investigator Act. If a private patrollers does not have proof of current valid registration, then he or she must register with the city upon a form prescribed by the Sheriff's Department. No registration fee shall be charged for such registration.

(Prior code § 6363(b); Ord. 90-269 § 1, 1990)

In addition to the requirements prescribed by the Director, an application for a private patrol service license shall include the following information:

1. A map of the district, territory or area proposed to be served by the patrol service;

2. A description of the services' methods of operation;

3. A statement of what, if any, criminal offenses other than traffic violations, have been committed by the applicant;

4. A photostatic or certified copy of the applicant's state identification card required pursuant to the Private Investigator Act;

5. A description of areas of the public or private property upon which the applicant intends to park vehicles used in the operation of the business;

6. A description of the color scheme and insignia to be used on any patrol vehicles along with color photographs depicting the front, rear and both sides of such vehicles;

7. A description of the color and design of the uniforms to be worn by any patrol officer employed by the applicant, along with color photographs depicting the front and sides of such uniform;

8. A description of the badge to be worn by any patrol officer employed by the applicant,

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City of West Hollywood, CA § 5.100.030

WEST HOLLYWOOD CODE

§ 5.100.040

along with color photographs depicting the color, shape and size of such badges;

9. A statement regarding the number of vehicles the applicant intends to use for patrol, their make, model, vehicle identification number, and license number,

10. A current list of the names, addresses and physical descriptions of all of the applicant's employees.

(Prior code § 6363(c); Ord. 90-269 § 1, 1990; Ord. 08-800 § 2, 2008)

1. Badges.

   • (a) Each patrol service licensee shall issue a patroller's badge to each of its patrollers. Every patroller shall wear the badge while acting as a patroller and shall wear no other badge of any kind, character or description.

   • (b) The licensee shall not sell, or permit the sale of, any patroller's badge or of any badge of a design that is the same as, or so similar to, the patroller's badge so that the buyer thereof would be mistaken for a private patroller employed by the licensee when in fact he or she is not.

2. False Identification.

   • (a) No patroller 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, nor shall the words "POLICE" or "SHERIFF" appear on any badge, emblem, or uniform worn by such patroller.

   • (b) No patroller shall assume or use a rank or title identical, or similar, to any rank or title used by the sheriff or by any Police Department within the county.

   • (c) No patrol service shall use, bestow or permit any patroller to assume or use any rank or title identical, or similar, to any rank or title used by the Sheriff or by a Police Department within the county.

3. Motor Vehicle Markings. Motor vehicles used by a private patrol service or private patroller shall not bear markings or insignia that resemble the markings or insignia on official Sheriff's Department or Police Department motor vehicles, nor shall the words "POLICE" or "SHERIFF" appear on such markings or insignia.

4. Conduct.

   • (a) An operator, partner, agent or patrol officer shall not, either by him or herself or through the action of another, harass, annoy or commit a nuisance against or injure the property, or unnecessarily enter or otherwise trespass upon the property of any person whose property the private patrol service or private patrol officer is not employed to protect.

   • (b) All complaints regarding the activities of a patrol service or of a patroller employed by such service shall be investigated by the Sheriff. Reports of such complaints shall be held in the files of the Sheriff and shall be subject to inspection by the City

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City of West Hollywood, CA

§ 5.100.040 BUSINESS LICENSES, REGULATIONS AND PERMITS

§ 5.100.040

Manager, the Director, or the City Council at all times.

5. List of Customers. Each private patrol service or private patrol officer shall keep a list of all customers and the private patrol officer assigned to guard or patrol such customers' premises. Such list shall be open to inspection by the Sheriff's Department.

6. Report of Law Violations. No licensee under this chapter shall perform official police duties. The licensee shall insure that every violation of law and every unusual occurrence coming to the licensee's attention or to the attention of his or her patrol officers in the performance of their duties is immediately reported to the Sheriff's Department.

(Prior code § 6363(d); Ord. 90-269 § 1, 1990)

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City of West Hollywood, CA § 5.102.010 BUSINESS LICENSES, REGULATIONS AND PERMITS

§ 5.102.020