Westminster Municipal Code Ch. 5.48 Patrol Systems

As used in this chapter, certain words and phrases appearing in this chapter are defined as follows:

"Patrolmen"

means a person engaged in one or more of the activities referred to in subsection C of this section as the owner, member or employee of a privately owned or operated patrol system.

"Patrolman"

shall not be construed to include any employee employed to guard or protect exclusively the property or place of business of a person while said property or place of business is not open to the public.

"Patrol system,"

except as specified in this chapter, shall include any private patrolman, private policeman, watchman or guard working under contract or employed or hired for the protection of properties or businesses held by separate owners and at separate locations within the city, or to act as escort for a funeral procession, or to guard the transportation and delivery of money or other personal property, or to perform any service usually and customarily performed by a peace officer.

(Prior code § 5700)

No person shall conduct, engage in or carry on the business of a patrol system or of a private patrolman in the city without first obtaining a permit therefor from the chief of police.

(Prior code § 5700.1)

The application for a patrol system permit shall include:

A. Information required by Section 5.48.040 of this chapter;

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

C. A description of the methods of operation; and

D. Names and addresses of all patrolmen who are owners, members or who will be employees of the patrol system.

(Prior code § 5700.2)

Every permit to conduct a patrol system shall contain an accurate description of the area of the city in which operations are permitted, and the names of all patrolmen employed by such permittee.

(Prior code § 5700.3)

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

(Prior code § 5700.5)

The permittee of a patrol system shall, within five days after any patrolman is no longer an owner, member or employee of such permittee, notify the chief of police and thereupon return any permit which may have been issued to such patrolman by the chief of police. The chief of police shall cause such patrolman's name to be removed from the permit of such patrol system.

(Prior code § 5700.6)

No person shall conduct or engage in the business of private patrolman, private policeman, watchman or guard without first obtaining a permit therefor from the chief of police.

(Prior code § 5700.7)

An application for a patrolman's permit shall include:

A. Information required by Section 5.48.040 of this chapter;

B. Name of patrolman's employer:

C. Statement of all businesses and occupations engaged in for the last five years, and names of three persons able to verify such statement; and

D. Letter from owner or operator of a patrol system that such licensee desires to employ such applicant patrolman, or that applicant will be an owner or member of such system.

(Prior code § 5700.8)

A patrolman issued a permit, as provided in this chapter, shall act as policeman only for the patrol system designated in his application, provided a patrolman's permit may be amended, as provided in this chapter, so as to designate any new employer.

(Prior code § 5700.9)

While engaged in his duties, a patrolman shall keep his permit upon his person at all times.

(Prior code § 5700.10)

A. No patrolman shall wear any uniform which is an imitation of, or can be readily mistaken for, an official uniform of any federal, state, county or city officer or another private patrol system.

B. A patrolman shall wear, while on duty as such patrolman, a uniform of slate gray material; provided, however that the chief of police may authorize a patrolman to perform his duty in clothing other than a uniform.

C. No patrol system shall use, grant, bestow or permit any patrolman to assume or use, and no patrolman shall assume or use, any rank or title the same as or similar to any rank or title used by any law enforcement agency.

(Prior code § 5700.11)

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

(Prior code § 5700.12)

No permittee hereunder 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, and shall make a full written report of such violation or other occurrence, without unnecessary delay, to the police department.

(Prior code § 5700.13)